PROGRESS OF THE WAR
Al. Kehensky's message to the lij.Nc; of England, whicli appears to-day, has an obvious bearing upon the outlook in the Eastern tneatre. The head of tlio Russian Provisional Government presumably has not spoken on this occasion wilhottfc feeling reasonably sure of his ground, a more promising aspect than it has lately worn is therefore put upon the outlook in tho Eastern theatre by his declaration that he is certain the Russian people will find strength to surmount the grave trials of the present time and conduct the war to an end worthy of the sacrilices made by every nation which is struggling for right against might. 'This statement may seem optimistic in view of the exceedingly critical situation which at present obtains in .Rumania—a situation upon which it is admittedly impossible to base any great hopes so far as the immediate future is concerned. But whilo it is distinctly possible that the enemy may contrive to extend his invasion it does not follow that he will achievc such results as will profitably balance the outlay of strength involved. Ho has to reckon in any case upon the action of the Western Allies, and M. ICerensky's statement strengthens the hope that ho has to reckon also upon a steady improvement in tho-state and efficiency of tho Russian armies. # * * *
Reports of lato have agreed that tho Russians aro recovering their discipline and fighting spirit, and it is tho essential demand of the situation that this improvement should continue. Available information is to tho effect that so far as equipment and material supplies arc concerncd tho armies aro in much better ease than. beforo tho revolution. Some weeSs beforo tho offensive opened in Galicia, M. Kerensky was asked by a correspondent whether tho Russian armies would be stronger or weaker because of tho revolution. Ho answered that technically they wore much better off, and when, he was asked what this meant, replied:
"'Technically' means tliat wo liave 10(1 trains a day from our chief bases of supply toward tho front., instead of 25," said ilio Minister of War. "it means that our staffs liavo been reconstituted, and that tho best trained brains aro dircctcd 'toward problems that require braius rather than blue blood. It means that our munitions plants will soon bo working according to a doliborato system, that our peasants will givo lis their Krain, that our people will offer their money."
As events turned, an improvement in tho material supplies of the Russian armies was nullified for tho timo by treachery and bv tho failure of discipline. Tho offensive was opened in tho hope that it would consolidate tho armies and impress tho people into co-operation. This hopo was bitterly disappointed, but tho possibility has all along been recognised that national peril and adversity may. apply tho needed spur to tho Russian nation and armies. In the early days of the revolution rumours of a Gorman offensive at Riga were actually welcomed by the men at the head of affairs in Petrograd. "A German offensive will pull us together," one member of the Provisional Government said on that occasion. "The Germans may savo us by attempting to destroy us." It is still possible that this opinion may be upheld in an actual test. * * if *
In an interesting skek'h of Genkralj Kotinilovf, now in supreme command of the Russian armies, an American correspondent at Petrograd declares that his career is 0110 of tho most remarkable known to Russian history. Son of a poor Ivaralinsk Cossack in Western Siberia, who later reared a large family on a pittance gained as the village clerk (tho correspondent states), young Kokniloff early began rough forest work. "At the age of nice lie received his first instruction. When barely thirteen, ■by his own exertions and all-night studies, ho qualified to enter the Siberian Cadets' Corps, largely composed of sons of persons of local prominence. Thanks again to his own efforts, ha gained freo training at the Michailovsk Artillery School, where his remarkable mathematical faculties brought approval from the authorities. even though he was suspected, with reason, of being a secret revolutionary. Next, Genet;,\l Koknii,off was an officer in tho Guards, and, being penniless, was obliged to serve in Turkestan, In tho Japanese War ho received the rank of colonel, and was entrusted with a desperato mission—that of covering the retreat from Mukden of one of General Kukopatkin's shattered armies. This was executed with such resolution and skill that he was awarded the St. George Cross. Later ho travelled all throuirh Turkestan, tho Caucasus, and Europe, studying, observing, and writing valuable books on Turkestan and the countries of Central Asia."
According to the correspondent, General Korniloff has an amazing gift for languages, and speaks not only a number of European tongues, but also Persian, Chinese, and dialects of Central Asia. "At tho outbreak of the great war lie was_ in command of the Forty-eighth Division, once called Suvoroff's, now Korniloff's. Iu Galicia in 1915_h0 repeated the Mukden feat, covering under an unexampled month-long hail of Austro-German shells a retreat wherein his own force broke through the encircling foe, but he himself was wounded and taken prisoner by the Austrians._ The enemy Press related that tue Austrian commander was so impressed with GusEitAr, Kohnilokf's accomplishments and bearing that his sword was returned to him. He was not long a prisoner. After a daring flight from an Austrian prison camp and remarkable adventures, he reached Russia. At the outbreak of the revolution he was invited to command the troops of Petrograd, implying his full confidence in revolutionary Russia."
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3164, 16 August 1917, Page 4
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932PROGRESS OF THE WAR Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3164, 16 August 1917, Page 4
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