Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-24
Russia Gives Kerensky
Full Power to Act

PETROGRAD, July 23.-The council
of soldiers and workmen's delegates
and peasants of all Russia voted today
after an all night session to grant the
government of Premier Kerensky I'M
limited powers under the title govern
ment of national safety" for the re-es-
adjustment of public order, both at the
front and at home.
The chaotic conditions prevailing on
part of the Russian front are disclosed
in a telegram sent to Premier Kerensky,
the provisional government and the
council of workmens and soldiers del
egates by the executive committee and
the commissioner of the provisional
government with the second army on
the southwestern front. The telegram
announced the inauguration of stern
measures to combat diSaffection-
I'VE unanimously recognize that the
situation demands extreme measures
and efforts, for everything must be
risked to SAVE the revolution from ca
tastrophe,' thh message reads. The
commander in chief of the western
front and the commander of the second
army today have given orders to fire
on deserters and runaways.
Let the country know the truth. Let
il act without mercy. Let 1t find
enough courage to strike those who by
their cowardice are destroying RUSSIA
and the revolution.
Referring to the threatened disasters
the telegram says:
Most military units are in a state Of
complete disorganization. Their spirit
for the offensive has utterly disappear
ed. They no longer listen to orders OF
their leaders and they neglect all ex-
plantations of comrades, even replying
by threats and shots. Some elements
voluntarily evacuate positions without
even waiting for the approach OF the
enemy.
Gases are on record in which an
order given to proceed with all haste
to such and such a spot to assist com
rades in distress has been discussed for
several hours at meetings and reinforce
ments consequently have been delayed
for several hours.
These troops abandon their positions
at the first shots of the enemy. For a
distance of several hundred versts long
files of deserters, armed and unarmeo.
men in good health and robust who have
lost all shame and feel they can act al
together with impunity, are proceeding
to the rear. Frequently entire units
destert in this manner.
WASHINGTON. July 2S.-Kerensky
faces the almost superhuman task of
saving the entire Russian front in the
face OF strong German OlSlduShlS ~
picked regiments, the Russian embassy
stated today, frankly admitting the sit
uation was very grave.
Germans are concentrating large
forces at the ten mile break in the
Russian line in Galicia and are pre-
pairing to follow up their advantage
to the utmost, cables received at the
embassy stated
"Thv fate of the Russian democracy
is in kerensky's hands, said an embassy
official, commenting on the new pre-
mier's dash to the front to plead with
the Russian troops.
While German secret agents continue
sowing dissension in the Russian armies
the Twentieth. Thrtieth and Sixty
eighth German infantry regiments have
been brought from the Nosges front and
thrown against the Russians at Kalush.
Also many Prussian guard regiments
have been thrown against the break
in the Russian line as well as five
regiments of Hungarian cavalry, the
embassy was advised.
Meanwhile. conditions at Petrograd
are serious, the embassy stated. Al
though street rioting has been quelled'
snipers are at work in an effort TO re-
new general confusion. Troops guard
the streets. The mutinous regiments
in the garrison have been disarmed and
disbanded.