RUSSIA'S PLIGHT.

Evening Star, Issue 16515, 29 August 1917, Page 6

RUSSIA'S PLIGHT.

KORNILOFF SPEAKS OUT. ANARCHY IN THE ARMY. DANGER NORTH AND SOUTH. SUPPLIES AND TRANSPORT FAIL. Renter's Telegrams. PETROORAD. August 23. (Received August 29, at 12.25 p.m.) The feature, of tho Conference at Moscow was the remarkable speech of General Korniloff, emphasising the disorganisation of the Russian army and outlining remedial measures. He declared that the death penalty was only a small part of what was necessary. He mentioned that in August some soldiers, who had killed their officers, ceased their outrages only when threatened with shooting; also that a regiment of Siberian Rifles, which had abandoned the Riga front, only returned to duty when its extermination was ordered. "We are implicitly fighting anarchy in the army," he said. The situation at the front is so bad that we have lost the whole of Galicia, the whole of the Bukowina, and all the fruits of our recent victories. The enemy have crossed our frontier at several points, and are threatening, our fertile southern provinces, and are endeavoring to destroy the Rumanian army. They are knocking at the gates of Riga, and if our army does not help us to hold the shore of the Gulf of Riga the road to Petrograd will be opened wide." General Komiloff emphasised the fact that the disorganisation of.the army was due to the acts of people completely ignorant of military affairs. He urged the ifnmediate adoption of remedial measures, including the strengthening of the authority of officers and non-coms., improving officers' pay, and forbidding regimental committees to participate In the decision of military operations or in the appointment of leaders. He urged that similar measures must also be applied behind the lines. The condition of the railways was such that by November the army would not receive any supplies. The south-west front even atpresent was almost famished. The output of gunß and shells had fallen by 60 per cent., and of aeroplanes by 80 per cent., compared with the period between October. 1916. and January, 1917. General Kornilofr concluded by saying that he believed the genius and the ancient glory of the army would be restored. PRESIDENT WILSON _ REJECTS POPE'S MEDIATION WASHINGTON, August 28. (Received August 29, at 12.25 p.m.) President Wilson's answer has been forwarded to the Pope. It is understood that he rejects mediation at the present time. OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION. Work is going on steadily in the Early Settlers' Hall. The September Dominion parcels are being packed to-morrow uuu Friday, and helpers will be welcome on both days. Socks and balaclavas are urgently required. The committee are anxious to have large supplies of all necessary articles in hand before December, so that the women who have worked daily in the hall throughout the year shall be ablo to have a vacation during the school holidays. The members are very grateful to Mr W. Dawson, who has again given a generous donation of £SO to the funds of the association. This money will be spent on shirts and undershirts for our New Zealand men on furlough at Home. _ The urgent necessity for these ia shown in the following extract from a letter written by Lord Plunket, who was chairman of the Now Zealand War Contingent Association until within the last week or two: " There is one point, howevor, I might make whilst lam writing. We have to provide certain comforts (including extra underclothing) for well men—i.e.. New Zealand soldiers on furlough from 1 rar.ee. or men who are in England outside the hospitals or convalescent camps. Money or goods sent ua officially from Red Cross societies cannot be u.ied for this purpose under the rules of the Geneva Conference. W ?n branches of the New Zealand Red Cross want to assist this most deserving form of help to our men they must do it unotHciallv or through some other organisation. We have even received goods and money from branches of the Now Zealand Red Cross for 'men in trehche3,' which shows that the point is not (or was not in the past) understood. The funds and goods we can use for this purpose are small, and frequently keep us in a state of anxiety as to whether we can meet even urgent calls. Consequently, assistance given by Lady Liverpool's fund is particularly welcome to us, and assists a deserving class of our men, who, even though they are not wounded or sick, have, most of them, endured great hardships and risked their lives quite as much as those who were actually wounded." , GREEN ISLAND RED CROSS. The members of the Green Island Nursing Division have forwarded one case and a box of goods to the Red Cross rooms, Dunedin. The case contains the following:—18 pillow cases, 7 sheets, 9 suits pyjamas, 4 day shirts, 9 fomentation cloths, 17 pairs "socks, 9 pairs mittens, 1 scarf. Contents of box: 13 mani-tailed bandages, 48 roller bandages, 12 diet cloths, parcel of magazines. The following sent donations:—Mrs Holmes, Miss Kirkland, Mrs Irvine, Miss Irvine. TRAINING CAMP ARRANGEMENTS. The last draft of the 33id Tnfantry Reinforcements left Trentham for Tauherinikau by special train yesterday. Next Tuesday" tho 30tb Reinforcements will move from Featherstor. to Trentham, where they will complete- the period of training. [The cable news in this issue accredited to 'The, Times ' has appeared in that journal, /but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of ' The Times.'J x '