1917. Week 19. 05/08–05/14

Russian Word, No. 103 Siege in Yeniseysk Yeniseysk. Over thirty residential buildings have been destroyed by daily fires over three weeks. The population is fleeing in a panic. The cause of the fires is arson. It is predominantly the poor who are burning down their homes. It is assumed that criminal offenders are committing the arson…

Dark Forces Rostov-Don. Riot agitation is spreading. In the dark alleys, on the outskirts, and in the bazaars, dark elements are inciting the people to seize property from the rich and to deal with the intelligentsia—the «guilty party of the revolution and famine.» At the same time, there is unrest in the criminals' camp. The unrest is caused by the increasing number of vigilante justice acts. Ruffians are threatening to burn down the city if the vigilante actions do not cease.

Hooligans' Willfulness Simbirsk. Soldier Petrov, who disrupted the Alatyr garrison, was arrested in Proizina. By taking on the role of judge and jury in Alatyr, Petrov replaced 35 officers and the commander in the local garrison. In Proizina, Petrov also caused a scandal in the church. He gave a speech of a riotous nature here, and then demanded the playing of the «Marseillaise.» Those present in the church refused, and Petrov then sang the «Marseillaise» by himself.

Speech, No. 109 Declaration of Soldier’s Rights Today, the Declaration of Soldier’s Rights, signed by Minister of War Kerensky, was announced… It must be noted that this declaration grants the Russian soldier rights that no soldier in any army in the world possesses. The declaration proclaims soldiers as full citizens with the indisputable right to self-determination; it gives every soldier the opportunity to participate in the nation’s political life… it emancipates him as a citizen from subordination to his superior outside of his duties. The armies of all countries stand apart from political life; not only soldiers but also officers lack the right to participate in the political life, to take part in elections, and so on. The Russian army, however, has obtained these rights. It becomes the first army to live with the full scope of political rights… The goal of the declaration is to raise discipline within the army—which had been somewhat shaken during the revolutionary days—and to restructure the army’s life upon new democratic principles.

Sovremennoye Slovo, No. 3329 The Looming Collapse of Industry Sharp currents of modern life burst into the business atmosphere of the Provisional Government, forcing ministers to confront the actual conditions created in industrial life… The situation, according to industrialists, became, in the literal sense of the word, absolutely hopeless… …Now, labor must be paid not from revenues, but from core capital that will be exhausted in a short time, after which the enterprises will be liquidated. The workers themselves understand this, but they are infected with the idea that the state will then take over the enterprises. Meanwhile… the state cannot meet the demands put forth by the workers… The Minister of Labor, M. I. Skobelev, delivered an extensive speech… The Minister of Labor finds the workers' desire to increase their earnings quite understandable. Until now, wages were dreadfully low… The propertied classes must, at this time, set aside claims of class egoism in favor of the interests of the state. If industrialists truly want to bring Russian industry through the end of the war, they are obligated in this critical moment to forgo profit… The industrialists stated that they are prepared to waive their profits and consider government intervention necessary to regulate the relationship between labor and capital…D. Lvov

Moscow Gazette, No. 99

Yesterday, the opening of the All-Russian Congress of Secondary School Figures took place at the premises of the Moscow Higher Women’s Courses… At the morning session, speeches were given by Professor G. I. Chelpanov and A. F. Fortunatov… Professor Chelpanov, analyzing various types of general secondary education, identified the classical, purely foundational school as the one best suited to pedagogical goals, providing a solid basis for formal thought. A. D. Alferov’s report, announcing that the Academy of Sciences had recently approved a project to simplify Russian orthography, caused a stir of enthusiasm in the hall. The congress’s substantive work begins on the very first day… Presentations by G. G. Kornilov and Ventzel are being discussed concerning the democratic foundations of the free school and the school’s separation from the state. The atmosphere of the congress is decidedly spirited. It will last until May 15.

