Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-08
RUSSIA, WORN OUT,
MUST HAVE HELP
Has Fought Longer Than Allies
Who Must Now Bear Bur.
den, Says Kerensky.

Petrograd. Nov. 2.-Russia is worn
out by the strain of war and must have
help. Premier Kerensky to-day told the
Associated Press. He said that Russia
claims as her right that the other allies
now should shoulder the burden which she
has borne.
Russia. the premier declared. has been
fighting eighteen months longer than Eng
land and Russia has fought her battles
alone and is fighting alone
| The world must not lose faith in the
Russian revolution, because 1t Is an
economic one. No one. the premier added,
has the right to feel disillusioned about IL
as 1t takes years to develop a stable gov
eminent.
Americas most useful way of helping
Russia is in sending boots, leather, iron
and money Premier Kerensky said It
would be impossible for the United States
to send troops because the difficulties Of
transport would be too great.
Russia is not out of the war, Premier
Kerensky said in answer to reports to the
contrary.
Russia has fought consistently since the
beginning. She saved France and England
| from disaster early in the war; She ia now
worn out by the strain and claims as her
right that the allies now shoulder the
burden.
Thus Premier Kerensky explained
Russia's position to the correspondent. The
premier was seated in the library Of the
former private office of the emperor in
the winter palace. The correspondent
called attention to widely contradictory
reports on Russian conditions and asked
the premier for frank statement Of the
facts.
| hoc hx- frov RAT m
ing from England and elsewhere to Amer
lea that opinion among the people, not
officially, but generally. is that Russia Is
virtually out of the war" 1t was ex-
planned.
us Russia out of the war;" Premier
Kerensky laughed. THAT" he answered,
us a ridiculous question. Russia is TAX
ing an enormous part in the war; one has
only to remember history. Russia began
the war for the allies. While she was al
ready fighting England was only prepar-
Ing. and America was only observing.
Russia at the beginning bore the whole
brunt of the fighting. thereby saving
Great Britain and France. People who
say she Is out of the war have short
memories. We have fought since the be-
ginning and have the right to claim that
the allies now take the heaviest part of
the burden on their shoulders.
Az pTcScut INuSoidH puDIC OpiIhOUs IN
greatly agitated by the question: Where
Is the great British fleet now that the
German fleet is out in the Baltic?
;. RUSSIA" the premier repeated, "yG
worn out. She has been fighting one
and one-half years longer than Eng
land"
"Could an American army be of use
IL sent to Russian
1T would be impossible to send one"
/
! transport. The difficulties are too
! great"
III America cannot send troops. what
} would be the most useful way for her
to help Russian" was asked.
, Have her send boots, leather. iron.
and" the premier added emphatically
, money"
. the fact that Russia has fought hel
battles alone.
a Russia has fought alone-is fighting
4 Alone" Kerensky said. France has had
! England to help her from the start and
now America has come in"
The premier was asked regarding the
!, morale Of the Russian people and the
!. Russian army. He answered:
THE masses are worn out economically.
> The disorganized state Of life in general
= has been a psychological effect on the
3 people. They doubt the possibility of the
attainment Of their hopes
What is the lesson to the democracies
: of the world of the Russian revolution?''
"This" Premier Kerensky replied. sis
t for them to find out. They must not lose
r faith in the Russian revolution because
o It is not a political revolution. but an
I economic one and a revolution OF facts.
= The Russian revolution Is only seven
s months old. No one has the right to feel
disillusioned about it. 1t will take years
to develop.
"In France, which is only as largt
as three Russian departments (states).
It took Ave years for their revolution
= to develop fully
,. Asked what he expected from the con-
d stituent assembly. the premier said:
. 1.-THE constituent assembly begins new
Z chapter In the page of the revolution. Its
r voice certainly will be the most important
!. factor in the future of Russia
what future do you picture for Russia
:. after the war;
mo one can draw any real picture Of
: the future" Kerensky said. Naturally
: a man who really loves his country will
hope for all good things. but that Is only
his viewpoint. which may or may not b
accepted by others"
Premier Kerensky, pale and earnest, sal
at the end Of a carved table and empha
o sized the points Of his statements by tap
= ping the table with his fingers. He wore
y a brown undecorated uniform. buttonsd
n closely. He appeared to be fatigued from
lstant audiences.