The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-03
Kerensky's Plea for Substan.
tial Aid to Garry Burdens
Misinterpreted
SAYS REPORT LUD!CROUS
RUSSIA is OUT OF WAR
Prepostsrous and Injurious
Headlines Create Grave { on
Germ Until Facts of Inter-
view Are Learned

Washington, Nov. 2.--Russia |
Will remain In the war TO the bit
ter end; Italy Is now reforming
her forces along the Tagliamento
river for perhaps one of the most
decisive battles OF the conflict,
and official and military circles
here tonight are still optimistic
that word will soon come of the
blocking of the German drive by
the Italians. At present some
thing like i47 German divisions
arc required along the Russian
trout and must remain there all
through the winter. according 70
Official Russian statements: while
Italy n receiving physical and
financial achievements from the
allies that has given her armies
renewed strength for their task.
This was the situation developed TO-
day. following a mistnterpretatton OF
an interview with Premier kerensky
IN Petrograd, who said that his coun-
try WAS Worn and ~aeaaSa substantial
help from the allies.
Official and unofficial washington
was dared. While II was obvious that
the Russians and Germans practically
had ceased In their fighting. there
was not a single thing 10 indicate that
Russia was on the point of breaking
or seeding from the alliance. While
she had been to~n tss*ernaffy anss wax
undergoing basic reconstruction. no
word had come to officials or diplo-
mats here to indicate any fla; sur
render. There were few who would
believe she had taken such step
It would have meant a terrific set
back for the allies
It not only would have relieved Ger
many's three million men for opera
tons elsewhere. but Il would have
opened up all the vast resources Of
suppllea TO the German arms.
Ambassador Issues Statement
Misiuterpretation followed mis.n-
depreciation. Boris Bakhmetieff. the
Russian ambassador. hurried TO the
state department. Commodore Guy
fiaunt, of the British embassy. went
into hurried consultation with his
naval conferees at the Russian EN- =
bassy. Soon afterwards the Russian
ambassador issued statement, say
ing:
Russia is not out Of the war and
has no intention OF quitting, No word
in Kerensky's interview gives war
rant for any assertion OF that kind.
As matter of fact the premier
stated the exact opposite: answering
the question rs Russia out OF the war,
ne most emphatieaIly declared tina,
this was a ridiculous question to ask.
Aside from tire ract that the publ
alton is only an extract of few
sentences of the Russian premier s
interview. even the part OF L publish
"a does NOT give any Justification &c
the preposterous and most injurious
headlines by which 1t was entitled.
Merely Plea for Substantial Aid.
What Premier Kerencky expressed
~{r
people that aid and support should
be extended TO them and that the
encouragement from the allies Is iusti'
ned to nation that has borne such
heavy burdens and is now In a period
of fundamental reimbursement, M
word In In the interview was intend
ed to express any blame or sarcasm
against allied action.
"A cable received lately and which
Is given out TO the press today show
the real military conditions on tn,
Russian front The best answer Il
the malicious assertions that Russia
is out of the war win he the fact
given by this cable that we are hold
ing at the present time on our from
147 divisions of enemy troops"
As IL In proof that Russia had NJ
intention OF quitting when German,
was compelled to hold a vast fore
against her, the embassy gave out
cable from General Dessino. repre-
sentative of the Russian army with tn
British headquarters and reading:
Divisions Moved to Italy.
-Four German infantry division
and three Austrian infantry division
had been withdrawn from Rumani,
and Galicia Immediately prior to tn
attack on the Italian front. AT tn
same time few German division
have been transported from tn
French front.
',rhe total OF enemy troops which |
being maintained at present against tn
Russian armies consist of eighty-si
infantry and ten cavalry German di
visions: thirty-thFee infantry an
eleven cavalry Austrian divisions an
seven Turkish and Bulgarian infantr
divisions, making total OF 147 enem
divisions"
Nowhere in Washington was Their
any Indication that Russia has sough
70 quit or wanted to quit. Secretar
Lansing himself said;
secretary Lan.iHx'. Statement.
There has been absolutely nothin
In the dispatches received by the de
partment Of state from Russia. nor i
Information derived from any othe
source whatever to Justify the impress
sion created principally by the head
line Russia quits the war that Rus
ala il out OF the 'confiict readin
~ the full interview with Premie
Kerensky. Of which the papers pub
.. llshsd only abbreviated and prelim
~