New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-20
Russia Gets Ready to Fight;
"Iron Discipline" for Army
Kerensky Announces No designations of Officers
Will Be Accepted; All Generals Go Back to Front
Government to Prepare for Defensive and Of
fensive War-Declares Against Separate Peace

this order will be severely punished.
1t was in addressing the Congress Of
Peasants that VI. Kerensky announced
his determination to introduce "iron
discipline" He made an impassioned
appeal for support in restoring the
morale of Russia's military forces, and
his speech was greeted with enthusias-
tic applause. After he had completed
his address the delegates embraced the
minister and carried him on their
shoulders to his automobile.
Kerensky's Address
kerensky said in part:
. We must before everything consoli-
date the civic liberty the revolution
gave us. and we shall not do this il
each does not do his duty TO his coun-
try with complete self-sacrifice. Let US
/ show the world we know not only how
TO destroy but also how to create.
Soldiers, sailors and officers. | call
! on you to make last heroic effort. |
am your servant Help me to show the
| world that the Russian army is not a
demolished temple, but is strong and
formidable, capable OF making itself
| respected and OF defending the free re-
public of democratic Russia.
1T may appear strange that !, a
civilian, who was never a soldier, have
undertaken the heavy task of restoring
discipline in the army, but | accept it
because | understand that this disci-
pline is based on your duty and recip-
rocal respect. | have never known what
this discipline is, but nevertheless pro-
pose 10 introduce an iron discipline
into the army, and / am sure / shall
succeed.
This is necessary not only at the
front but also in the interior of the
country In order TO bring the liberty
which has been conquered into the con-
stituent assembly. This great national
council, invested with sovereign author
ity, will show that it does not wish TO
repeat the sad events of the revolution
in 1905, when the peasants conquered
the land, but were not able TO keep it
in their hands.
81 am shortly going TO the front. AL
low me, therefore, TO say in the trenches
that the Russian peasants wish TO have
the land which belongs TO them and
that no force shall take it from them.
Dut also allow me TO say tnat the peas
ants demand, in order to achieve this
object, that every one shall do his duty
in spirit of selfsacrifice."
Has Confidence in Army
NJ. Kerensky told representatives. of
Petrograd and Moscow newspapers to-
day that he was convinced that on his
return from the front he would be in
position to completely dissipate pessi-
mstic impressions regarding the con-
0ition of the Russian army.
al have no doubt whatever" he add
ed, that the army Of free Russia will
know how to fulfil its duty 10 the
fatherland and also that the father
land will do everything possible to
support the army with all its moral
and material resources"
The Provisional Government to-day
ordered the return to their homes OF
all men of non-Slavic origin who were
mobilized by the former administra-
ton for defence work at the front and
behind the firing line.
The Council of Workmen's and SOL
diers' Delegates passed a resolution Of
confidence in the new coalition govern
ment.