New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Error of Bolsheviki in d.
viding Their Forces Said
to Have Opened Way TO
the Triumph of Denikine
Would Hold Up Proposal
Advises Fresh Guarantee
Not Be Sought of Germany
Until the Pact Is Ratified

The fall of Moscow and a direct and
overwhelming disaster for the Boil
shevlkl as the climax to the present
campaign of General Denikine was pre-
dicted yesterday by Colonel K. Shum-
SKY, formerly Of the Russian General
Staff and one of the most widely quoted
RUSSIAN military critics in the days be-
fore the collapse Of the empire. Colonel
Shumsky, who is now connected with
the Russian information bureau in this
city, issued an analysis of the Denikine
campaign based on information re-
celved directly from the headquarters
OF the victorious anti Bolshevik com
mander.
The disasters which recently have
overtaken the Bolshevik forces, culmin-
atlng IN the capture of kursk and Kiey
and the advance of the anti-Red armv
TO within less than 800 miles of Mos
COW, are attributed by Colonel Shum-
sky in large part to a complete failure
IN strategy on the part Of the Boil
shevik leaders. The military expert
quotes maxim to the effect that "the
result OF improper strategic deploymen mt
OF torces is invariably such that the
army finds itself always in place
where it is not supposed to be-"
Effect of Errors Traced
wv presume" he continued chat
even the Bosheviki will not denv that
their troops have proved to be not
where they were supposed to be- The
general results of this irremediable
error, the improper movements of
their forces in May last, are shown
clearer than anywhere else on the
Denikine front. Such are the immed-
ate results 0f the erroneous deploying
OF forces, Of the senseless campaign
IN the wastes of Siberia. on the one
hand. and the new. brilliant strategic
situation of Denikine. Denikine $
ttanks, which were exposed before, are
covered now, his right flank is leaning
on the lower, wide stretches of the
olga and his left joins up at Kiev
with the Allied forces"
Behind the solid front which Colonel
Shumsky says General Denikine now
presents to the enemy are ten rail
way lines and "the entire south of
Russia, with its inexhaustible re-
sources OF 4O,0O0,000 population, with
its breadstuffs. cattle. coal, ore and
the ports of the Black Sea-
Lack of Discipline a Factor
Apart from strategic errors, the 20
sitlon of the Bolsheviki. according tc
Colonel Shumskv, is seriously com
promised by the lack of discipline lr
their forces and the disorder Of their
military organization. AS an evidence
of this he instances the reported OK
ploits OF the Cossack chief. General
Mamontov.
Namontov is rading With immunity
Colonel Shumshy said. in the Yer,
thick Of the Bolshevik "kingdom,' 175
miles from Moscow, and for four weeks
the Rolsheviki have not been able &c
stop this flying detachment of cavalry
despite the fact that they are always
informed of his whereabouts as he mas
about 5000 men with him.
Colonel Shumsly admits that wner
General Denikinc began his operation;
. IN the Caucasus the Bolshevihi had The
opportunity 10 concentrate their force,
, against him, cut him Off and possibly
exterminatc his army. They did moi
do this. but embarked on what ii,
terms their "scnsoleSs' campaign
against kolchak in Siberia. with the re
suit that Denikine was able to advanc.
into South Russia, link up with IN,
Poles, tkralnians and other anti Boil
shevik forces and is now at the heac
Of great army which is convcrgin2
on Moscow from three sides