Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-16
DENEk|NE ALONE
Je RESPONSIBLE
l.>''!!!!s ARMY'S
TOTAL = lPSE
He Failed to Take Adequate
Military Precautions, AC-
cording to WrangeI'S Let
ter, Just Made Public.
BELIEVES DISASTER
WAS NOT NECESSARY
.Deposed Leader Flushed
With Victory Turned a
Deaf Ear to Suggestions
Which Might Have Aided.

| irS NORM No JousaAL SPECIAL LEAsHn wtRsI
Washington, Aug. Is tby the AS
sociated Press. 1.-The Russian vol
unteer army of General Denekine
collapsed because of his failure TO
take adequate military precautions.
according to charges contained in
a letter written to Denekine by
General Wrangel, now recognized
| by France as foremost anti-bol-
shevist leader.
A copy of the letter reached here
today and gives the first story OF
the break between Wrangel and
Denekine. 1t also throwns new
light on conditions in the volun-
teer forces which marched to the
gates of Moscow only to be hurled
back and scattered. 1t charges
Denekine failed to heed warnings
disaster.
Written on General Wrangefs
retirement from Russia in April at
Denekine's request, the letter said:
Having tasted power. poisoned
by ambition and surrounded by dis
honest hangers on the struggle so
brilliantly started by you and so
unworthily lost, is coming to IN
end. Into it have been thrown
hundred of thousands of Russia s
best sons, innocent of your mis-
takes.
Finish the work you have COM
menced and if my staying in our
country hinders you, I will leave.
II Joined the volunteer army
and placed myself under your
orders, believing you were an hon
est soldier.
ION the sixth of January, 1919,
proposed to you that you should
move my army to help Admiral
Kolchak. My proposal was reject
ed What | foretold was fulfilled,
THE fortune of war smiled on
you. Your honor grew and with it
your ambition increased. Coin
Gliding with a series of our victories,
your order subordinating yourself
to Admiral Kolchak would appear
to prove the opposite,
"Rut ambition, intoxicated by
success, was not able to carry out
this sacrifice. KOlchal left to him
self, started to retire east. Treach-
erousIy abandoned by us, his troops
were annihilated.
Even when the volunteers were
advancing to the heart of Russia,
alarm crept into the heart of many
subordnates. An army taught to
loot and drink, and the example of
whose leaders demoraliZed the
troops, could not save Russia.
LAS the enemy's successes de-
veloped and the poorness of our
strategy and policy became evil
dent, Russian society commenced
to see clearly. Louder and louder
became voices demanding dismiss
sal of several persons of the higher
command,
''in the desire of ola army chiefs,
the army and society to see me at
the head Of troops, you saw a new
danger for yourself.
I'm your failure you do not see
your mistakes but only the incon-
stancy of the mob looking for
new god.
1--WE saw how your power les
sened and authority slipped
through your fingers. Clinging to
1t in absolute blindness you set out
to search for treachery and mutiny
1.-TWO agents conducted n cam
paign against me among the cos
sacks and spread reports of my
intention Of bringing about an up
heaval with the aid of monarch
lists and of my desire to take
German orientatiOn.'
"The reports even went abroad.
In Novorossisk | was visited by Mr..
MacKinder, from England, request
ing information as to the vefacity
OF these rumors. He asked me
whether | could be perfectly frank
with him. ! replied; I could not
admit the thought of any action
against my chief, under whose or
ders | had placed myself
mot seeing the possibility of
being able to help in the defense
of our country. having lost conf
dence in its leaders, | resigned and
went to the Crimea."
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