Russkie Vedomosti, No. 1 | Novoe Vremya, No. 14664 | Moskovskie Vedomosti, No. 1 Our National Crisis …A broken machine cannot be fixed. But work cannot stop. The fate of Russia, and—more profoundly—the fate of the entire world rests upon us. For the outcome of our internal crisis is linked to the outcome of the global struggle. There is only one way out: we must replace the old, broken machine with a new one capable of performing the task demanded by the vital interests of the state. We must replace the collapsing system of irresponsibility with responsible governance… Growing anxiety for the country’s fate is finally emerging, sparking a sense of national self-preservation, with the State Duma leading the way. Changing the governing system once again becomes the moment’s rallying cry…F. Kokoshkin

War and Our Financial Outlook …As is known, we cover most of our military expenditures by issuing paper currency. Currently, the amount of credit notes in circulation has reached about 8.5 billion rubles, and we must anticipate that in the coming months—unless the war ends prematurely in peace—we will see the figure for note circulation in the State Bank’s balance rise to 10, or perhaps even 12 billion rubles. The consequences of excessive money printing were easy to foresee, and they are already manifesting… …Income and property taxes would serve as the basis upon which we could begin reducing indirect taxes in the near future, which would be of the utmost importance for the development of the country’s productive forces…A. Sokolov

The Food Crisis and Food Policy …Currently, fixed prices are established for a variety of products such as grain, flour, groats, meat, fish, salt, eggs, sacks, tobacco, and so on. However, in most cases, fixed prices apply only to military requisitions… This reveals the main reason for the failure of fixed prices and their harmful effect on the market. As long as the fixed price has not been converted into a general imperial maximum price, it… will inevitably lead to a split in market prices, an increase in speculation, and ultimately, to difficulties in supplying not only the population but also the army… …Export bans further complicated commodity exchange. …The country found itself divided into a large number of isolated holdings, with the exchange of goods between them experiencing no less difficulty than between sovereign states… …For certain products produced in insufficient quantities, stricter forms of intervention were adopted, bordering on state trade monopolies for these commodities. Thus, «center-sugar, ” „center-flour, ” and other „centers“ emerged, distributing all produced goods among specific categories and consumption districts, controlling transportation, and influencing the production of these products.

…The food question has become—and essentially remains—a political issue! L. Litoshenko

Under the Sign of War …Thus, in current circumstances, war has extraordinarily expanded the functions of the state. By entering the war, the armed people effectively entrust the state with the care of their families, their farms, and all their needs left behind the front lines. In this capacity, the state is clearer than in any other—it embodies the national unity, the soul and strength of the nation, acting as the guardian not only of common but also of all private interests, while simultaneously managing everything in the country… …How ridiculous then are the claims of some of our industrialists, who pretend that they are precisely now launching capitalist production and preparing for the glorious flourishing of domestic industry! They are simply drawn into service to the state, which generously supplies them with capital so they can produce as many goods as possible for the front and the home front… …The population becomes accustomed to this extraordinary expansion of state functions and activities and, so to speak, gains a vivid understanding of the immense powers and means the state can command when it chooses. Meanwhile, the fundamental element of the state—what we call statehood, which is ingrained in the people’s consciousness as a stimulus for self-preservation and mutual aid in the fight against hostile surrounding forces and adverse natural conditions—naturally strengthens, grows, and expands… …Industrial freedom and capitalist concentration of production are severely discredited by attempts by capitalism to exploit war for the benefit of capitalists… And here, the state acted as a protector of the interests of the masses against the interests of capitalism. As a result, the entire structure of state work and public life took a very serious turn toward the order of things created by the concept of state socialism…

A New Era Undoubtedly, the year 1917 brings Russia and all of Europe—both the Old and the New World—to the greatest epoch of modern history. Nothing will remain as it was, especially in Central Europe, caught in the Germanic-Prussian grip. But profound changes will sweep through many other countries as well… …The Turkish dominion in Europe will finally fall, from whose Mohammedan turban the German casque came so close to the Christian nations… and in the seven-hill Tsaregrad, according to ancient prophecy, Holy Rus will reign… However, the coming era will not be limited to changing the borders and maps of European and other states. The reevaluation of values already underway in the current war will go even further upon its conclusion. Rootless pacifism and cosmopolitanism have devolved into mere bronze promissory notes, into simple scraps of paper. Who now believes that frivolous chatterboxes can turn swords into rakes, eliminating both armies and wars? Even in parliamentary England and republican France, supporters of relaxing state authority and dispersing it among elected—and in most cases, fictitious—representatives of the people are losing credibility. Few hopes can be placed on the struggle of political factions, whether against governments or among themselves… It is extremely important that respect for Russia, for the specifics of our historical system, and for the spirit of our people—despite all its shortcomings, especially in the technical and industrial sphere—is growing in our valiant allies…

