South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-30
ATTACKS ON PETROGRAD
FAIL, SAYS RUSS HEAD
KOlchak Driven Back, Losing Munitions,
SAYS Soviet War Minister, IN
Interview by Wireless.
BY EDWARD BING.
United Press STAFF CorrespOndent)

t0OpNIl ltAt-J
BUDAPEST. June 2S-(Delayed)
Leon Trotsky war ministe. Of
the Russian soviet government, said
i'm "a wirless interview today that
the allied attack against Petrograd
has been definitely beaten of.
TrOtsky made "a condition Of the
interview that it shold be publish
ed literally as he sent IL by wire
less from Moscow As a result, il Is
necessary 10 follow Trotskys own
style in the interview. which fol-
lows:
Believing this 70 be an oppor-
tunity TO inform the American pub
lic. I am answering DR.. Bings wire
less questions
Tells Military Situation.
The first question is regarding
the military situation. as IL affects
the Russian soviet system.
Reply: Military conditions OF
the soviet az present is unedual on
various fronts Our western front
is in large territory which German
imperialism seized under the pre-
tense of liberating small nationaH-
ties. The entente powers are now
repeating on our western front Ger
manys venture. which has OBJ
to retreat eastward.
Regarding the southern front.
we defeated Krassnod's army, which
existed formerly on sustenance fur
nished by Germany and later on
That furnished by entente Imperial
lists D6niken's troops replaced
Krassnons English shipping
through the Black sea ports. abund-
aatly supplied Denikin. But had il
not been for the spring floods along
the rivers. which restrained our Of
fehsire. the soviet forces would have
chased Denikins army into north
crn Causasus. I'm the present tight
ing i'm this territory partial sue
cesscs by Denikin have been eN-
tremely exaggerated by our enemies
PctrOgard safe, Claim.
THE long prepared attack against
Petrograd. expected 10 furnish over
whelmiug results has been beaten
of. The organized wire pullers Of
the Petrograd plan must reconcile
themselves 10 this fact
Attempts 90 stir up military up
rising against the soviets IN Ukrai-
Mia are "A complete failure. The
Ukrainians are wiping out these ban
dit gangs and organizing a disciplin-
ed red army.
'KolChak's winter ofense against
our eastern front was duly resisted.
In the last six weeks KolChak has
been driven back over territory
totalling lac. 900 square kilomcters.
losing large quantities of munitions.
His troops are wholly demoralized
and surrendering by the thousand.
some OF the best Of his volunteer
regiments are now lighting valiant
Is in the ranks of the red army.
Even KoIchak. who was hoping re-
Gently 10 crown himself within the
Kremlin walls. is al present seek
ing his crown in the Siberian tun-
dras. The eastern front offers a
typical specH Gle. inasmuch as the
temporary western and southern
front failures will result in the same
reaction as the campaigns on the
eastern front The working masses
are recruiting our army i'm such a
manner that reversal OF the position
on the southern and western fronts
Is inevitable
Tells supply system.
The second question Is regarding
the reds army supply system
Reply. The army supply made
the biggest progress during the last
year Difficulties i'm the distribution
OF clothing show the lack Of ade-
quate transportation. not q short
age OF materials. AT present the
centralized war supply system is uu-
der the direction or Krasin. an econ
omicaI man and one OF the best OF
Russian organizers. who has made
invaluable Improvements War ma
terisls are not lacking. bat the num-
erical growth of the army neces-
states three shifts iu the arms and
ammunitions factor
we should prefer making plows
ana harvesting machinery but We
shall successfully manufacture wai
munitions SO long as the entcnt,
compcis us TO-"
Since this interview. unofficial re-
ports have been received OF new boil
sheyik defeats On the south Includ