Photograph from H. S. Cresswell 

 A RUSSIAN "iSBA" IN A VILLAGE NEAR MOSCOW 



Far from a railway, these "isbas," or huts, are thatched, while the modern "isbas/ near 

 a railway, are tin-roofed and usually flat-roofed, as a protection against sparks from the 

 engines. 



old government, which held the people in 

 darkness, regard every printed word as 

 law. It is not difficult to play with this 

 element, but the game is apt to be 

 brought too far. 



"I came here because I believed in my 

 right to tell the truth as I understand it. 

 People who even under the old regime 

 went about their work openly and with- 

 out fear of death, those people, I say, 

 will not be terrorized. The fate of our 

 country is in our hands and the country 

 is in great danger. We have sipped of 

 the cup of liberty and we are somewhat 

 intoxicated. But we are not in need of 

 intoxication ; we are in need of the great- 

 est possible sobriety and discipline. We 

 must enter history so that they may write 

 on our graves : 'They died, but they were 

 never slaves.' " 



FIRST ORDERS BY THE NEW 

 OF WAR 



MINISTER 



As a member of the Coalition Cabinet, 

 Kerensky took the post of Minister of 



War and the Navy. One of the main 

 problems facing the new government was 

 the consolidation of the war strength of 

 the Russian army. 



It was desirable that the big task of 

 reorganizing the Russian troops be as- 

 sumed by Kerensky, who was most pop- 

 ular with the Russian soldiers. 



His first order to the Russian army 

 and navy was as follows : 



"Having assumed the military powers 

 of the country, I declare : 



"First. The country is in danger, and 

 a duty devolves upon every one to ex- 

 tricate her from it, regardless of difficul- 

 ties. I will therefore refuse to accept 

 resignations prompted by a desire to 

 avoid responsibilities in this grave hour. 



"Second. Those who have voluntarily 

 left their military and fleet units (de- 

 serters) must return at the appointed 

 time (the 28th of May). 



"Third. Those guilty of violation of 

 this order will be punished under the full 

 severity of the law. 



36 



