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Show KORNILOFF'S REVOLT. Events succeed themselves so rapidly in Russia that a commentary when set beside the latest dispatches is apt to bo about as illuminating as a dust-laden cobweb. Tho leading characters are playing the game rapidly, and a few days may witness tho elimination of Kerensky, Korniloff or both. General Korniloff is marching on Pctrogrnd with thousands of his followers. follow-ers. Kerensky and his supporters are showing a brave front in opposition, but they do not know when desertions from their ranks may topplo their whole structure upon their heads. Korniloff has tho support of tho conservatives; con-servatives; Kerensky of tho radicals, lioth sides probably will accuse the other of pro-German leanings, but it is significant that Skobclcff, a member of the Kerensky cabinet, has admitted that Mime members of tho cabinet are Ger-manophile. Ger-manophile. This is au amazing admission, admis-sion, for it is tantamount to saying that a part of the cabinet has been disloyal to iiussia and yot has been permitted by Kerensky to assist in directing HusBian affairs. Korniloff has already taken advantage ad-vantage of the situation by declaring in a proclamation that the provisional government gov-ernment has been serving the interests of Germany. Tho Maximalists and tho followers of Lcuine generally have favored a separate sepa-rate peace with Germany so that the socialists, and radicals might take control con-trol of Hie goveument and keep up the class struggle until socialism should become be-come established as the form of government gov-ernment and administration in Kussia. In tho present crisis they have called upon Kerensky to eliminate all conservatives conser-vatives from the conference, patterned after tho Moscow conference, which he plans to call. It seems as if the radicals radi-cals were making a decisive effort to take control of the government to tho exclusion of all other factions. Korniloff, the Cossack, aided by General Gen-eral Lokomsky, who is described as the brains of tho counter-revolution, will find their supporters among tho upper and middle classes, the Cossacks and to some extent among the peasants in a ' word, among the conservative classes. Kornilofl can hardly be suspected of being a pro-German, and he will win confidence because of his . brilliant offensive of-fensive which was so successful until tho radical elements in his army, influenced in-fluenced by the Lenine propaganda, deserted de-serted their posts anil ran away. His patriotism will not be questioned by-great by-great masses of the people, but 'necessarily 'neces-sarily he will attract to his revolt all those who wish to see the imperial regime restored. He cannot help representing, rep-resenting, in some degree, the reaction against revolution. Thus the issue becomes be-comes clearly defined. Tho radicals themselves help to make it plain. They insist upon dominating the government govern-ment to tho exclusion of other factions, and thereby they nllign against themselves them-selves all of these, factions. The German agents, of course, will be on both sides. They will do what the expediency of tho moment dictates. Their sole purpose will be to add fuel to the conflict by even- means within their power, and thus divide the enemy. Kerensky has sought to reassure the Petrograd population by the announcement announce-ment that the Baltic fleet is oyal to the provisional government, and that the railway employees are a unit in opposition op-position to Korniloff, and will refuse to transport his troops. But Korniloff seems to have stolen a march on his foes. His troops were on their way toward Petro-grad Petro-grad before Kerensky knew what was happening. Some of them have detrained de-trained at a point which is only about thirty-five miles from Petrograd, and presumably have the guns and ammunition am-munition necessary to cope wLth any force Kerensky can send against them. But Kerensky is not sure of his own troops, whereas Korniloff has probably assembled for the march on the capital only such troops as he can rely on absolutely. One effect of tho revolt will be to unmask the professional pacifists. They have been urging the Russian soldiers to desert from the ranks and permit the Geernnns to invade the country. Now they will be true to their pacifist teach- I ings, but they probably v ill oppose Korniloff and urge all of their followers ' to oppose him. j Meantime Kerenskv is about all there , ih left of tiio provisional government. J The members who belong to the conservative conser-vative factions will no longer act with the premier, and will await events, no doubt, before determining in what direction di-rection they will lend their support. Kerensky tried to transform the government govern-ment into a directory such as ruled Franco from October 'Jii, 17'J.j, to November !i, 1 791,1. He probably was prompted to make this attempt by the fact that the five men of the French directory remained in office during four years of tho most perilous times that ever have confronted France, Apparently the directory plan has been abandoned in favor of a national conference, which may go by tho board anv hour.' Nothing is stable in Petrograd. Petro-grad. Kerensky is treading on quicksand quick-sand and any moment may be engulfed. |