Photograph from Stanley Washburn 

 RUSSIAN MOUNTED GUARD DIRECTlNCx THE ENTRANCE OF A CARTLOAD OF BREAD 

 INTO A TOWN ON THE GALICIAN FRONT 



In the early part of June, Kerensky 

 undertook a tour along the entire front. 

 He did it in order to speed the work of 

 reorganizing the army and put it into 

 shape for the coming offensive. Every- 

 where the Minister discussed the war 

 with the soldiers, endeavoring to prove to 

 them the necessity of continuing the 

 struggle with the German militarism and 

 in order to safeguard Russian freedom 

 and the conquest of the revolution. Dur- 

 ing one of these discussions the following 

 scene took place : 



"freedom is not self-will" 



A soldier asked the Minister whether 

 it will not be necessary to attack the Ger- 

 mans in order to consolidate the con- 

 quests of freedom. The Minister in re- 

 ply said that an attack would be a matter 

 to be dealt with by the higher com- 

 mandant. 



Whereupon the soldier said, "If we 

 advance, we shall all perish, and dead 

 people need neither freedom nor land. 

 That is why the government must hasten 

 to make peace." 



The soldier was about to go on with 

 his argument when he was sharply inter- 

 rupted by the Minister. 



"Freedom does not mean the self-will 

 of each and every one," said Kerensky 

 severely, "and the power instituted by the 

 revolution is a real power. Russian sons 

 have during decades past perished on the 

 gallows ; they have not given their lives 

 in order to have the first coward that 

 comes along place egotistical interest 

 above the interests of the country and 

 people. 



"A real revolutionary never thinks of 

 personal advantage or safety. 



"His great happiness is to die for the 

 common good. 



"He who is afraid of his shadow is 

 not worthy of freedom. 



"Mr. Colonel," added Kerensky, ad- 

 dressing the commandant of the regi- 

 ment, "make it known in tomorrow's 

 order that this soldier is freed from the 

 army. He is at liberty to go home, but 

 every one will know that he is a coward, 

 who refused to defend the Russian land." 



"Permit me, Minister," replied the Col- 



39 



