Evening star., 1917-05-28
RUSSIAN FACTIONS
APPEAL TO TROOPS
UnitedIy Support War Minis
ter's Demand That the army
Shall Fight.
SEE NEW LIBERTY IN PERIL


PETRoGRAD, May 81. via London.
May 2S.-Virtually all the divergent po-
litical factions, all class organizations.
councils and even the socialist leaders.
with the exception of the extreme letters.
today re-echo the appeal of Minister of
War Kerensky to the troops and applaud
the new order of the day, Advance" 1t
remains to be seen how the army itself
VIII receive this final eXhortation to
patriotism and the defense of RuSsia's
newly won freedom.
Constant efforts have been made during
the past two months by representatives.
not only of the government. but of the
soldiers. to bring home to the army that
the abandonment of active warfare wouiG
not not only mean treachery to the allies. but
gained in the revolution.
Immediate Advance Urged.
1t is confidently believed that this last
call. supported as it is by almost every
element of society. will move the army
to realization of the situation All the
commanders have added their appeals to
the order of Minister Kerensky. They all
emphasize the necessity Of not only de-
lending the country against the enemy
Dut OF an immediate advance to relieve
the pressure upon the allies which Ger
many has been able to exert by trans
eastern to the western front
Gen. AleS1en says tersely: Forward
Advance to attack the enemy" Cen
Brussilof says: TT is necessary to con-
diers must overthrow and defeat the
enemy. Shame and dishonor to those
who have weak spirit" Gen. Drago-
miron Is less laconic. "An advance upon
necessity. The enemy is taking advan-
tage OF our passivity to leave this front
open and send forces westward The
French and British are honestly doing
their duty as our allies. They are saw
ing our new freedom, which otherwise
we would lose But soon their advance
must wear itself out and then there
Will be no one to help u.s."
Honor Demands Activity.
The newspapers contain similar ap-
peals from the heads of the govern
ment. Premier Lvoff writes: Honor
demands our activity. We are drowned
in speeches and words. The muscles of
our organism are being atrophied
Further passivity will mean ruin" M.
Skobeleff. the new socialist minister of
labor, joins the chorus with the decla-
ration: Our present task is to ad-
vance,"
In sw order to the army Gen. Alex
len exclaimed yesterday why it is i'm
possible for the soldiers to receive
emiss;iries from the German lines seek
mander-in-chief." he says, sis pro.
hibited by law from receiving peace
delegates. and every man from the
commander down who does this is
traitor: Only the government knows
when 1t is time to stop war. Such, con-
1erences never take place at the front,
except between authorized diplomats.
The Germans know this and send rep
resentatives only to learn the DISPOSE
tion OF our troops and to provoke dis
sension among US to create ill-feeline
between the soldiers and their COM
manders.
Il appeal to your intelligence and
your heart. If the enemy really wanted
IT. Wake up! Peace will be reached
Through victory. Trust your com
manders."
Ensign Displaces Red Flag.
LONDON. May 2s.-The Times Petro-
grad correspondent says the visit of
200 sailors and workmen from the
Black sea fleet and arsenals has pro-
duced much healthier tone in Petro-
grad. Their intensely patriotic ad-
dresses. and the use of the naval en-
sign at their meetings. instead of the
red nag. has greatly impressed the pub
lie.
IF such demonstrations were multi
piled throughout the country" says the
correspondent, "a great change would
come over Russia. These Black sea
delegates will accompany War Minister
kerensky to the front They have sworn
to march at the head of regiments
against % any enemy"
the delegation, has become. NEXT to M
kerensky, the most popular figure in
Russia"