The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-29
FEAR RUSS ARMY
TURN ON COUNTRY
RAILROADS MAY soon BREAK
DOWN AND TROOPS AT THE
FRONT GET NO FOOD.
WARNING At MOSCOW
Utter Decentralization Of Transportation
Is Revealed and Made Worse by Al
legged Unreasonable Demands of Rail
way W0rkers-Others Promise Aid.

Moscow, Aug. 29.-At the third gem
eral sitting Of the national conference,
railway representatives,, including NJ.
Froloff of the engineers alliance, re-
ported there existed a state Of utter dis
organization of transportation which,
unless improved, would cease complete.
ly by November. The representatives
gave warning that the consequences
would be terrible both at home and on
the front, and that the army might turn
on the country and commit exampled
excesses.
The extreme demands of the railway
workers, the speakers said, played an
important part in this disorganization
The speakers called on those engaged
in the transport services to sacrifice
personal interests for those Of the coun-
try.
NJ Grusenberg, speaking for the Jews
representatives Of Ukraine, Of white
Russia, Courland, and delegates repre-
senting the Mussulman alliance, de-
clared their Willingness to make sacri
fees for the good Of the country and
for defense against the enemy.
Draws Dark Picture.
General Alexieff, former commander
in-chief, drew contrasts between the
army Of the old regime, poorly equipped.
but strong in warlike spirit, and the
present army we'll supplied with food
and arms, but completely poisoned and
enfeebled by ill-interpreted and ill-ap-
piled doctrines which have been put for.
ward, notably in the famous order Of
the day No. l. These doctrines, he
declared, had split the army in two
opposite ranks, officers and soldiers.
which have become almost irreconcil-
able.
Speaking of the committees elected
by the soldiers Of the various regi-
ments General Alexieff said they were
useful TO the army from an economic
standpoint, but were fatal to discipline
of the troops. None the less subversive
was the influence of government COM
missaries. whose appointment. he as
serted. created an extremely dangerous
quality Of power.
Officers Are Ignored
The general declared that after pub
lication by the government of the
declaration Of the rights of soldiers all
respect toward leaders disappeared, the
officers becoming veritable martyrs and
having to pay very dearly for the Of.
fensive Of August l. and the subsequent
retreat.
The general cited some remarkable H.
Illustrations Of this On one occasion. he
said, when an attack was being launch
ed the force which advanced was made
up Of 2S officers. 20 non.commissioned
officers and two soldiers All the 9TH
ers looked ON coldly while these heroes
perished
The general declared II would be i'm.
possible to carry the war to a victor
ious conclusion, unless the strongest
possible efforts were made by the pro-
visional government and by the troops
themselves to re.animate and re-gener.
ate the army.
After Madame Catherine Breshkov
skaya, the grandmother of the revolu
tion" had appealed TO the government
to pass from words to actions and helI
the army conquer the enemy. Prince
Peter Kropatkin. who was not on IN,
list Of speakers was heard at the re
quest Of the whole conference. He call
ed upon all Russians to prevent the fat
al eventuality OF a German victory an,
expressed the hope that Russia woul,
not be proclaimed a federative republic
This sentiment, submitted to the con
ference for the first time, evoked lonl
continuous ovation in honor of Prime
Kropatkin.