New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-16
'Wrangel Holds
Denikine Cause
OF Own T allure
Story of Break Between Two
Generals Is Revealed in
Letter Written by the
Present Anti-Red Leader
Warnings Went Unheeded
Collapse of Army in Front
of Moscow Laid to Lack
of Military Precautions

teer army commanded by General Deni-
kline collapsed because of the failure
of its commander to take adequate mil
ltary precautions, according to charges
contained in a letter written to Deni-
kline by General Baron Peter Wrangel,
now recognized by France as the fore
most anti-Bolshevik leader in Russia.
copy of the letter reached official
circles here to-day and makes public for
the nrst time the inside story of the
break between Wrangel and Denikine
1T also throws light on the volunteer
forces which marched to the very gates
OF Moscow, only to be hurled back and
scattered beyond reorganization. And
it tells, too. of the DESTRUCTION of Ad-
miral Kolchak's forces and charges
that Denikine failed to heed warnings
that might have prevented that disas-
ter.
Written upon the occasion of Gen
eral Wrangels retirement from Rus
sla IN April, at the request of Denikine
the letter said:
Predicts Disaster for Denikine
";Having tasted power, poisoned by
ambition and surrounded by dishonest
hangers-on, the struggle so brilliantly
started by you and so unworthily lost
is coming to an end Into it have been
thrown hundreds of thousands of Rus
sla's best sons, innocent of your mis-
takes Their salvation and the saliva
tlon OF their families depends on the
help of our allies, who have promised
you that help
Finish the work that you have COM
menced and if my staying in our coun-
try in any way hinders you in its de-
tense and saving those who trusted
you | will leave it without a moments
hesitation.
II Joined the volunteer army and
voluntarily placed myself under YOUR
orders, believing at that time that YOU
were an honest soldier, placing the
welfare of your country above person
al interests and ready to lay down
your life to save the fatherland.
ON the 9Th of January, 1919, I pro
posed to you that you should move my
army to help Admiral Kolchak. NV
proposal was rejected. What
l TO-; 1foorretold was prophetically fulfilled
y, Inc fortune of war smiled on you
Your honor grew and with it your am
bition increased. Coincidinc With 9
whole series of Sour victories. YOUR or
der subordinatng yourself to Admiral
holchak would appear to prove the
opposite, History will show to what
extent TINS step of yours was volun-
lary:, You wrote that you subordi-
mated yourself to Kolchak.
But ambition, intoxicated b. suc.
cess. was not able to carry out this
sacrifice: kolchak, left TO himself
was defeated and started to retire
eastward. Treacherously abandone
by US, his troops were annihilated.
Even when the volunteers we're vic.
torlously advancing to the heart Of
russia and your ears seemed to hear
the peallng of the Moscow bells. alarm,
orept INTO the heart of many of your
subordlnates. An army taught to loot
and drink and the example of wh 'ss
leaders demoralized the troops@such
an army, could not save Russia.
Not having an organized rear: not
having prepared single fortified posi-
tion behind the lines and not single
point of resistance; retreatjnp in q
territory where the civil POPULATION
mad learned to hate it, the volunteer
army, having begun its retreat, fell
BACK and nothing could stop it,
People Clamored for Change
AS the enemy's successes developed
and the poorness of our strategy and
eommenced to see things clearly
Louder and louder became the voices
demanding. the dismissal of several
persons of the higher command the
knowledge of whose actions became
public
I'm the desire of old army chiefs
the army and society to see me at the
head of troops acting in the main the
ater, you saw new danger for YOUR
self Even before the occupation OF
lsarltsln, when | was chief of staff of
my army, General Yousefovitch sug-
gested concentrating a large mounted
force in the Kharkoff region under nv
command. At this meeting YOU ex.
pressed an opinion, worthy of you, that
we were trying to be the first ir
Moscow.
I'm your failure you do not see youl
mistakes, but only the INCONSISTENCY OF
the mob looking for new god
"Greater became the alarm and dis
content. Society and the army under
| stood perfectly the causes of our de
feat and the complaints against the
higher command became more ane
power lessened and authority slippee
through your fingers. Clinging to i
in absolute blindness, you set out tt
search for treachery and mutiny
1.-TWO agents, the Kartashef brothers
of the intelligence department of YOU
staff, conducted a special campaign
against me among the Cossacks anc
spread reports of my intention O.
bringing about an upheaval with the
aid of 'Tonarchists and of my desir,
to take German orientation.'
Recalls English Agents Visit
"The reports of my intention tt
create an upheaval energetically spreac
Novorossis | was visited by Mr. Mac
kinder who had arrived from England
with wide powers and who Informed
me that he had received a telegram
from the British government request
ing information as to the veracity O.
rumors Of this proposed upheaval A
the same time Mr. Mackinder venturet
the suggestion that these rumors Nigh
find their cause in the unfriendly rela
tions existing between US, which wer,
very widely known.
He asked me whether I found il
possible to be perfectly frank with hin
on the subject. | replied that L coule
not admit the thought of any actor
against my chief, under whose order.
had voluntarily placed myself anc
authorized him to inform his govern
ment that my past military service i:
sufficient guaranty for what | said.
"ln my report, dated December 81
informed you in full of the converse
tion with Mr.. Mackinder, and thi:
| document which l placed in your hand,
should have been, it seems, sufficien
to disarm your fears. You did no
even reply to me.