Disillusionment …The war will end, but humanity will not be able to return to its former beliefs. If this is the case, the current war will trigger a massive internal crisis for humankind. After the war… national and state interests will supersede individual interests, and the principle of duty will take precedence over the principle of rights… Admirers of 19th-century errors will call this period a reaction, while the workers of the future will call it a period of spiritual rebirth and its triumph over matter… …Let the collapse of the fundamental ideas of purely secular and non-religious Western culture, and their stark negative influence on the Germans, awaken those Russian thinkers, writers, and leading figures of Russian society who have hitherto enthusiastically repeated the «final words» of European civilization as neophytes and have failed to see its dark sides—have failed to see what results from suppressing and completely ignoring the demands of the spirit—of faith, of the Church, of divine communion, of eternal life… The notorious ideas of law, individual freedom, progress, democracy, and the confession that «man is the measure of all things”—will never replace these eternal values.Protoiere I. Vostorgov

Novoye Vremya, No. 14665 | Russkoye Slovo, No. 3

The congratulations were first presented by Prince Golitsyn, Chairman of the Council of Ministers; members of the Council of Ministers; the Chairman of the State Council, Secretary Щегловитов; and the Cammerer of the State Duma, Rodzyanko. Present were the chief administrators, the Minister and State Secretary of the Grand Duchy of Finland, Lieutenant General Markov; the State Secretary and State Secretary Kryzhanovsky; the Assistant to the Minister of the Imperial Court, Ober-Regimental Master Count Nirod; the first-ranking members of the Court, members of the Sovereign’s retinue, and among them, the Grand Dukes… After the reception and congratulations, His Imperial Majesty proceeded to the Grand Hall of the palace, where the entire diplomatic corps accredited to the Imperial Court was assembled. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, State Councillor Pokrovsky, and Baron Korf, Ober-Ceremonial Master, were also present there. His Imperial Majesty entered the hall preceded by the first-ranking members of the Court and accompanied by the Minister of the Imperial Court and his retinue. His Imperial Majesty took the liberty of touring the representatives of the diplomatic corps, accepting congratulations, and conversing with them. At six o’clock in the evening, His Imperial Majesty departed from the Grand Palace.

The Active Army At the New Year’s reception in the headquarters of the Southwest Front, the General-Adjutant Commander-in-Chief of the armies, Brusilov, delivered the following speech: — …Now a new year, 1917, arrives. Based on the information available to me and on my deep conviction, I am fully persuaded that this year the enemy will finally be decisively defeated. We do not wish to destroy him entirely, but we must punish him for the sea of blood he has flooded Europe with. We must strike down the evil force of militarism within him. And that force is truly evil. All peoples acknowledge that there is only one universal God who created the universe. The Germans, however, claiming that their god is special—their «old German god.» Since such a god does not exist, I suppose it is little less than Satan himself. We are currently fighting against this satanic god, who embodies the spirit of the Austro-German people. I hope that the One and Just God will help us conquer him. I raise my glass to the Supreme Leader of the Russian Land, the Sovereign Emperor, to holy Russia, to our Victory! Long live the Emperor! Long live holy Russia! Hurrah!..

Petrogradskie Vedomosti, No. 2

From the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander

Western Front In the Riga district, south of Lake Babit, the Germans launched an assault against our forces positioned seven verst east of the village of Kalntsev with dense formations. The attack was repulsed by our fire and a counterattack.

Romanian Front The Austrians attempted to advance on our forces east of the village of Putna (in the Putna River valley) but were driven back by fire. Their attacks on our forces, located north of the Slonika River and south of the Oitos River, were repulsed. The enemy attacked the Romanians stationed six verst west of Pralea (eighteen verst south of the confluence of the Casina River with the Trotus), but was driven back by fire. Enemy troops attempted to launch an offensive near Raduleschi (ten verst east of Focșana), but were driven into their trenches by our fire. The enemy, with up to three regiments and the support of heavy artillery, launched an attack on our guard line from Cotu-Mihali (along the Sirete River to Vedeni, ten verst north of Braila). After repulsing several assaults, our forward units cleared the village of Cotu-Mihali under pressure from the enemy’s superior forces.

