Licking Valley courier., 1917-05-03
RUSSIAN ARMY
GAINING POWER
SIav Justice Department Insists
Troops Are Stronger Than
Ever Before.
arms OUTPUT ALSO GROWS
Minister Kerensky Denies Rumors OF
Disintegrationt Under Provisional
. i. Government Russ Want II
Peace on Wilson's Terms. =

Petrograd, April 30.-Minister or
Justice Kerensky gave out 1! clear pres
entation of the present status OF po-
litical and economic affairs In the
country and with the aid of concrete
facts, contradicted the assertions ana
rumors of alarming disorganiZation III
the army and factories, generally CIR
culated and credited in Petrograd In
the last few weeks. The minister de-
clared that not only is the army bet
ter prepared and more willing to hight
than before the revolution, but that
the factories are putting out more am
munltlon than at any previous stage
Of the war. He continued:
''In the first place, 1t Is necessary to
sweep aside the vast collection of ru-
mOrs and criticisms Of the government
contained IN part Of the Petrograd
press. The inference drawn from this
gossip by foreigners and other casual
observers is quite erroneous. duality
of power and the danger arising there
from is a newspaper phrase, a news
paper illusion. frankly cannot un-
derstand or discuss this because such
a state of affairs does not exist.
Avoid Use of Force.
ut is also commonly alleged that
we have no power to enforce author
ity. This idea originates from the
fact that we decided that we can bet
ter attain our ends without use of
force or rigid authority. For instance.
we might have arrested Lenine, but
we have accomplished far more by al
lowing his absolute freedom Of speech
and action. The result is that he Is
fully discredited and has actually done
an unintentional service to his. country
by the reduction of the views of him
SELF and his adherentS to absur,lity.
"You hear stories of the tremendous
number of deserters from the front.
as If desertion was new and unheard
of crime in Russia. Yet before the
revolution more than 100000 cases of
desertion were reported every year.
Compare that with the present facts.
Just after the revolution a number of
soldiers did leave their positions and
return home, but desertion has now
ceased and kilograms have been re-
ceived from all points in Russia that
large bodies of deserters are asking
permission to return to the front. The
army Is now actually stronger than
ever, and is moved by new impulses
enthusiasm and desire TO fight"
Making More Munitions.
Minister Kerensky then turned to II
consideration of conditions in the fac
tories. "Under the old regime" he
said, "the output Of war munitions dl-
mlnished month by month, but 1t Is
now steadily increasing. The spirit
among the working men is excellent
They are represented by their council
of deputies and this body is In com
| plete harmony with the government
There can be no talk of divided power
for this council Is local organization
which will exert influence only so loni
as ii adheres to the ideals born IL
the revolution. The moment that any
governing body deviates from the rul
ing principle of democratic freedom
II will collapse. This slngleness o.
Durpose prevents any possibility o
duality of power"
Regarding peace, the minister said
"Russia wants peace on the terms pro
posed by President Wilson. The revo
luton and the entrance of the Unite,
States into the war have somewha
changed the objects for which we ar,
fighting. We want peace restored with
out annexation or indemnity, and fav
or a conference with the allies to de
termine how this can he attained"