DEPLORABLE NEWS FROM THE SOUTH-WESTERN FRONT.
MOST OF THE UNITS COMPLETELY DISORGANISED.
WHOLESALE DESERTION AND LACK OF DISCIPLINE,
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ORDERS COWARDS TO BE FIRED ON. uler. (Received 7 p.m.) PETROGRAD. July 23.
An appalling account of the situation on the south-western front has born received by the Russian Government. A fatal crisis has occurred in the morale of the troops, and most of the units are completely disorganised, and the offensive spirit has utterly disappeared. Orders are not heeded, and exhortations of comrades are replied to by threats of shots. Some troops voluntarily evaouate positions without waiting for the approach of the enemy. Sometimes urgent orders fur reinforcements are discussed for hours. For a distance of over 50 miles long files of robust, shameless deserters, may be seen proceeding to the rear. Frequently entire units desert. Extreme measures are necessary to avert a catastrophe. The commander-in-chief on the south-western front has ordered that deserters be fired on, haying there must be merciless action against cowards who are telling the Russian revolution.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16600, 25 July 1917, Page 7
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171DEPLORABLE NEWS FROM THE SOUTH-WESTERN FRONT. New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16600, 25 July 1917, Page 7
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