New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Drop in Army Morale and
Inability to Regain Lost
Ground Forces Quitting
of Omsk for Irkutsk
Anti-War Force Forming
Troops, Weary, Pledge Not
to Fight Any More; Lenine
to Retire, Sweden Hears

LONDON, Aug. (By The Associated
Press ).-AdmUal Kolchak is preparing
to move the seat of his government
from Omsk to Irkutsk, 500 miles to the
east, according to information received
from Allied agents by the peace con-
terence IN Paris: The move is neces-
STATED by the bad condition Of the
morale of the Kolchak army and the
consequent inability of the Kolchak
government to regain the territory
recently lost to the Bolsheviki.
The dispatches indicate that general
war WEAKNESS, rather than Bolshevsm,
IS weakening the Kolchak forces The
Czecho-Slovak troops, which were the
backbone of the army Of Admiral Kol-
chak, have shared the general demorali-
zation, and most of them insist on re-
turning to their newly established
country, refusing to fight longer in
Russia.
Recently "Gr en-" army of consider
Sole olmensions, was organized in ST.
bsrla as we'll as in European Russia.
This army was recruited from both
Red and White armies and pledged
itself not to fight any more, saying the
world war was over. 1t is attracting
many men from the Bolshevik as well
as the anti Bolshevik forces. its mis-
slonaries spreading as far west as the
Pskov front.
Denikine Reports Victories
Simultaneously with this report came
the announcement Of fresh victories bv
the army under General Denikine in
South Russia. News was received here
to-day that General Denikine had can
tured Poltava from the Bolshcviki
lth the city large quantities of sup
phes and war material were taken.
This report follows closely on that re
celved yesterday that General Denikinc
had Won great victory, capturing
5000 Bolshevik prisoners.
An official statement of the Soviet
government. sent by wireless from Mos
COW, announces successes for the Boil
shevlN on the Omega sector of the
Archangel front. The statement as
serts that the Bolsheviki have advanced
fourteen miles, aided by mutiny
among the Allied troops The official
statement is dated July 81 and the up
rising reported seems to be subsequent
to the recent mutiny among the Rus
sian troops on the Archangel front.
reported by the British army author
tiles.
Lenine to Retire
The "Svenska Dagblad,' of Stock
holm, according to advices from that
city is informed by persons closely
connected with the Russian Soviet gov
ernment that Nikolai Lenine, the Pre-
mier, intends to begin a drastic change
of policy and then retire
One condition of his retirement will
De that Leon Trotzky, the Bolshevik
War Minister be left in command Of
the Red army.
AT recent meetings of the Soviet com
missaries, the newspapers informants
say. the question Of giving power into
the hands of other Socialistic parties
was earnestly discussed, but Lenine de-
clared that the best way to check re-
action, as represented by Admiral Kol-
chak, head of the All Russian govern
ment at Omsk, would be to drop power
for time in order to prove that no
other party was able to reorganize
Russia.
This, Lenine contended, would
strengthen the Bclsheviki and enable
them to resume power. Lenine's views
were shared by George Tchtcherin, the
Commissary for Foreign Affairs; NJ.
Stoutchka, Commissary of Justice. and
Professor Podvoiski, Commisary Of the
Interior.