The Robesonian., 1918-03-25
DISBANDING OLD ARMY.
Soviet Government is Eliminating In
fluence of Old Army in Russian
Public Affairs-Government Shows
How Lusty it is by Running Away.

Moscow DlSpatch, Marcn ~.
The Soviet government is rapidly
disarming and disbanding the old
army and eliminating its influence
from public affairs The Moscow So
Wet has removed from it's executive
committee all soldier representatives
and similar action is taking place
through Russia, as the old army is
presumably out of existence and not
entitled to representation.
The new voluntary army will se.tct
representatives in the various soyiets.
The old soldiers are unwilling at many
places to surrender their arms and
return to work. At Petrograd three
regiments declined to be demobilized.
The Bolsheviki red guards entered the
barracks, surprised the sleeping sol
diers, seized their arms and forced
them to leave the city.
The Petrograd soviet has issued
statement saying that these regiments
were under influences contrary to the
revolutionary movement and undisci-
plined and refused to assist in guard
duty.
In explanation of the governm IT'S
evacuation of Petrograd, the Soviet
| has issued a statement saying the
commissioners went to Moscow for
| the purpose Of saving Petrograd from
destruction as they believed the gov
ernment's removal will demonstrate
the strength Of the Russian peoples
| government and show the Germans
that the capture of the capital would
be useless as the government is pre-
pared to fall back constantly before
the German advance, resisting ard
slowing down the enemy onslaught.
All available rolling stock is being
used for the evacuation of Petrograd
along the tra1 Siberian railroad to-
ward the Ural mountains. The Putt
loft munition works and the Shussel-
burg powder factory, near Petrograd
employing from 10000 to 100000 work
! men, are being moved to Omsk and
Tobolsk.
The entire western end Of the trans
Siberian railroad is congested With
trains of machinery, guns, ammuni-
ton and automobiles. All sorts Of wa1
material and factory equipment we're
stacked on flat cars and government
en- ployes, factory workers and thous-
ands Of German and Austrian pris-
oners are being sent to Onlsk anc
other Siberian cities for industr tri;,
work in re-establishing plants.
Many prisoners when interviewed
= by the Associated Press correspondent
showed little interest in the way, es
, pecially the Austrians, who apparent
ly have no desire to return home
Some of them did not know that tht
United States had entered the war.
Vologda, where the American EN-
: bassy is now located, has suddenly de
9 veloped from a provisional city to
). congested transfer point with a larg
: floating population. Military mission
Of many nations leaving Rumania ant
Ukrania have gathered there awaiting
q transportation. Refugees unable
q reach Moscow and other points be
y cause Of hordes of disbanded soldier
have centered at Vologda in the hen
9 of finding accommodation on railwa
! trains leaving for points where tn
= food situation is better. There is Iii
% tie freight moving except governmer
n supplies. Every inch Of space inslu
) of cars, on platforms and on the bum
:, pers is occupied by refugees. A
# the stations are crowded with mer
+ women and children fighting for spac
W in the cars.