Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-28
RUSS ARMY BETTER
ABLE TO WAGE WAR
Good Spirit Prevails and More
Munitions Are Going For
ward, Says Kerensky.
WIDE UNITY OF PURPOSE.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PETROGRAD. April 81. via London,
April 2S.-Minister of Justice Kerensky
gave to representative of the Asso-
ciated Press today clear presentat ion
Of the present status of political and
economic affairs in the country, and
with the aid of concrete facts. con
tradicted the assertions and rumors Of
alarming DISCRIMINATION in the army
and factories. generally circulated and
credited in Petrograd in the last few
weeks. The minister declared that not
only is the army better prepared and
more willing to fight than before the
revolution, but that the factories are
putting out more ammunition than at
any previous stage of the war. He
continued:
In the first place it is necessary to
sweep aside the vast collection OF
rumors and criticisms of the govern
ment contained in part of the Petro-
grad press. The inference drawn from
this gossip by foreigners and other
casual observers is quite erroneous.
Duality of power and the danger aris-
ing therefrom is a newspaper phrase. a
newspaper illusion. ] frankly cannot
understand or discuss this because such
a state of affairs does not exist
Lenine Discredited.
cit is also commonly alleged that we
have no power to enforce authority.
This idea originates from the fact that
we decided that we can better attain
our ends without use of force or rigid
authority. For instance We might have
arrested Lenine, but we have accom-
plished far more by allowing him
a bSolute freedom of Sueech and action
The result is that he is fully discredited
and has actually done an unintentional
service to his country by the reduction
of the views of himself and his adher-
entS to abSurdity.
Most of the wea knesses attributed To
the present government are the ac-
cumulated deficiencies of the old
regime, whose burdens we have 10
bear All these Weaknesses were
StudiouSly concealed by the old gov
eminent and little was said about them
In the era of democratic freedom these
faults are frankly acknowledged. but
they are the fruit of inefficiency of the
past. You hear stories of the tremen-
dous number of deserters from the front
as if desertion was a new and unheard
of crime in Russia Yet before the
revolution, more than 100000 cases
OF desertion were reported every year
Compare that with the presen,
facts. Just after the revolution a num-
Der of soldiers did leave their positions
and return home. but desertion has now
ceased and kilograms have been re-
ceived from all points in Russia that
are podles or deserters are asking
permission to return to the front anG
protect the country against the pos
sibility of German advance
New Impulses in Army.
Gaps in the ranks were long asa
| filled with returning soldiers who went
back, not because they were compelled
but because the spirit which directed
the revolution was a desire to save the
country. The army is now actually
stronger than ever. and it is moved by
new impuIses-enthusiasm and desire
to fight"
Minister Kerensky then turned to a
consideration of conditions in the fac
tories. He said that, despite all asser-
tons to the contrary. the factories are
putting out more ammunition than be-
. fore the revolution.
Under the old regime" he said. 1.-The
| output diminished month by month, but
1t is now steadily increasing. The
spirit among the workingmen is ex-
cellent. They are represented by their
council OF deputies. and this body is in
complete harmony with the govern
ment. There can be no talk of divid ed
power, for this council is local or
ganization. which will exert influence
only so long as it adheres to the ideals
born in the revolution. The moment
that any governing body deviates from
the ruling principle of democratic free
dom it will collapse.
This singleneSs of purpose prevents
any possibility of duality of power"
Favors Mr.. Wilson's Terms.
Regarding peace, the minister said
Russia wants peace on the terms pro-
posed by President. Wilson. The revo-
| luton and the entrance of the United
States into the war have somewhat
| changed the objects for which we are
| fighting. We want peace restored with
out annexation or indemnity and favor
a conference with the allies to determine
how this can be attained"
Generals Replaced.
AS a result of the visit of War Min
lister Guchkoff to the southwestern
front, twenty-three generals. including
| some generals of division. have been re.
placed. On all fronts not fewer than
ia officers holding headquarters CON-
mandS have been removed