Imperial Valley press., 1917-08-09

" ofk1TenS and SOldlsfS bSiSsaCeS.
urging the democracies of all nations
to influence their governments to
adopt peace formulate. This sugges-
ton created worldwide interest but,
while openly discussed in government
tai circles, it met with no response
from leaders of the Entente ministries.
Germany Exposed.
Meanwhile Petrograd had exposed
an attempt by Germany to conclude
separate peace. This offer, made
through Swiss channels. resulted in
the expulsion from Russia of Robert
Grimm, prominent Socialist interna-
Itionalist. Grimm was a Swiss cit-
zen. Austrian efforts to lure Russia
into a separate peace also We're re-
buffed, the Workmen's and Soldiers
Delegates issuing proclamation say
ing the nation favored only a general
peace.
Although Lvoff had recained as pre-
mier of tn escond cabinet, Kerensky,
as minister of war and marine, became
the dominating power, and to him was
accorded the credit of inaugurating
the military offensive which the Er-
tente dared to hope would develop in
tC a smashing blow against the Cen
tral Powers. An attempt to assascl-
nate kerensky at Polotsk on July 20
only served to strengthen his position
with the workmen, peasants and those
soldiers who We're loyal.
TrOOpOs in Rebellion.
But in Galicia disaffection broke out
among the Russian troops. Some re-
fused to obey orders and tretreated
as the Austro-Germans advanced. a
military collapse had begun. The pro-
vlslonal government issued a procla-
nation saying the nations fatef,i
hour was at hand and warning against
Anarchists and other foes within. The
army was known to be honeycombed
with German spies.
Tarnapol, Brzezany, Halicz, Stanis-
Iau and kolomea were lost. The line
OF retreat extended on front of l55
miles from the River Sereth TO the
wooded Carpathians, the Russians los
ing many prisoners and heavy guns,
together with great stores of supplies
and ammunition which the Ertente
had furnished in anticipation of = con.
tinuance Of the offensive. The Rus.
SLAMS surrendered all the ground. ard
more, which had been won on rhen
advance.
In TINS emergency kerensky Jecame
the republics hope. This youthful ,ie-
ure-he Is 37-a lawyer who came out
OF his earlier obscurity first by de-
lending oppressed Jews, was granted
unlimited powers. by the peasants and
the soldiers and workmen. He be-
came virtually dictator, with his re-
glme called the Government oc y.
tlonal Safety" His was the stupen-
dous task of re-establishing order =,
the front and within the government
itself.
LvOff Gives Up Place.
On July 20 it had been announced
That Lvoff had resigned and that ke-
rensky had succeeded him as premier.
retaining, however, his portfolio as
minister Of war and marine. The new
caoinet, the third since the inception
OF the revolution and the second cca-
litlon body, contained five Socialists
and five non Socialists.
kerensky promised the provisional
government he would "save Russia and
russian unity by blood and iror if
argument and reason, honor and con.
science" were not sufficient. He at
trlbuted the recent revolt to the de-
sertion OF constitutional Dem jcratic
members Of the Lvoff government To
sup the military retreat, to avert
economic dissolution, to restore the
country's finances, were, he. said, his
immediate aims. Kerensky conceded
the serious position of the armv and
the necessity for heroic measure.
Toward the end of July, Kerenskv
appeared to have injected his influ-
ence and power into the situation to
an extent that foreshadowed an end
to the Russian tretreat. The death
penalty was restored in the army ard
lnsubordinations were ordered Dun.
ished IN that manner. The Command
.of Death" composed of woman sol.
diers, was setting an example by it's
bravery and its disregard of the odds
against it, in the Wilma region, and