Turkish Front On the night of December 30, our troops attacked the Turks located south of the village of Telme (twenty verst northwest of Kalkita). The Turks fled. We captured prisoners, weapons, and destroyed the enemy’s defensive fortifications.

Charity Performance F. I. Shalyapin is staging a charity performance at the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. The Verdi opera «Don Carlos» will premiere with his participation…

New Times, No. 14666 Ice Skating Competition We report the results of the speed skating competition held in Moscow for a cup honoring the renowned champion N. V. Strunnikov. The competition proceeded with limited interest because the main competitor, P. Ippolitos Melnikov, did not participate, allowing the first-place finisher to secure an easy victory. The technical results are as follows: Melnikov (Physical Education Society) took the 500-meter distance first—49.7 seconds. Kuvshinov placed second, and Gazenfus placed third. Melnikov won the 1,500-meter distance in 2 minutes and 42 seconds; Kryuchkov took second place… Melnikov finished the 5,000-meter distance in 9 minutes and 33.4 seconds; Kudryavtsev came in second—9 minutes and 55.2 seconds. Melnikov finished the 10,000-meter distance in 20 minutes and 4.6 seconds, and Gazenfus placed second—21 minutes and 27.2 seconds, with Kudryavtsev in third place…

Hockey A match for the Cup of the Petrograd Hockey League took place at the Putilov circle rink. The home team played against «Sport.» Initially, the Putilov team attacked aggressively, but the «Sport» team energetically defended all the attacks. Later, after familiarizing themselves with the players and the rink, the «Sport» players switched to offense and scored three goals against the opponents before the intermission, while only allowing one against their own net. After the intermission, «Sport» held the attacking initiative and scored five goals. The final score was 8:1 in favor of «Sport.» …Good plays were made by goalie Mednikov and the midfield line, and offensively by Batyrev and Markov.

Target Shooting On January 6th, at 1:30 PM, open competitions from the council and union will take place for shooting military rifles over a distance of 400 yards.

Petrograd Gazette, No. 3 Chronicle During the transfer to prison of the clerk V. Petrov, arrested the day before New Year’s, who embezzled 130,000 rubles… the last person absconded from the escorting guards…

Due to the significant rise in crime in Petrograd, the city governor, Mr. A. P. Balk, convened a special meeting to determine measures for preventing theft and robbery in the capital…

Yesterday, the private Sampsonievskaya Hospital opened for the employees and workers of six large factories…

Petersburg Gazette, No. 3

The upward trend in prices on the Baku oil market, which began in the final days of last month, continued at the last exchange meeting… Large demand remains unmet, despite intensified efforts to find light crude in greater quantities. Fuel oil was also sought, but there was no supply. Kerosene is also unavailable for sale…

Our Technological Progress Just before the New Year, the Council of Ministers adopted a bill regarding the use of energy from waterfalls and river currents, allocating 32 million rubles for the utilization of the Malaya Imatra to supply the capital with a vast reserve of electrical energy. A dormant power source, which we refer to as «white coal» and which has long been exploited in America, is finally being awakened… …Until now, our waterfalls attracted only tourists, and the currents of mountain rivers provided no benefit. The mountain rivers of the Caucasus, holding colossal reserves of «white coal,» are waiting in vain to be harnessed. The Dnipro rapids present only a major inconvenience to navigation. …A large sum of money was allocated to begin the work, which will commence immediately, deep in winter, with the goal of completing this new, grandiose technical structure by the autumn of 1918. According to the design, the white coal of the Imatra will provide Petrograd with half of the total energy consumed by the capital…-sky

New Times, No. 14667 In the Realm of Gossip and Nightmares …The repression and disenfranchisement of the press have placed gossip beyond competition, making it the monopolist of public awareness. People believe gossip more than newspapers… You cannot print about a multitude of subjects, but you can lie orally about anything and everything as much as you wish—and it is no surprise that in the end, the entire society listens with incomparably greater interest to dirty, unchanging, yet free gossip… …Malicious gossip attributes to the current government the plan to suspend legislative bodies for an indefinite period in order to manage the country’s fate through unitary administrative reorganization without any restraint from the colleges established by the current fundamental laws. It is hardly necessary to prove the utter absurdity of such a plan… but the trouble is that there are people preaching this absurdity and believing in the near possibility of its realization. During a war that demands the unity of all living public and government forces in the sacred cause of national self-defense, nurturing plans for a black revolution is as criminal and unpatriotic as engaging in destructive attempts to engineer a red revolution…I. Gofshtetter