Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-25
FATE OF RUSSIA De.
PENDS ON OUTCOME
OF MEETING
DEP0SE KERENSKY
DELEGATION FROM MOSCOW
SEEK TO HAVE CAPITAL RE-
MOVED TO ITS ANCIENT SEAT.


present Russian government hangs
upon the extraordinary nation coun-
ell which begins its preliminary ses-
sions here today
The convention was primarily called
to discuss the domestic political situ.
alton, together with promised and
contemplated reforms; the military
outlook the financial and industrial
stagnation. and the prospects for
peace; but 1t has had many new is.
sues injected since the conference
was first proposed.
Coming at time when the Ger
mans are carrying out successful
offensive at Riga, when political un.
rest bordering upon anarchy is gen.
orally prevalent. and when the work.
men are threatening general strike
the national council takes on an i'm.
portance not known by any other po.
litical gathering since the overthrow
of the ROmanoff dynasty.
One faction of the delegates has
served notice that 1t will attempt to
have the convention 60 on record as
favoring the principles laid down in
the peace note from Pope Benedict,
a copy of which is already In the
hands of the Russian foreign office.
A section of military representatives
led by General Alexieff, former chief
of staff, and General Brusiloff, former
Russian commander In chief. has
Joined forces with conservatives rep.
resenting the Bourgeois to lead fight
against the kerensky ministry.
The association Of Moscow business
men, supported by certain political
leaders from Petrograd will attemp:
to have the convention support their
movement for a removal of the capi.
tai from Petrograd to this city. They
base their arguments on the cOnten.
ton that there would be fewer hostile
influences to obstruct constructive
legislation in this community and that
there is an absence of the anarchist
element which caused so much dis
order in the old capital. Further
more, they are utilizing as an argu-
ment the German activity around Riga
which may be taken as the prelude to
a German drive toward Petrograd.
Moscow was formerly the capital Of
| Russia.
Among the delegates already here
or scheduled to arrive today, are
| Premier Kerensky, A. j. Gutchkoff, ex-
| president of the Duma and minister
of War and Marine in the first LvOff
cabinet; General Alexiotf, Prof Paul
Milykofl, foreign minister In the first
Republican cabinet; General Brush
, off, President Rodziako, of the Duma !:
A. |. Shingareff, former minister OF
agriculture; Prince Troubetskoi, one
of the leaders of the Republican move
ment that oyerthrew the autocracy
General Junenich, former commander
of the Russian army that oyerran
Turkish Armenia; V. Makloff and A
l. konayaloff, former minister OF
= trade All of the Zemstvos, or com
munity councils. are represented
The biggest representation, of course
comes from the council of workmen's
and soldiers delegates.
Prince Troubetskoi, at prlyat.
conference preceding the opening Of
the preliminary session. spoke in ia
l. vor of military dictatorship unit
Russia can get on her feet"
Berlin, Aug 25-The River Aa has
been reached on the Gulf Of Riga
coast by troops under Prince Leopold
of Bavaria, the German stan an
nounced today The troops are ad
vancing on the Russian city OF Riga
! More serious reverses menace the
} Germans on the Verdun front as re
suit of the important captures made
9 by the French in Fridays fighting. b!
!. the capture of Hill No. 304 th'
!. French now hold dominating grount
from which the German lines on botl
# sides of the Meuse river can be shell
i, ed West Of the Meuse the German
% hold ON Malancourt. Bethincourt ant
q Forges is being shaken by the stead!
IS French pressure,
o The British in West Flanders, hav
. met with slight check south east o
# Ypres, but this has been more thai
:, offset by the brilliant advances of tn
# Canadians in the Lens sector. Violen
IN fighting continues all around Len
IA but principally on the southern 0u
skirts where every building has bee
fortified by the Germans.
-. While hundreds OF Italian aert
y planes drop tons OF explosives benin
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