Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-13

PETRoGRAO. September Ia Air
Russia is under martial law. Alexan-
der Kerensky. far from being dead.
rs rumor had him yesterday, has ap-
pointed himself commander in -chief Of
all Russian armies. He is still master
Of the situation-master by patience
and persuasion, rather than by au-
thority and force.
Outside the capital at some points
less than a days march away, Asiatic
hordes of General Korniloffs rebel
army are slowly drawing semicirclo
around the capital. Facing them are
the loyal forces Of Kerensky. Reports,
as to the strategic position of the two
armies are conflicting. Sume say the
rebels. outfanked. are cut Off from all.
avenues OF retreat. But they are still
there. menacing the capital. which has
barely weeks supply OF food.
A pause has set In. It is as IL the
tackal-civl war--set for the leap,
were taking one deep. long breath be-
fore plunginE into the chaos to still
his hunger with Russian blood shed
by Russians.
In this fateful pause. Kerensky ia
lighting the battle of his life. With
the two only weapons he knows-pa.
tience and persuasion-he means 10
choke the jackal before he can leap.
CosSACKS PLEDGING
LOYALTY TO xERENSI<y
Late this evening news came from
the front" outside Petrograd .adicat.
ing that the Premier is succeeding.
Co5sack contingents in Korniloff's
army of siege" are reported waver-
inG in their loyalty to Korniloff. The
latter had told them his only object
was to quell the Boshevik: Now they
find themselves threatening the new
freedom in the defense of which they
have been lighting the Germans. Somo
OF their units have sent delegates to
the provisional government renouncinr
korniloff and pledging loyalty to Ke-
rensky.
The Premier. in a statement to All
Russia. has announced that he viii
fight the revolt to the end; that "the
slightest disobedience to authority will.
be punished He still refuses to add:
with the death penalty" This re-
fusal. which started the revolt, now
promises to end 1t, with Kerensky tri-
umphant.
Minister'S announced policy toward the
sible effort to avoid bloodshed; ihs
the rebels will not be attacked until
every attempt at quelling the revolt
by peaceful means has failed.
Optimism and gloom are taking hour
ly turns in official quarters. The
spokesman OF the provisional govern
ment for the outside world 10 vies.
Premier Nekrason. Early to-day lie
characterized the situation as entirely
satisfactory. The armies at the front.'
he said in a statement designed par
ticularly for the attention of the Amer-
lean public. are solid with the gov.
ernment"
ARRIVAL OF NEW REBEL
TROOPS ANNOUNCES
few hours later the Temporary
military committee" announced the ar
rival OF new rebel troops in the Luga
sector. with many more on the way
Shortly thereafter General Kozmin,
now commander of the Petrograd gar
rison, made this statement:
mo negotiations are possible with
traitors. Our only future conversa.
ton will be carried on through tho
cannon. X.
Nekrasoft himself then spoke In the
same spirit. saying: &
Only bayonets can now decide tho
conflict"
Earlier the Vice-Premier had an
nounced that Pskoff. 162 miles south.
west Of Petrograd. is In the hands OF
government troops, and that the rebels,
outmaneuvered. had had their retreat,
cut. %
General Korniloff himself is said to
be still near Smolenski. ESQ miles from
Moscow. ~
Premier Kerenskys declaration of EaS
goneral state Of war followed shortly
upon tho order of such . state IN MossS