The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-25
OMSK GOVERNMENT RAPIDLY GAINING
 WIDE AUTHORITY
Controversy With Semenoff in Fair Way to Settlement.
 Allied Officers Aid in Reconciliation
By Associated Press


 1e.-The Omsk government. headed
 by Admiral Kolchak, is rapidly ir- .creasing it's authority both east
 and west of omsk. Last week the Omsk government wns advised of
 the adherence to the authority of
 General Denikine, the leader of the
 omsk forces west of the Ura1s, of
 General Krasnoff. the hetman of
 the Don COssacks and General
 FiIimonoff, hetman of the Kuban
 Cossacks.
 Admiral Kanine, it is announced, has been appointed commander of the Rus sian Black sea fleet. He is subordi- nate to General Dekinine, who now holds sway over Odessa, the Crimea and Sebastopol.
 It is announced in government cir c1es that the controversy with Gen eral Semenoff, the anti-bolshevik leader in the Chita, is in fair way to settlement. Semenoff, 1t is said, has accepted the appointment of a com mission to try charges against him and has signified his readiness to join General Dutoff in fighting the .bol- sheviki. It is understood that General Semenoff has informed Admiral Kol { chak that he was the victim of a mis- understanding. The charges against Semenoff include that of interfering with the telegraph and railway lines, seizing money in banks and intimf- dating railway employees. Allied off, ficers in Omsk continue their good Aof- fees in the interest of settlement.
 MEANS ADDED STRENGTH
 M Savinl1off and Vladimir Bourt- zeff, now in Paris, have telegraphed offers of their support to Admiral Kol- chak. The adherence of Savinkoff is regarded as adding important strength to the Omsk government. Admiral Kolchak has telegraphed his thanks to Savinkoff declaring:
 "I consider your acceptance sign of a distinct movement which is uniting all forces to save Russia in this criti- cal hour"
 It probably would be premature and overoptimistic to declare that the Omsk government has fnaugurated settled regime and that instructions and civil conflicts in nonbolshevik Rus sia are at an end.
 In Omsk, Russia is compared to an agitated river which will continue to be troubled until it finds a normal and peaceful level but Russians seeking the highest interests of the country as well as foreigners who are studying the situation on the ground appear to be united in considering the Kolchak government as a sincere and vigorous movement to rehabilitate the nation.
 There is unanimous feeling that a powerful personality like Admiral Kol- chak. is necessary to carry the gov ernment over the present crisis. If he succeeds in holding and strengthen ing his position in the next six moths, these observers believe, he will have formed the nucleus of an orderly and permanent regime, whatever political
 
 A ONLY HOPE OF SOLUTION i
 The observers do not believe that K,olchak is conspiring to restore the monarchy, as some of his opponents charge. They look upon the Kolchak government as the only group offering hope of solution.
 The correspondent visited the churches in Omsk during the services s Saturday night and found them- all crowded. The cathedral was overflow ing. Most of the worshippers were men and were standing quietly at prayer. ssss sX Just as along the 1000 miles of the / /flAnssiberan railway, so at Omslu the masses of the Russian people ap-: parently crave only. peace and order, opportunity to obtain the necessities of life and fair measure of com fort and happiness. They say they are surfeited with suffering, war and sor- TOW. It is hard to reconcile the gentle. sympathetic and hospitable Russians encountered everywhere in this region with the tales of ferocity coming across the Urals. {
 At this critical hour of reconstruction the people are turning rrustingly to America and the allies for help. Their leaders emphasize that if help would be effective 1t must be imm ediate. The leaders here hope for a common stand by the powers toward Russia and for constructive assistance.
 The government officials here say there is most urgent need for the re- organization of the railroads so vital to the bringing in of; food, clothing and general supplies. The ministers urge that the American railway commission come to Omsk to consult with them concerning details. They would also like to have the American war trade board take up plans for securing capi- tai for Siberian industries.