The sun., 1917-09-03
GERMANS NEARING
RIGA IN Big DRIVE

former Minister Of war. and his wife.
who are charged respectively with high
treason and as an accomplice in the
crime. startling denuncition OF NJ.
Soukhomlinoff was made by NJ. Rod
zianko, President Of the Duma. whose
testimony amounted to a direct accusa
tion against the former War Minister.
NJ Rodzianko testified that even long
before the war NJ Soukhomlinoffs
activity alarmed the Duma, which per-
ceived his criminal negligence in the
organization OF the army. NJ. Soukhom-
linoff he said, always showed contempt
for the Duma. and when the situation
at the front became threatening. owing
TO the lack Of ammunition. and the
Duma sounded the alarm and appealed
to the workers. NJ. Soukhomlinoff at first
feigned great interest. but soon began
to oppose a systematic resistance to the
efforts Of the Deputies for betterment
of conditions, This resistance aggra-
waited the terrible situation of the army.
which found itself compelled to fight
without arms. In March former Grand
Duke Nicholas declared that a continue
ton OF the war under these conditions
was becoming impossible.
Terrors of Galicia Seen.
II then went 90 Galicia." said NJ
Rodzisnko. and what l saw there filled
me with terror. affirm that the re-
sponsibillty for the enormous losses we
suffered during the retreat falls entirely
upon Soukhomlinoff. A committee OF
defence was created to investigate tho
situation and Immediately establish
Soukhominof' cupability, l then ap-
pealed to the former Car and persuaded
him to convoke the Duma and dismiss
Soukhomlinon
Howitzers at a frontier fortress were
without ammunition. the artillery with
! only sufficient shells for the sunrise and
sunset salutes and an insufiiciency Of
ditons found by NJ Gutchkoff on his in
spection trip to the front in August.
1914. according to his testimony.
Russia began the war. he said. with a
poor comma nding stan, no munitions
and without a plan. Only at the end Of
the first year did the War Department
J make any pretence at activity.
THE defects in our military prepara-
tion were revealed in the first month OF
! the war;" declared the former War Min
| lister and former chief of the Industrial
/ Commission. AT the time of the Lublin
/ fighting | was convinced OF this lack OF
preparation. ! visited the fortress OF
Ossowetz (Russian Poland. found
/ twenty-four OF our best Howtzers had
not single sheh. that the artillery could
not spare more than two shells for the
| daybreak and nightfall salutes and that
! there was a general shortage in rifles.
| IL notified the legal powers OF the state
Of affairs. One prominent man. whose
, name ] cannot mention. said: What can
we do? The Emperor recently remarked
/ to me how we'll things were going under
/ Soukhomlinon.'
Emperor Liked SoukhomIinon.
! at that time the Germans wdre
laughing at us for our two shots a day
But Soukhomiinoff was fully trusted and
liked by the Emperor, who would listen
! to no criticism"
The witness said it had appeared from
the first that the Duma was not able 10
work in harmony with the War Minis
ter. and also that II was clear from the
beginning OF the war that Russia was
not ready. War plans were neglected
railway lines were neglected. the higher
staff was very bad and adventurers had
been placed in responsible posts.
He described the efforts that had been
made to secure the removal OF Sioux
homlinoff the only result OF which was
the saddling OF responsibility upon Gen
Polivanoff the Assistant Minister oi
War, who later became Minister OF War
who was dismissed from his post.
The witness said that soukhomlinofi
had assisted Alschiller. the alleged dlrec-
tor OF the Austrian spy organization. to
settle In Petrograd as dealer In agri'
cultural machinery. with agents In the
western provinces. and secure useful in
formation
Director Slaboshevitch of the large
Maltzefr ammunition works testified
that In october, 1914. when talk became
general concerning the lack OF ammuni'
tion al the front. the directors of the PLAN
authorized Manager Mamantoff to presen
proposal to the artillery department
OF the War Department for supplying
shells and shrapnel Mamantoff. HI
said. went to the War Department ant
was told that no shells we're needed
Continuing his testimony. Slaboshevitci
: said that conditions became eteadil,
worse and that the following Februar,
he again approached the War Depart
ment. offering to accept an order To-
shells He sent his card TO Gen Stoe
lovsky and it was returned with not,
; written by Gen. Stoslovsky stating tina
no ammunition was needed and tina
there was no intention to place an!
orders for shells or shrapnel The wit