Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-27
Ambassador Francis Reports
Reverses Have Brought Sup
port to Government.
PARTIES JOIN IN DEMAND
FOR RULE BY IRON HAND
Traitors Being Run Down and Ar
rested-Good Harvests Remove
Hunger Menace.

The Russian military reverses have
enormously strengthened the hands of
the government in Petrograd, according
to a dispatch from Ambassador Francis
today to the State Department. They
have shown the impossibility of control
of the army by soldiers committees, the
ambassador reports, and have led to a
universal demand for stronger disci-
pline.
Causes Deepest Alarm.
The ambassador reported that the
military crisis at the front has caused
the deepest alarm in Petrograd, not
only as to a severe military disaster.
but to the achievements of the
revolution itself. All parties are united.
he said. in urging the government to
use any measures necessary to meet
the situation.
Dispatches to the Russian embassy
confirm this point of view, and show
that many conservative leaders. who
have recently gone out of Office, are
now again coming to the front of
affairs. They include such men as the
former president of the duma,
Rodzianko; the former minister of in
struction. Ignatieff, Leader Plekhanoff
of the social democratic party; Prof.
Avksenteff. socialist, and Admiral
Kolchak. of the Black sea feet. This
is interpreted to forecast a more repre-
sentative and better experienced gov
ernment.
Support Dictatorial Powers.
At the same time arrests among the
Bolsheviki and the Red Guard are con-
tinuing- Five more leaders were taken
into custody day before yesterday, the
dispatches say, and many others are
under surveillance. The council of
workmen and soldiers delegates has
sections of the community. citing the
danger of the situation and supporting
dictatorial powers to make the results
of the revolution safe.
Premier kerensky's call for an ex-
traordinary national council. announced
today from Petrograd to meet in Mos
cow July 81. was also forecast in en-
bassy dispatches sent just prior to the
decision. They stated that all parties
had united in demanding an emergency
meeting of all leaders. including con-
servatives. professors and others not
now connected with the government.
Reports of Splendid Harvests.
Fears Of food riots, which originally
precipitated the crisis in Petrograd
leading to the revolution are dispeIled
the dispatches add. by reports of splen-
did harvests from all over Russia In
the southeast heavy rains have been
of great aid, while in the Don section
the outlook is more than satisfactory.
made to improve the transportation
system so that parts of the country
will not be starving while others are
oversupplied.
The Galician military defeat was fur
ther explained by mutiny in one gren-
adler division Of from $4,000 to 20, 900
men. which opened up the front to the
Germans and allowed them to drive in
wedge twenty miles deep. which ne
cessitated the retirement of the whole
Of Gen. KorniIoffs forces of 100000
men. The Russian command rushed two
other divisions forward to attempt to
smash the wedge. but without success
Checked by Fresh Troops.
Heroic defense of a cavalry division
alone held the Germans UP few hours
before Tarnopol, permitting the escape
of the defending infantry and destruc-
tion of munition stores. The Germans,
after taking the city, then made des-
perate efforts to encircle the seventh
and eighth armies by a southern move
ment. but are being checked by fresh
Russian troops. Meanwhile the Rus
sian advance in the Krevo-Smolgon
front is reported continuing with
three German regiments. brought down
from the wilma front. annihilated
reports that negotiations are under
way for sending American troops to
Russia are fatty contradicted here
where it is stated that Russia has more
men than she knows what to do with.
Americas great possibility lies in send
ing munitions to Russia. especially rail-
road materials.