The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-07-23
HOLE 8 MILES
WIDE RIPPED
IN SLAV LINE
OiSorganized Army CrumpIes
Before Advancing Teutons
SITUATION Is SERIOUS
Premier kerensky Hurries to the
Front to ouel Widespread
Mutny in Ranks.

Petrograd. July 23.-Premier Ker-
ensky has again started for the front
at the instance of the central com
mittee of soldiers and workmen's
delegates Dispatches from Galicia
state that the breach in the Russian
line is eight miles wide and 10 miles
deep The Bourse Gazette says that
at a meeting of delegates from regi-
ments at the front 1t was resolved
that II had become imperative to turn
over all authority to NJ. Kerensky.
Premier Kerensky as minister of
war personally led the Russian often
sive, which began July / and swept
everything before it until some of the
egiments became mutinous and re-
fused to obey orders. 1t evidently is
the hope of the central committee
that he may again instil the fighting
spirit into the soldiers of Russia.
The provisional government has is
sued at PetrCgrad proclamation to
the nation setting for the serious
ness of the situation, declaring that
its first duty is to apply its whole
strength against the foreign foe and
in defense Of the administration
against anarchical and counter-reyolu
tionary attempts and outlining impor
tant reforms throughout the country.
The proclamation reads
"Citizens The fateful hour has
struck. The German emperor's armies
have broken the front of the national
| revolutionary army. This terrible op-
peration has been facilitated by the
| criminal levity and blind fanaticism
| At this fateful moment, when taking
advantage of the general confusion
| the hidden forces of counterrevOlu
tion can raise their heads, the re
| modelled provisional government
| clearly realizes its heavy responsi
bilites 1t possesses, however, full
and firm confidence in the strength OF
the great Russian people and in the
| rapid recuperation of the life polite
| now that the contagion which has
shaken the national organism has
manifested itself and burned itself
out in an acute crisis.
"The government firmly believes
that the crisis will lead to recovery
not death. Strong in this belief, the
| government is ready to act with the
| energy and resolution the exceptional
| circumstances demand. The govern
ment regards as its first and capita
task the application of its whole
strength to the struggle against the
foreign foe and to the defense of the
new government regiment against
every anarchical and counter-reyolu
| tionary attempt without hesitating Z
take the most rigorous measures il
its power. AZ the same time tn,
government reiterates that not
drop of blood of Russian soldier
shall be shed for any foreign end, al
already proclaimed to the who'll
| world"
| The proclamation proceeds to stat
that in accordance with the declara
tion of May 10 the government in
tends to summon the allies to a con
ference in August to decide upon
general orientation of the allies fol
eign policy and to coordinate thei
actions with regard to the applcG
tion of the principles proclaimed b
the Russian revolution At this cor
ference Russia will he represented, 4
addition to diplomats, by represents
tiyes Of the Russian democracy