The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-08-29
PEssIMIsTIO PICTURE
Of Conditions In Russia Drawn by
General kornlloff In Speech Be-
fore National Conference
Must Hold Riga or Road
TO Petrograd VIII BE
Opened.

Moscow, August ~ - (Delayed)-
Speaking before the second general
sitting OF the national conference
which Is expected to decide the fu-
ture of the Russian republic, General
Korniloff, commander-in-chief OF the
army, said that the death penalty,
restoration of which he had asked,
together with other measures, con-
situtes only small part Of what was
necessary in an army stricken with
the terrible evils OF disorganization
and INSTRUMENTATION.
In the present month, General
Korniloff, said soldiers had killed four
regimental commanders and other Of
ficers and ceased these outrages only
when they were threatened with be-
ing shot. Quite recently one Of the
regiments of Siberian Rifles, which
had fought so splendidly at the be-
ginning of the revolution, abandoned
its positions on the Riga front. Moth
ing except an order to exterminate
the entire regiment availed to cause
it to return to its positions.
Thus we are implacably fighting
anarchy in the army" the command
err continued. Undoubtedly 1t final
ly will be repressed, but the danger OF
fresh debacles is weighing constantly
on the country.
"The situation on the front Is bad,
We have lost the whole OF Galicia,
the whole of Bukowina and all the
fruits Of our recent victories. AT
several points the enemy has crossed
our frontier and Is threatening our
fertile southern provinces. He is en-
deavoring to destroy the Rumanian
army and is knocking at the gates
of Riga. If our army does not hold
the shore of the Gulf of Riga the road
to Petrograd will be opened wide.
"The old regime bequeathed to
Russia an army which, despite all
the defects in its organization, never
theless was animated by fighting
spirit and was ready for sacrifices.
The whole series of measures taken
by those who are completely foreign
to the spirit and needs of the army
has transformed it into collection of
individual groups which have lost all
sense of duty and only trembe for
their own personal safety.
IF Russia wishes to be saved the
army must be regenerated at any cost
We must Immediately take measures
such as | have retired to, which have
been approved in their entirety by the
acting minister of war"
General Korniloff then outlined the
most important of these measures, in
addition to restoration OF the death
penalty, which are: First, restora-
ton of discipline in the army by the
strengthening of the authority OF Of
ficers; second, Improvement of the
financial position of officers, who
have been in very difficult position
in the recent military operations;
third, restriction of the functions of
regimental committees, which, al
though managing economic affairs OF
the regiments, must not be permit
ted to have any part in decisions re-
garding military operations or the
appointment of leaders.
Gen. Korniloff and Premier Ke-
rensky were loudly cheered by the
delegates They cheerd for Russia,
the revolutionary government and the
army.
Vladimir NabOukoff. a prominent
Social Democrat, speaking in the
name of the first Duma, declared the
country aimed at the establishment
of strong and independent power, |
by political parties; a
power which, based on democratic
principles, would establish obedi-
ence to the law, civil liberty and per-
sonal security. The speaker empha-
sized the absolute necessity of the
of the high command
of the army from every private in
fuence.
M. Naboukoff said the members of
the first Duma repudiated with in
1ignation all thoughts of separate
peace and that If they were to have
peace they did not desire it to be
he result of German victory, but the
of the triumph of Rus
,ia and her allies. M. Alexinsky made
/ similar declaration on behalf of the
econd Duma.