Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-28
SLAvSCHEER
ARMY CHIEF
PREMIER
Scene at Conference Seals
Popularity of Leaders
Russ Want Victory.

Moscow. Monday. Aug. %. de
iayedl.-The second general sit
ting OF the national conference was
held this afternoon. General kOr-
nil0If, the commander in chief. en-
tered the hail in company with
Premier kerenskys His appear
ance was the signal for a pro-
longed ovation. All the delegates
cheered for Russia, the reYolu-
tiOnary government and the army.
Vladimir NabOukon, q prominent So
cial Democrat. speaking in the name
of the first duma. declared the country
aimed al the establishment of a strong
and independent power, uninduenced
by political parties power which.
based on democratic principles. would
stabIish obedience 10 the law civil
liberty and personal security. The
speaker emphasized the absolute ne
cessity OF the independence OF the
high command of the army from every
private influence.
Want Victorious Peace.
NJ. Nab0uk0n said the members Of
the first duma repudiated with indig-
nation all thoughts Of a separate peace
and that if they were TO have peace
they did not desire it 10 be the result
Of German victory but the conse-
quenCa of the triumph Of Russia end
her allies.
NJ. AIeXiusky made similar decia-
ration on behalf Of the second duma.
Army Chief Introduced
Premier Kerensky then introduced
General KornIoh, saying the govern
81. r-sR sszv tn in
wife the commander in chief TO lay be
sore the conference the situation at
the front and in the army
Soldiers kin Officers
In the present month, General K0r-
uilon said, soldiers had killed four reg
mental commanders and other Off
GERS and ceased these outrages only
when they were threatened with being
shot Quite recently one of the regj-
ments of Siberian rifles. which had
fought so splendidly at the beginning
Of the revolution abandoned its posi-
tion ON the Riga front. Nothing eX-
cent an order to eNterminate the entire
regiment awaited to cause it to return
I'd its position
Thus we are implacably lighting
anarchy in the army the commander
continued.
iLa1tFtAt' tH+t4E 10 ~ tt' ts-sf-is- f"-
pressed but the danger of fresh de
baCles is weighing constantly on the
country.
Situation at Front BAD,
THE situation on the front is bad,
We have lost the whole Of GaIicia. the
whole Of Bukowina and all the fruits
of our recent Victories, At several
points the enemy has crossed our from
tier and is threatening our fertile
southern provinces. He is endeayoT-
ing to destroy the Rumanian army and
is knocking a the gates of Riga. If
our army does not hold the shore Of
the Gulf of Riga the road TO Petro-
grad viii be opened wide
THE old regime bequeathed to Rus
STA an army which despite all the de-
fects ia its organization nevertheless
was animated by a lighting spirit and
was ready for sacrifices. The whole
series of measures taken by those who
are completely foreign TO the. spirit
and needs Of the army has transformed
it into a collection of individual
groups which have lost all sense of
duty and only tremble for their own
personal safety.
Must Take Drastic Action.
IF Russia wishes TO be saved the
army must be regenerated at any cost.
We must Immediately take measures
such as I have referred to, which have
been approved in their entirety by the
acting minister Of war"
General Kornuoff then outlined the
most important Of these measures IN
addition to restoration of the death
penalty, which are: First. restoration
Of discipline in the army by the
strengthening of the authority of Of
ficers and non commissioned officers:
second. Improvement of the financial
positions of officers who have been in
a very difficult position in the recent
military operations: third restriction
Of the functions of regimental commit
tees which although managing eco
nomic affairs Of the regiments. must
not be permitted TO have any part in
decisions regarding military opera
ti0ns or appointment of leaders.
Conflict OF Parties.
a conflict at the national conference
between Premier Ike -ensky, backed by
the moderate Socialists and a major
ity Of the council of w0rkmen's and
soldiers. delegates and the constitu-
tional Democrats and other non-S0-
cialist parties the Moscow industrial
group and that part OF the army which
stands for ruthless army discipline is
approaching. The opposition 70 the
premier looks to General KorDiloff. the
commander in chief of the Russian
army as its champion The lineup OF
the delegates 10 the conference IS tndi-
Gated in interviews the Associated
Press has had with members of ali
Continued on Page Five.)