New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-03
Efforts of Dunld to
Aid Army Halted
By Soukhomlinof

hearing IN the trlhi OF VI. SV"NuS'
linofT, former Minister of War, and his
wife, who are charged, respectively
with high treason and as an accom-
plice in the crime, a startling denun
citation Of NJ. Soukhomlinof was made
by NJ. Rodzianko, president OF tho
Duma, whose testimony amounted 10
direct accusation against the former
War Minister.
NJ Rodzianko testified that even long
before the war NJ. Soukhomlinof's &C
tivity alarmed the Dums, when per
ceived his criminal negligence IN the
organization Of the army. NJ Soukhom-
NnoT. he said, always showed contempt
for the Duma. and when the situation
nj the front became threatening, owing
10 the lack Of ammunition, and the
Duma sounded the alarm and appealed
"a the workers. VI. Soukhomllnof at
first feicned great interest, but soon
began 10 oppose a systematic resist
snce 20 the efforts of the Deputies Tor
betterment Of conditions. This re-
sistance aggravated the terrible sltus-
ton of the army. which found itself
compelled to Eight without arms. In
March former Grand Duke Nicholas de-
clared that a continuation of the war
under these conditions was becoming
impossible.
Responsible for Defeat
81 then went 10 Galicia,' said VI.
Rodzianko. and what saw there filled
me with terror. ] affirm that the re-
sponsibility for the enormous losses we
suffered during the retreat falls en-
tirely upon Soukhomlinof. A commit
tee Of defence was created to investi-
gate the situation, and Immediately
established Soukhomlinoff's culpsblllty.
I then appealed TO the former Car and
persuaded him TO convoke the Dums
and dismiss Soukhomlinof.
VI. Rodzianko's statement made
deep impression on the court.
General Savitch. an expert on the
war budget, gave similar testimony, as
sorting that Soukhomlnof did virtu-
ally nothing 20 remedy the deploraole
lack Of arms and ammunition.
Professor Paul y. Miliukof, former
Foreign Minister, gave his impressions
of an interview Soukhomllnoit had with
the Cabinet and the president Of the
Duma. He said the overwhelming con
viction of all present az this interview
was that SoukhomlinOf could not as
sure Russia'S defence and that both De
fore and during the war he knowingly
had deceived the Russian people by de-
Clsring the army was in good shape.
Feared War in 1908
VI. Gutchkoff added that all efforts
Duma, read a long statement, TO the ef-
feet that as early as 1908 the Duma re-
allied that Russia was on the eve OF
important events, for the reports Of all
the Russian military attaches agreed
concerning the Austro-German war
preparations The members of the
Dums also believed that II SoukhOm-
linoff remained in power Russia would
be taken by surprise.
VI. Gutschkif added that all efforts
to organize an army commissarIat en-
conferred the opposition Of SOukhOm-
linoff, this person so fatal to Russian
history" In conclusion NJ Gutchkoff
said Russia entered the war without
the least preparation, and that the
fault was solely Soukhomlinotf's who
alone was responsible for all Of Rus.
sia's defects.
Howitzers az frontier fortress were
without ammunition, the artillery with
only sufficient shells for the sunrise
and sunset salUtes and an insu7icieucy
of rifles and small ammunition were
conditions found by NJ. Gutchkotf on
his inspection trip 20 the front in Au.
gust, 1914, according to his testimony
Army Without Plan
Russia began the war, he said, with
poor commanding staff, no munitions
and without plan. Only at the end oil
the first year did the War Department
make any pretence AZ activity, and the
activity then consisted in giving fctI,
tious orders and receiving delegations
The defects in our military prepa
ration were revealed in the first month
of the war" declared the former Wal
Minister and former chief of the in
dustrial commission. AT the time Of
the Lubhn fighting / was convinced o.
this lack Of preparation. ] visited the
fortress of OSsowetz Russian Poland
] found twenty-four Of our best how
tiers had not single shell, that The
artillery could not spare more thar
two shells. for the daybreak and night
fall salutes, and that there was
general shortage In rifles.
81 notified the legal powers Of the
state Of affairs. One prominent man
whose name | cannot mention, said:
What can we do The Emperor re
Gently remarked 10 me how well things
were going under SoukhomHnOf.
AT that time TIE Germans were
laughing at Us for our two shots a day
But SoukhomlnofF was fully trusted
and liked by the Emperor, who would
listen 20 no criticism
War Plans Neglected
The witness said it had appeared
from the first that the Duma was not
able 70 work in harmony with the Wal
Minister. and also that il 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 ad.
venturers had been placed in respon.
slble posts. He described the efforts
that had been made TO secure the re.
moval of SoukhomlinofT, the only re.
suit Of which was the saddliug Of re.
sponsibility upon General Poivanoff
the assistant Minister Of War lwho
later became Minister Of War who was
dismissed from his post
The witness said that his attacks
upon Colonel Miasoiedof, Of the
gendsrmerie and favorite of Sioux,
homlinoff, brought on a challenge to a
duel, in which GItchkofF fired in the
air ITO show the man what | though;
OF him. The witness added that
Soukhomlinof had assisted Alschiller
the alleged director of the Austrian
spy organization, TO settle in Petro.
grad as dealer in agricultural ma.
chinery, with agents in the western
provinces, and secure useful informa,
ton.
Boris SavinkofT. the acting Minister
Of War, will shortly confer with Gen
eral Kornilof regarding the measures