New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-09-29
RUSSIA NOW FACES
THE SUPREME TEST
Kerensky Takes Initiative and
Developments Are Expected
GREAT MISCHIEF MAKER

War Minister Verkhovesky Says Rus
sia's Allies Have Made Firm Reply
to Dastardly Offer of Peace. and
Will Handle Army Without Gloves.
Petrograd Sept. 29.-Premier Ker-
ensky took the initiative yesterday and
test of the power of his government.
At the very beginning of the demo-
cratic congress called by the maxi
malists and the council of workmen's
and soldiers delegates to question his
power and perhaps to demand new
government, the premier accepted
the challenge. He told the congress
that his regime had saved Russia in
it's darkest hours.
The government indicates it's policy
of a firm continuation of the war
when Gen. Verkhovesky, the minister
Of war, pledged the, convention to
final victory over Germany if dis
cipline in the army was restored.
The generals. reference to the
return of discipline and his an
nouncement that the officers would
be named by their superior, instead
of elected by the soldiers was ap-
plauded only mildly but his address
as whole evoked more cheers than
the premier's. II prevented 1t.
destroyed it. I was informed from
the beginning of its existence" de-
clared the premier regarding the
revolt of Gen. Korniloff.
When the premier declared that
the good Of Russia necessitated the
observance of order and discipline
one of the most dramatic heckling in
cidents, which punctuated the ad-
dress occurred. The premier had
reached a pause in his address when
a loud voice in the gallery shouted:
"You are the great mischief work
er of the country"
Kisses Heard.
From bedlam Of Kisses and ap-
plause, voices from the floor chal-
lenged the heckler to arise. A COM
mon soldier in the back gallery arose
and with folded arms across his
brown blouse, stood calmly facing a
IOFIe1lL ol 1llSSeS 1Io1u lie supporters
of Premier Kerensky.
Eight hundred delegates had seats
on the main floor. The sombre col
ors of the clothes of the peasants,
workmen and private soldiers pre-
dominated. Here and there were the
brighter colors of the uniforms of
officers. The galleries were jammed |
with a variegated crowd of spectators
-1A+ S,1
terrupt the proceedings with ques-
tions.
There was an air of tense excite !
ment in the crowd as the result of |
rumors that the agitator Lenine was
in Petrograd and would appear at
the convention. This died down, how
ever, when he failed to appear.
The applause which greeted Pre- |
mier Kerensky indicated that he had |
a small minority with him. The So
cialists supporting him contend that
he has majority of the convention.
The government ministers had a |
meeting late tonight to discuss the |
effect of his appearance, but none of
the ministers would talk.
A crisis probably will come when
the work of preliminary organization |
has been completed and the radical
Left presents its extremist program. |
The Polsheviki and the conservatives |
alike will make an effort tomorrow !
toward lining up their strength |
party conferences.
An instance of a split even in the |
closest party ranks was given the |
today when M. Tchernoff, |
the spokesman for the workmen and |
soldiers, referred to Gen. Kaledines, |
the chief of the Cossacks as that
miserable Kaledines.'' One of the |
cossacks shouted: "You dare not at !
tack Gen. Kaledines." Another cos |
sack leaped to his feet shouting:
go on, Ka1edines is a traitor
Guards Increased.