The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-09
RUSSIA ON WAY
TO WIN VICTORY,
SAYSPREMIER
Prince LvOff Predicts Army
Advance Is Prelude to
Greater Successes.
AMERICAN AID NEEDED
Transport Service Is Most I'm
pOrtant PrOblem-He
Praises Root.
AMERICAN AID NEEDED

Praises Root.
PETRoGRAp, July S.-A correspondent
Of the Associated Press was received this
morning by Prince Lvoff, Premier and
Minister of the Interior, who made
statement for the information of Amer
lea on conditions at the Russian front,
measures whereby America can assist in
the struggle against German domination,
internal and diplomatic problems and the
influence of the revolution and the war
on world problems.
Prince Lvoff began by declaring his
mistaken optimism that despite grave
difficulties to be faced Russia is march
ing toward reconstruction and stability
and that the war is developing toward
victory.
Regarding the war;" continued the
Premier. "say that the latest action OF
our army inspires in me full hope. am
convinced that the new advance. even II
temporarily stayed, is not finished, but
is prelude to much greater successes.
The advance thoroughly confutes the
pessimists who unanimously predicted
that an offensive by our supposed disor-
ganized troops was impossible. From
actual intercourse with delegates from
| the army and with other observers on
the spot know that the offensive spirit
Is spreading.
This is no gradual reconstruction of
the army, but the first. stage Of COM
| plete process of recreation which Is al
most miraculous. proving. In my judg-
ment, that the troops are infected with
| a genuine revolutionary and crusading
and tho C0napiOugnesg of a mis-
sion to save Russia and influence world
| events in the direction desired by all
| progressive men.
Good and Bad Sides.
| Naturally am aware that not every
| thing can be done by enthusiasm. give
! you frankly the good and the bad side
| The good side Is the army's supply or
| munitions and other necessaries, in
which we are markedly better of than
last year; In fact. guaranteed for the
/ immediate future. The bad side is the
transport difficulties, which are serious.
These are an evil heritage from the old
regime. and naturally II is impossible to
restore order in three months crowded
with revolutionary activities. Even
with stable political conditions the crea-
| tion of efficient transport is problem
of years. Our great hope of speedy i'm
provement lies with the Stevens Rail-
road Commission (the American COM
mission) from which we expect much" "
Asked whether the United States
could improve Russia's own manufac-
ture of munitions by sending experts.
! PRINCE Lvoff expressed the opinion that
| 1t could not. declaring that the problem
of the employment of American aid in
Russian workshops was too complex,
but adding that American munitions
machinery was highly desirable.
with regard to American help gem
orally" said the Premier. II lay down
no specific programme. 1t will be sim
plest to say that all conceivable Ameri-
can aid is wanted in every domain.
But the key to the solution Of all our
military and economic difficulties, is
transport amelioration, in which 1t Is
impossible to do too much.
Sends Hearty Thanks.
"send my hearty thanks for the
American project, the despatch Of the
Red Cross mission, as here we have
| serious defects and deficiencies. l fol-
low the news on this subject from New
York with intense interest, but, having
myself ceased to direct Red Cross and
sanitary affairs I can only beg America
as far as possible to meet the requests
for material and personal help made by
our official Red Cross. in the conscious
ness that the triumph Of our common
cause will be furthered thereby.
81 hope also for further American
financial support. I am unable to say
what form this will take, presumably a
loan, but on this subject our Finance
Minister, NJ Shingaroff, in his discus
sion with the financial members of the
Root commission will no doubt pro-
duce a practical programme which
America can help realize America
should note that we ourselves are ready
to bear the heaviest monetary sacrifices
and have already passed more drastic
measures respecting taxation on prop
erty than any Of the other belligeren
Powers and are ready to go much
further.
"Among our other economic problems
the most vital is food. Here again thu
central question is transport, and Il
America helps in this we can do the res
ourselves, as the total stock OF food II
sufficient for both the army and civiliaI
population. Our winter crops wer'
very good our spring crops were in
jured by droughts, but by the end O.
July we shall know our exact position
and unless there is an especially baC
harvest, which we have no reason to ex
pect, we are absolutely secured agains
hunger for the rest of the year.
Agricultural Machinery.
For next years crops arises th'
problem of an increase in the amour
/ of agricultural machinery, and w
| should be grateful II America submit
, n plan to help In this matter on a com
} prehensive scale"
: Prince Ivoff proceeded TO discuss tn
5 internal situation, declaring that thi
} has had a marked influence on Russia
= ability to carry on the war with Vigor
IT am glad" he said. ito see las
weeks marked signs of amelioratior
Tell America that have daily evidenc
T. of the rallying of all the rational ele
ments OF the nation round the coalition
: Cabinet The irrational elements. sue
as the anarchists and Bolsheviki, are 4
: such q minority that there is no reaso
( to fear their getting the upper hant
5 Not only the bourgeolsie but an over
whelming majority OF the workingme
= are against them. Their present eX
cesses are merely last desperate re
q action against their consciousness G
8 this.
8 Mote that though every week ther
: have been loudly advertised plans
o overthrow the Government by fore,
n there has not been one attempt TO exc
10 cute the plans. Furthermore. ! ma
: deny the rumors OF reactionary and rev
ConttHUed on Second Pd0s.