Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-27
BLOOD AND IRON
POLICY APPLIED
TO SAVE RUSSIA
Forces of Anarchy and Dis
loyalty Yet May Be
Overcome.
COMPLETE ASCENDANCY
ACQUIRED BY KERENSKY
His Command Supreme, and Or.
ders Meet With No
Opposition.
DEATH PENALTIES RESTORED
AS Result Of Strong Measures, Evi.
dences Of Resistance Are Be-
ing Shown by Soldiers.
DEATH PENALTIES RESTORED
AS Result of Strong Measures, Evi.
dences Of Resistance Are Be-
ing Shown by Soldiers.

LONDON. July 26.-kerensky and
Kornilof. Russa's men of the hour.
to-day met anarchy and disloyalty
with blood and iron la
Dispatches from Petrograd leave no
room for doubt that Kerensky's die
tatorship is to be real Dictatorship;
that he will sanction and approve ex-
treme measures when necessary to
restore a semblance of order out OF
the chaos which for a time seemed
to threaten the complete disintegra-
tion OF the Russian armies and, indeed,
the Russian state.
Russia is now no longer an an
archistic Utopia, place of impossible
freedom that contained more of license
than of liberty. She is feeling the
strong hand.
There were four outstanding things
In dispatches from Petrograd to-day.
things which held out promise. in the
opinion of observers here. that Keren-
sky, with the aid OF his military COM
manders. of whom Kornlof stands out.
might yet pull Russia through"
KERENSKY ACQUIRES
COMPLETE AsCENDANCY
These things were: Kerensky has
acquired complete ascendancy over tke
workmen's and Soldiers Committee,
so that 1t now makes no attempt TO
oppose his decrees. His command Of
the provisional government is supreme.
The ministers he has gathered around
him have agreed completely 80 far.
with all his proposals. and are sup.
porting them to the utmost. G
His first act has been to restore the
death penalty for treason. This ac-
tion. taken with the consent OF hin
ministers. is designed to wipe out the
disaffection in the army which has
made its commanders powerless, and
which has enabled the Germans to-
make their great gains in Galicia at
ter the Russian army had apparently
regained its power as war machine.
A censorship of dubious newspapers
has been established The papers at
fected were guilty of disseminating ap-
peals to disloyalty among the troops.
The new order provides for the sus-
pension Of such papers.
AS result, the Russian army Is
again showing evidence of resistance.
The Germans continue to strike In
Galicia. but in the carpathians and
Roumania- Russian and Roumanian
forces have opened a counteroffensive
apparently designed to tighten the
legions. and have met with consider
able initial successes
EXTREME MEASURES
TAKEN TO HALT RoUT
Korniloff himself has taken the most
extreme measures to halt the rout OF
his army. He wired to Kerensky
threatening to resign his command uu-
less permitted to order executions for
treason and cowardice among his men,
This forced Kercnsky's hand. After
hurried meeting of the provisional
government, the permission was wired
back. korniloff Immediately. accord
ing to press dispatches, ordered his
loyal artillery to turn their guns on
certain forces of malcontents and de-
serters. A slaughter ensued un-
paralleled in the history OF modern
civilization.
But the strong hand" has had it's
effect. the dispatches assert A SEM
blance of discipline is being restored:
courts-martial. consisting of three Of
ficers and three soldiers each, have been
established to deal with future cases
of desertion. and while the Russian
army in Galicia has been shaken and
almost shattered. it still remains a bar
to German ambition. It's supplies and
artillery have been lost through the
disloyalty Of certain troops, according
TO some dispatches. but 1t is still a
military force. and not the disorganized
band of straGGlers it threatened to
become.
Under Korniloffs orders his army IN
continuing its retreat. it is reported,
IN order that he may preserve his new
alignment intact. There are prepared
positions in the rear-how much far.
ther in the rear 1t is not stated-and
he will make a stand when he
| reaches these positions.
Meanwhile Kerensky Is appeasine e
the various revolutionary committees.
which. at one time or another, have
all attempted to seize the reins OF
power from each other since the orief.
nal revolution, with the promise of
great congress OF all factions at an
early date. ~
CONGRESS TO BE HELD
IN "HEART OF RUSSIAn
This congress will be held in Mos-
COW. the heart OF Russia" Moscow
more than any other city Is the ap-
propriate site for such conferences. It
is the most loved city in Russia--the
place to which real Russian turns
his eyes as a Mohammedan turns his
to Mecca Petrograd is the capital, but
, It has never received anything Of the
affection, the real love. that Russians
have felt for Moscow. The Russian
people. indeed. would never permit the
| coronation of ruler at Petrograd
1t was an unwritten law that he should
come to Moscow to receive his crown
and scepter.
The conference TO be held there viii