MOVING TOWARDS PETROGRAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1917, Page 5

MOVING TOWARDS PETROGRAD.

KORNLLOFF'S COUNTER-REVOLU-TION. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Sept. 11, 11.10 p.m. London, .Sept. 11. .A wircles; Russian message states: The Soldiers' and Peasants' Committees have sent a message to the army and naval committees that General KorniloiF is heading a military counter-revolution and conspiracy, and has moved troops towards Petrogrnd with the object of disposing of the Provisional Government. His troops were deceived into believing they were sent to crush a Maximalist conspiracy, which was non-existent. The executive requests the army committees to disobey the orders of General KornilofT and his fellow traitors, and carry out the demands of the Central Committees and Provisional Government, also to explain to the soldiers, especially the waverers. the true meaning of Korniloff's plot. CONFLICTING ELEMENTS. TAKING UNDESIRABLE FORM. AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION. Received Sept. 11, 8.45 p.m. London, Sept. 11. Mr. Harold Williams, Daily'Cinoniele correspondent, telegraphing from Petrograd, says that the most urgent task before the rulers is affected by the compromise between the conflicting elements of the army. One stands for the restoration of discipline in the form of complete subordination of the lower grades of the army to the higher, while the other insists on the retention by the army of its committees of political commissionaires, and the limitation of the functions of officers and the higher command to the purely technical sphere of military operations. The conflict between these elements has been increasingly acute for the last few days, and has taken every undesirable form. Ot the dispute between the commissionaires and the headquarters stalT regarding the causes of the Riga retreat, thi commissianaires accuse the staff of exaggerating the cowardice of the troops. The Novoe Vremya actually accuses the High Command of intentionally abandoning Riga in order to frighten public opinion into the acceptance of repressive measures. Thus far there has been great confusion between the respective factions, the military authorities, the commissionaires, and the committees. In a few cuses the three authorities worked in harmony, but more frequently one authority overstepped the bounds, |to the great injury of discipline and efficiency. Many of the commissionaires indulge in harmful demagogy. The regimental committees have done great service among the troops in preventing insubordination and excess. Their position resembles that of trades unions, but the position is precarious, as they are liable to re-eledmm at any moment if a new agitation Shears or the soldiers suspect the committee of being too intimate with the officers.

Mr. Williams continues: Apparently it is impossible to abolish politics from the army. General Korniloff therefore proposes a middle course whereby commits-' sionaires and committees remain, but iiieir functions will be clearly defined and they will nob be allowed to interfere with military operations or the appointment or dismissal of officers. It is equally necessary to find means for enforcing authority in the soldiers' training depots. The men do no drill, but live comfortable, idle lives, and aro exposed to various forma of the extremist agitation. When sent to the front they are useless, owing to the lack of training, and they only spoil the good regiments, as well as increase the army's demoralisation. Armed hands of reservists arc sometimes the centres of brigandage and rapine, but the bulk of the men aro decent, peaceable fellows. The bitter experience of the abuses of liberty proves the necessity for re-establishing the death penalty.

COSSACKS' MEDIATION. TO AVOID CIVIL WAR. NEGOTIATIONS WITH PREMIER. Received Sept. 12, 1.50 a.m. fPetrograd, Sept. 11. A deputation of Cofssacks assured M. Kerensky that the Cocsaeks would do their utmost to settle the dispute bc< tween General Korniloff and the Provisional Government, in order to avert civil war. The deputation goes to army headquarters with this object, after reaching an agreement with M. Kereusky. NO DELEGATES TO STOCKHOLM. Petrograd, Sept. 10. The Workers' and Soldiers' Council is not sending delegates to Stockholm as the other Allies will not be represented. A RUMOUR WITH AN OBJECT. Petrograd, Sept. 10. It is reported hi headquarters that the Germans have sent their beat regiments, including nearly the whole of the Guards, from the scuth-west front northwards. A GERMAN REPORT. London, Sept. 10. A German official report says:—• We repulsed the Russo-Roumanians between the Trotus and Mitoz Valleys. On.' advance guards retreated before the French north-west of Lake Malik.

PROTECTING MUNITION FACTORIES. Petrograd, Sept, 10. Owing to numerous explosions in munition factories in Petrograd and the provinces, stricter regulations have been immuwl and tfuarda jacrwsed.