The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-28
RUSSIA STRONGER THAN EVER, SAYS
 CABINET OFFICER
Minister of Justice Denies Reports That Army Is
 Disorganized

 Justice Kernsky gave to a representa- tive of the Associated Press today a clear presentation of the present status of political and economic af- fairs in the country and, with the aid of concrete facts, contradicted the as- sertions and rumors of alarming dis organization in the army and factories, generally circulated and credited in Petrograd in the last few weeks. The minister declared that not only is the army better prepared and more will ing to fight than before the revolution, but that the factories are putting out more ammunition than at any previous stage of the ar. He continued:
 "In the first place 1t is necessary t, sweep aside the vast collection of rumors and criticisms of the govern ment contained in part of the Petro- grad pl ess. The inference drawn from this gossip by foreigners and other casual observers is quite erroneous. Duality of power and the danger aris- ing therefrom are a newspaper phase, a newspaper illusion. frankly can not understand Or discuss this because such state of affairs does not exist.
 "It Is also commonly alleged that we have no power to enforce authority. This idea originated from the fact that we decided that we can better attain our ends without use of force or rigid authority For instance, We might have arrested Lenine, but we have &C., comp1ished far more by allowing him absolute freedom of speech and action. The result is that he is fully discredit- ed and has actually done an uninten- tional service to his country by the re- duction of the views of himself and his adherents to absurdity.
 Most of the weaknesses attributed to the present government are the accu- mu1ated deficiencies of the old regime. whose burdens we have to- bear. All these weaknesses were studiously con- cealed by the old government and lit tie was said about them.
 In the new era of democratic free dom these faults are frankly ac- knowledged but they are the fruit of the ineff1ciency of the past. You hear stories of the tremendous number of deserters from the front, as if deser- ton were a new and unheard of crime in Russia. Yet before the revo- hutton more than 100000 cases of desertion were reported every year. Compare that with the present facts. Just after the revolution . number of soldiers did leave their positions and return home, but desertion has now ceased and telegrams have been re- ceived from all points in Russia that large bodies of deserters are asking permission to return to the front and protect the country against the possi- bility of a German advance.
 Gaps in the ranks were long ago filled with returning soldiers, who went back not because they were compelled to, but because the spirit which directed the revolution was a desiret to save the country. The army is now actually stronger than ever, and it is moved by new inn pulses and a desire to fight"
 Minister Kerensky then turned to a consideration of conditions in the fac- tories. He said that despite all as- sertions to the contrary the factories were putting tout more ammunition than before the revolution.
 Under the old regime," he said, t'the output diminished month by month, but it is now steadily in- creasing. The spirit among the is excellent. They are by their council of depu- ties and this body is in complete har- mony with the government. There can be no talk of divided power for this council is a local organization which will exert influence only so long as 1t adheres to the ideals born in the revolution. The moment that any governing body deviates from the rul- ing principle of democratic freedom 1t will collapse. This singlenesc of purpose prevents any possib bility of duality of power"
 Regarding peace. the minister said:
 Russia wants peace on the terms by President Wilson. The and the entrance of the United States to the war have some what changed the objects for which we are fighting. We want peace re- stored witout annexation or indemnity and favor a conference with the AL lies to determine how this can be at tained.''