Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-16
,WRANGEL PLACES BLAME
!. OF FAILURE ON DEN|K|NE
Declares Negligence OF Leader Lost
g Campaign Against Moscow Gov
crnmcut i'm 1919.
CHARGES Personal ENMTY
Copy of Recent Letter to Former
3. Commander Tells Inside Story of
Break Between Generals = Says
Ambition Brought Downfall.

<Acttcr written 10 pcnikine. by Gen
y cral Wrargel. now recognized By
France as foremost anti Bo!shcviSt
leader IN Russia.
\ cory OF the letter reached oni-
Gals here today aud makes public.
for the first time, the inside story of
The break between Wrange; ard
Denill.nc. /; also throws new light
on conditions in the volunteer forces
which marched 10 the very gates of
Moscow only - be hurled back AMI
scattered beyond reorganization And
p. 1t tells, too. OF the destruction OF
Admiral chak's forces and
charges that Denikiuc failed to heed
warnings that may have prevented
that disaster
Written upon the occasion Of Gen.
eral Wranrel's retirement; from Rus
STA in April nj the request OF Den
kline, the letter said:
Having tasted power. poisoned by
ambition and surrounded by dishonest
hanEerSon. the struggle so brilliant
~ started by you ana so unwotthly
lost. is coming to an end. Into II
have been thrown hundreds OF .hous-
ands OF RCssia's best sons. inrocen,
az your mistakes. Their salvation
and the salvation of their families
depends upon tho help OF our allies,
who have promised YOU that help.
Finish the work that YOU have
commenced. ana If my staying in
our country in any way binders yon
in its defense and saving those who
trusted vow viii leave 1t without
! moments hesitation.
Volunteered for Service.
Voluntarily placed myself under
your orders. believing nj that time
that YOU were an honAst sol iicr.
placing the welfare Of your country
above personal interests and ready
TO lay down your life TO save the
fathcrland.
proposed 10 YOU that YOU should
move my army to help Admiral Kol-
chak. Ny proposal was rejected.
What forctoid was prophctically
fulfilled.
The fortune OF war smiled IN YOU.
Your honor grew and with il your
ambition increased Coinciding with
= whole series OF our Victories. your
order, subordin,ting yourself to Ad-
miral Koichak, would appear to prove
,~sat extent tl;: SIP of yours was
voluntary You wrote tina: you
suhordinated yourself to Kolcnak.
"Rut ambition intoxicated by sue
. CESS was not able TO carry out this
,-~dcr!ficc. kolchak, left to himself.
~ as defeated ana started to retire
eastward. Trcachcrously abanG 5ncd,
his troops We're annihilatcd
Even when the volunteers were
VIGOROUSLY advancing TO the heart
OF Russia and your ears seemed 10
near the peaIing OF the Moscow bells
alarm crept into the hear; of many of
your subordlnates. An army taught
Ito loot and drink and the example of
whose leaders demoraliZcd the troops
such an army could not save Rug
STA
NO; having an organized rear. not
having prepared u single fortified
position behind the lines ana no; a
--singlc point OF resistance. rctr"atiug
lin territory where the civil popul4.
+. ton had learned TO hate 1t. the VOL
--uniccr army. having begun its re.
tre"t, fen back AID. nothing could
stop il. ~
Poor Strategy Evident.
AS the encmy's successes dcvcl-
opcd and the poorncss Of our strategy
.and policy became evident, Russian
-Nsocicty commenced TO see things
Z Clearly. Louder and louder became
: Inc voices demanding tho dismissal OF
! several persons Of the higher COM
, :nand. the knowledge % whose &C.
: lions hecamc public
lin the desire OF old army chiefs.
the army and society to see me a, the
( head OF troops acting in the main
iheaier. you saw a new danger Ia
yourself Even before the occupa-
ton O: Tsar!tsIn. when was chief
OF statf OF my army. General Yousc-
tovitcl suggested concentrating a
mounted force in the khatk0n region
under my command. a, jh!s meeting
you expressed an opinion. worthy OF
sou. that We were trying to be the
first 20 Moscow
In your failure You do no, sec
your mistakes. bu; only the incon-
stancy OF the mob looking FOR new
God
English Send Minister.
The reports Of my intention 10
create ar urheavai cncrgeticul,,-
spread hy your stan. even went
abroad.
In NovoroGsisk was visited by
Sir. MackinIer. wAo Aad arrived from
England with wide powers. and WHO
informed me That Die naa received a
telegram from tho British govern
mont requesting information as 10
the vcraclty ~ ruuors Of this pro-
posed upheaval At the same ,siuc.
Mr.. Mackinder veuturcd the sugros-
(. iion that these runors uiiEn, nnd
their cause in The unf-icumy rela-
lions existing between us and which
were very widslg Known
He asked me wAc'hor f8lnd n
possible to be perfcc,'y franz wra
him on the subject. replica that
could not admit tho ,hou-ht of
any action against my ea..f. under
whose orders / had Voluntarily placed
myself and authorized him 10 IN.
form his government that my pas,
v military Service is sufficient guar.
--.antee FOR what l said
49, In my report dated December 81
- Informed YOU in full OF the con.
with Mr. Mackinde-. ant
~ this document, which. placed !r
s-tyour hands. shouA have been. !,
seems. sunic:cn: 20 disarm your fears
!. You did not even reply 10 me
n Not seeing the possibility o. be
~ ing Die 30 help in the defense o:
our country. having lost confidence ii