The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-28
RUSSIANS GIVEN
ONLY BLANKS TO
fight GERMANS
Treachery of Romanoffs
Revealed in Trial Of
Former Minister
(By Arthur s. Draper.)

London, Sept. 27.-The first full ac-
count of the trial for treason OF
soukhiomlinoff, former minister Of
war In the deposed car cabinet, was
published in The Manchester Guard
Ian.
Urged General Mobilization.
Quoting Soukhiomlinof from The
Reich, Petrograd paper, 1t develops
that when the former minister discov-
cred the hand of Germany behind
Austria in the early stages of. the
conflict he urged on the emperor the
necessity. of ordering a general, not
partial, mobilization, and that the
THE emperor, declared soukhiom-
linoff, objected to my fears, saying a
general mobilization would bring war
with Germany as well as Austria, but
] insisted, and on July 20 went to tho
council of ministers, where / obtained
the signatures of the three required
for such a proclamation. +.
"On the evening of the same day
the car teiephoned me and asked
bilization and / replied that tele-
grams ordering it had already been
sent.
Kaiser Gave Word.
Il was then informed a telegram
had been received from Emperor VIII
liam assuring the GEAR, on his word
of honor, that Germany wouldn't
come out. against Russia II the gener-
al mobilization order were Cancelled.
II must add here that noticed
throughout July that almost every
secret Russian military measure, be-
came known to Germany Immediately.
They had spies everywhere. g. IT.
a Pleaded with Gear.
"It was then 1 implored the car
not to cancel the order for general
mobilization, pointing out that such
an order would spoil the whole mo-
btlization and make new, rapid mo-
Obligation impossible. ~.
@But Wiihelm's word of honor
gained the upper hand and was or
dered to proclaim partial mobiliza-
tion. / Immediately reported this to
Sazonoff, who, on July 80, went to
Tsarko-selo and obtained the consent
Decide ON General Call.
- "The same day the ministers of war,
marine and foreign affairs, after a
ten-minute conference, decided on the
ordered general mobilization" Sioux
hiomlinofrs explanations, given in Y
low voice, were trying to show that
he alone tried to persuade the czar
not to cancel the general mobilization
Il explained to the czar and warned
emperor's telegram did not guarantee
anything and then referred him to
Yanushkevich, whom he telephoned.
Takes Responsibility.
Later 1dhuSuhSNlCn IdAiO " nm
asking advice. He said the car had
ordered him to cancel the mobiliza-
ton.
"Do nothing" I said.
Therefore 1t was / who ordered
the mobilization continued despite the
cars will"
The testimony of Yanushkevich as
quoted in Nova Vremya" tended to
settle the question whether the car
ordered the mobilization Cancelled en-
tirely or partially
... Sent to Ambassador. s
"On July g." he said, after, the
mobilization order had been given, !
went to the GEAR, who charged me to
explain to the German ambassador
that the Russian mobilization was not
directed against Germany and to as
sure him that Russia intended to re-
main friendly. So
SION and he advised me to- talk to the
military attache, as he had a very low
opinion of the German ambassador.
THE attache came to see me. He
formerly came in uniform, always at
the appointed hour, and invariably
talked Russian. This time he came
in civilian clothes and spoke only in
French. / pointed out that Russia
was not harboring aggressive designs
against Germany. =
Had Precise Information.
HE replied that unfortunately Rus
STA had begun mobilizing. / assured
him that she had not, but he declared
he was possessed OF precise informR-
ton on the subject. I gave him my
word of honor that at that hour the
chief OF the general staff had not is
sued the order for mobilization. He
did not believe me. offered him my