Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-11
GENERAL SCOTT SAYS
RUSSIANS WILL FIGHT
Chief Of American General StaY Dc.
scribcs Great Slav Offensive That
He Witnessed.
SAW BATTLE FROM TRENCHES
After n Tremendous Bombardment
Russian Lines Sweep Forward,
Capturing Thousands OF Austrian
Willing Prisoners.
Ry A..ocinted pr.u1

tRy Associated Press.1
July 8 (delayed).-
The Russian army is going to fight.
The spirit among the troops every
where is excellent. The advance so
brilliantly begun. has every cnance for
successful continuation.
This was the reassuring co,nn,cpr on
the Russian military situation by
Major-General Hugh L. Scott, chief
OF the general stan Of the United
States Army. on his return tonight
from a. ten-day tour along the south
western from into Roumania. General
Scott described in detail and with tho
greatest enthusiasm the Russian adj
vance OF June 80. which he personally
observed at close range from a point
near Brzezany.
Few observers." said General Scott,
'1have had such opportunity of view
Ing the active operations OF an Euro
pean army since the war began. When
we arrived at Tarnopol. the Russian
artillery preparation had been in prog
ress nearly forty-eight hours, but we
were in time to watch the brilliant
climax.
W ~Journeyed from Tarnopo1 to the
firing line in automobiles. and were
Immediately escorted to the trenches.
~ tremendous DOmD0rQmenS vas In
progress. and the Austrian lines were
being battered by a continuous tor
rent Of shells. The point that struck
mo most forcibly was tho accuracy of
the Russian fire and the effective con-
cealment OF their batteries. The Aus
TRAN artillery was good. but noticeably
weaker.
RUSSIAN MACHINERY WORKS
WITH GREAT PRECISION
Tho precision and exquisite working
OF tho Russian machinery was a
marvel to me. Every man was In his
place, and there was not the slightest
Sign OF INSTRUMENTATION or reluctance
among the men. Each ofncor and SOL
der did eagerly and unhesitatingly
what he was told. The spirit of the
men themselves was In favor of an
advance.
we spent tho night at tho head.
ouarters OF the Sixth Corps OF the
Eleventh Army. but early In the morn.
Ing OF the next day we returned to
the trenches. C%lamboring out OF the
trenches into a wheat field on tho
summit of a ridge overlooking the
Austrian positions. We watched the
end OF the battle.
Tho artillery p%reparatlns ceased
suddenly. tho Order to advance was
given, and the whole Russian lines
went forward in perfect unison. I
was somewhat disnayed when, In a
short time. 1 saw thousands OF men
pouring back again. But I soon dis
covered that these men were Austrian
prisoners. who came running with all
speed Into tho Russian lines. apparent
~ with a single thousht-that OF sur.
rendering us quickly as possible.
SPIRIT AND DISCIPLINE
OF RUSSIANS EXCELLENT
"rh4 Russian casualties were com-
paratively slight, AS 1t was positive
to Judge by the small number OF am
buiancs wagons which the Russians
sent forward"
General Scott said that the spirit ana
discipline Of the Russian troops dur
ing this engagement WINS merely q
Sample OF that which he found at other
points on the front. The soldiers were
ready to advance whenever called
upon. and the morale OF the army in
general was infinitely better than he
had been led to believe In Petrograd.
1--WE oan count on these people to 70
on lighting" tho general said in con-
oluslon.
After d stop at Csernowitx, tho oapl.
tai OF Bukowina, the Scott party went
direot to Jassy, tho seal OF the Rou.
mah.an government where a luncheon
was given in their honor by the King
and Queen OF Roumania. who ex-
pressed their appreciation OF Americas
entrance into the war. The King told
the general that Rourhanla would de.
rive fresh courage. from an ally which
had the reputation Of finishing what
It undertook. h party was received
formally by members OF the RoumaniAn
government, and General Scott de-
iivered an address before tho Rou-
manian Parliament,
Except for a few final conferences
with the members OF tho Russian gov.
eminent. the work here Of the Root
commission virtually has been con.
cluded. :.