Evening star., 1917-09-17
GEN. ALEX|EFF GETS
FIRM GRIP ON ARMY
Advices to Russian Embassy
Here Are of an Encouraging
Nature.

Gen. Alexieff's appointment to su-
preme command of the Russian armies
will be followed by a general reorgani-
cation. in which old generals will give
place to new ones
First definite news of the reorganiza-
ton was received at the Russian en-
bassy today in dispatches from Petro-
grad Confidence of the troops is being
restored by the removal of the former
generals, the dispatches said. and the
situation is rapidly clearing.
The Kornilon uprising seems to have
been quelled without b1oodshed. and
Russian officials here say that the gov
ernment is now stronger than ever.
The original trouble might have been
avoided, Russians here feel, II the
emissaries from Korniloff had been
able to explain the situation clearly
to the government, and it is believed
that a mistake was made in selecting
the men to act as go-betweens between
kornilof and the government.
Cossack z.evolt Not Serious.
The Cossack movement Is not con-
sidered serious any longer. although it
is not over with Strong discipline has
been established in the army by Gen.
Alexieff and the spirit of the troops is
said to be excellent. The advices to the
Russian embassy here say that if the
rebels had known of the true conditions
in Petrograd they would not have made
any move in the nature of an armed re-
bellion. The government is in good
shape now, officers said. to quell any
thing in the nature of a counter-revolu-
tion and can prHsent a united front to
| the German foe.S
The military situation is said to be
progressing satisfactorily, and the
armies are fulfilling their task of keep
! ing as many Germans as possible on
by the report that the Germans have
now more troops than ever before on
the Russian lines. During the last five
days the Russian troops have regained
seven miles.
Premier Kerensky's provisional gov
| ernment. by declaring Russia republic
and the government a constitutional or
ganization, may clothe itself with au-
thority which it has lacked heretofore
| and which 1t regards as necessary to
preserve sufficient political harmony to
continue the war.
Proclamation a Surprise.
| That Russia eventually would adopt a
republican form OF government has been
generally assumed. and was predicted con-
| fidently by the American mission to Rus
sia. Kerensky's proclamation caused
| some surprise here, coming at this time,
, however
| Close observers of Russian revolution
I ary politics believe it was prompted by
a desire to reassure the radical social
| istic element of the workmen's and SOL
| diers councils that the formal organi-
Zation of a constitutional government
would not be postponed indefinitely. To
| this extent 1t was interpreted as a
capitulation to the social revolutionary
! party. of which Kerensky is a leader.
| The provisional government. domi-
ters with centralized powers, probably
will proceed to exercise arbitrarily
functions which it would not have
dared before. Although there is no
specific authority for its action, the
government apparently believes 1t will
| ing the policy of interminable read
| justments of cabinet and ministers
which have marked the short revolu-
| tionary history of the nation.
Strong Hand for Cabinet.
,, 1t is believed here that the new
move will strengthen the government
national shock of Gen. korniloff'S un-
successful revolt Since the new cabinet
| of five contains three non-partisan
members and two socialists and there
| fore is not g coalition as advocated by
the constitutional democrats, some op-
position by conservatives of the latter
group may be expected.
| After taking up the immediate task
of restoring discipline to the army. the
| new government next undertaking
probably will be to prepare for the con-
/ stitutional assembly. which will decide
| local and national the rights of citi-
| zens and nationalities, the fundamental
| law of the land, and taxation and land
holding problems.
The calling of such an assembly, with
| members elected by universal suffrage.
probably would go far toward diverting
| from the active government the multi
! tude of political dissensions which are