New Times, No. 14777 A Cry of Despair The latest decree from the State Food Committee, urging food authorities to expedite inventory counts, «re-examine the reported data regarding potential bread stockpiles for June, ” and so on—everything mentioned in this decree is a poorly disguised cry of despair… In reality, all the recipes that Mr. Shingarev and Groman had demanded were implemented. Food committees were created, a bread monopoly and card system were introduced, all private bread transactions were banned, and private bread trade was wiped out with a single stroke of a pen. On paper, everything looked surprisingly neat. But in practice?… The country has three years' worth of food reserves, not exported abroad, yet there is no bread. The reason for this mess is that our food administrators wanted to replace private initiative with a food bureaucrat…B. Yuryevsky

Transportation Routes The soldiers' mischief continues. The Minister of Transportation receives new complaints daily. From the Ryazan-Ural Railway, reports come in that soldiers constantly demand—and threaten with violence—earlier train departures. Passengers in the cars throw various objects at the staff, injuring them. The head of the Murmansk Railway reports that soldiers occupy all second-class cars, forcing passengers onto the car platforms, and refuse to present tickets. On the Syzran-Vyezemsk line, they beat the station chief Kropachev. Although trains are accompanied by military delegates, this often does not save passengers from the soldiers' rampage. Junior staff are demoralized and wish to leave their posts. Station chief Shchavinsky, beaten by soldiers, died from his injuries…

Anarchy Land seizures have taken on a normal and systematic character. The chronicles of provincial press report instances of agrarian unrest. Occasionally, there are reports of land leases based on a «voluntary» agreement. Land seizures have also spread to Siberia…

On the Caucasus, freedom is understood the Caucasian way The old custom of blood revenge has awakened, and slaughter is occurring in the native villages. Two settlements are fighting next to the cultural center in Baku. There are dead and wounded…

Greetings, A. F. Kerensky

You accepted the minister’s portfolio, Kerensky, a left-wing deputy, Patron of the Russian land, Be a friend and brother to the people.

Kerensky, wise of mind, In abundance of kind words, In your heart will never fade Wisdom and love for the people.

You are the leader of the entire people, On the land and on the seas, Awaken the spirit of the people In the hardened hearts…

I. D. Gerasimov, conductor Of the Moscow Tramway Park in Petrograd

Russkoe Slovo, No. 107 | Birzhevye Vedomosti, No. 16233 (Evening Edition) | Russkiye Vedomosti, No. 113 Will Napoleon Appear? Comparisons between our revolution and the French revolution appear in one newspaper and then another. «Rech» recently even featured Napoleon. According to them, he is currently a second lieutenant, the biggest captain, waiting for a train to Petrograd at a remote railway station… Is this true? Isn’t it destined that Napoleon will never wait for a train in Petrograd? In reality, where would Napoleon come from? Napoleon was indeed born of revolution. But what kind? The French, glorious one. How much pathos, heroism, and brilliant feats there were!.. And with us? The Germans were forced to create special «kissing» companies—such a craving for camaraderie and kisses overwhelmed us… If we are not afraid of words, we must say that we effectively have a separate truce right now. Instead of righteous indignation against the enemy who has occupied several of our provinces, there is assurance that we do not want indemnities. We are so magnanimous that we refuse Constantinople; we fear the dread—imperialism—that the Armenians of Turkey have already brought into terror—that refusing annexations threatens them with genuine extermination. Peace, peace, and peace… Instead of ambition—we speak of how untrimmed it would be to end the war. Instead of world-spanning grandeur—it’s «my little house, that’s all,» «let’s get back to our homes soon.» What Napoleon is there in all this?..Mark Byalkovsky

George Cross awarded to A.F. Kerensky On behalf of the George Lancers of the 3rd Caucasian Army Corps, a delegation arrived in Petrograd… The delegation presented the following resolution: «On May 13th of this year, at a meeting of officers and soldiers of the George Lancers of the 3rd Caucasian Army Corps, numbering 134 people, in the presence of Major General Shebersky, and by the unanimous desire of all corps officials, it was unanimously resolved: To present the George Cross of the 2nd degree, No. 27,087, to the First Citizen-Minister of the Revolutionary Russian Army and Fleet, A.F. Kerensky—that very cross which Citizen-Soldier D.A. Vinogradov, inspired by the Minister’s call to defend the freedom of Russia, tore from his chest and handed to the Minister as a sign of his devotion and understanding of duty. The cross laments to the Citizen-Minister, as an outstanding hero who performed great feats in the struggle for the freedom of Russian land, and as our leader who arrived on the theater of military operations on May 13th of this year, that with his passionate words he ignited the hearts of the fighters of the 3rd Caucasian Corps and created a fervent impulse of a single desire to charge against the enemy to save the honor and glory of Russia and to strengthen the conquered freedom. This feat should be rewarded in accordance with Articles 7 and 73 of the George Statute.» The delegation will present the George Cross to the Minister upon his return to Petrograd.