The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-07-23
RUSSIAN TROOPS
REFUSE TO FIGHT
Provisional Government Is
sues Desperate Appeal to
Tagging Soldiers
TREACHERY CAUSES
DISASTER IN EAST
Allies to Be Called in Conference in
August to Discuss Foreign Policy =
Hope Present Crisis Will Soon Pass =
Kerensky to the Front.

PETR0GRAD, July 23The provision
al government has issued a proclamation
to the nation setting forth the seriousness
of the situation, declaring that its first
duty is to apply its whole strength against
the foreign foe and in defense of the add
ministraton against anarchical and coun-
ter revolutionary attempts and outlining
important reforms throughout the country.
The proclamation reads:
Citizens The fateful hour has struck.
The German cmperor's armies have brok
AIRY army This terrible operation has been
facilitated by the criminal levity and blind
fanaticsm of some, and the treachery of
others At tins tateful moment when,
taking advantage Of the general confusion
the hidden forces of counter revolution
cannot raise their heads, the remodeled
provisional government clearly realizes its
heavy responsibilities. 1t possesses, how
ever, full and firm confidence in the
strength Of the great Russian people and
IN the rapid recuperation Of the life poll
| tics, now that the contagion which has
shaken the national organization has man
| ifested itself and burned itself over in an
acute crisis
The government firmly believes that
the crisis will lead to recovery, not death
Strong in the belief the government is
ready to act with the energy and resolu
ton the exceptional circumstances de
mand The government regards as its first
and capital task the application of 1T:
whole strength to the struggle against the
foreign foe and to the defense of our new
governmental regime against every anarchi
cal and counter revolutionary attempt
without hesitating to take the most rigor
Gus measure in its power, At the sam,
time the government reiterates that no
a drop Of blood Of a Russian soldier shall
be shed for any foreign end as aread,
proclaimed to the whole world
The proclamation proceeds to state tina
in accordance with the declaration OF Ma
, 10 the Government intends to summo
the Allies to a conference in August t
decide upon general orientation Of tn
Allies foreign policy and to co-ordinat
their actions with regard to the applicatio
OF the principles proclaimed by the Ru!
sian revolution At this conference Ru
. STA will be represented in addition to diI
lomats, by representatives of the Russia
democracy.
The Government continues the pro-
: lamation, considers it indispensable in
, mediately to proceed with series OF mea
I ures putting the principles announced Q
s May 10 into operation and adhercs to tt
f steps already taken to convene const
: tuent assembly on Sept 30 The speedic
z introduction OF autonomy for municipal
! ties and zcmstvos based on direct, equa
> secret universal suffrage and to the G
tension of tins principle to the entire cou
, try is the Governments chief probe
: in internal policy.
"Attrlbuting at the same time partic
J. lar Importance to the creation OF local :
ecutive bodies enjoying the confidence
: the entire population the Government Is
; forthwith proceed with the organizati,
= of such authorities and will also at
: early date promulgate a decree abolishi
: classes and ranks Of officials and decor
Il tions, except those for great militia
d deeds"