november 14, 1917
Leninists claim victory
The following communication, transmitted through the Wireless Station of the Russian Government, was received in London yesterday:History will record the night of November 12. The attempt of Kerensky to move counter-revolutionary forces against the capital of the Revolution has received a decisive reply. Kerensky is retiring, and we are taking the offensive. The soldiers, sailors, and workmen of Petrograd will impose, with arms in their hands, their will and the power of democracy. The bourgeoisie has endeavoured to separate the Army from the Revolution. Kerensky has attempted to break it by the violence of Cossackdom. Both efforts have failed. The workmen and peasants’ great conception of the supremacy of democracy has united the ranks of the Army and has steeled its will. The whole country will see that the authority of the Soviets is not a passing phase, but an unchangeable fact denoting the supremacy of the workmen, soldiers, and peasants.
The opposition to Kerensky is opposition to the landlords, the bourgeois, and the Korniloffs. It is the affirmation of the people’s right to peace, a free life, land, bread, and power. The Pulkoff detachment*, by its gallant blow, is affirming the cause of the Revolution of workmen and peasants. There is no return to the past. We have still to fight, to conquer obstacles, and to sacrifice ourselves. But the way is opened, and victory is certain. Let us ever remember the fallen, and glorify the fighters, revolutionary soldiers and officers who have remained loyal to the people. Long live Revolutionary, Democratic, and Socialist Russia! (Signed) trotsky. In the name of the People’s Commissaries.
* The “Pulkoff detachment” is unknown to history. The context, however, suggests that this name has been bestowed upon the Extremist force raised at Pulkovo, a small village, famous as the seat of the Nicholas Observatory, five miles north of the former Imperial borough of Tsarskoe Selo, and about eight miles south of Petrograd. Any force fighting on the Pulkovo-Tsarskoe Selo line would be well forward of the chief Russian Wireless Station, the recapture of which has presumably enabled the Extremists to transmit the above grandiloquent message in the guise of Government communications.
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The sub editors at The Times who had obviously pored over Russia atlases were correct. The "Pulkoff Detachment" were a key element in the revolutionary army who took on and defeated advancing troops from the south ad loyal to Kerensky. From their base at Pulkovo they took and held the town of Tsarskoe Selo where the Government Short Wave Radio transmitter was sited. A copy of the order of the day on that occasion read;
To the Troops of the Pulkovo Detachment.
November 13, 1917. 38 minutes past 9 a. m. After a cruel fight the troops of the Pulkovo detachment completely routed the counter-revolutionary forces, who retreated from their positions in disorder, and under cover of Tsarskoye Selo fell back toward Pavlovsk and Gatchina.
Our advanced units occupied the northeastern extremity of Tsarskoye Selo and the station Alexandrovskaya. The Colpinno detachment was on our left, the Krasnoye Selo detachment to our right.
I ordered the Pulkovo forces to occupy Tsarskoye Selo, to fortify its approaches, especially on the side of Gatchina.
Also to pass and occupy Pavlovskoye, fortifying its southern side, and to take up the railroad as far as Dno.
The troops must take all measures to strengthen the positions occupied by them, arranging trenches and other defensive works. They must enter into close liaison with the detachments of Colpinno and Krasnoye Selo, and also with the Staff of the Commander in Chief for the Defence of Petrograd.
Signed,
Commander in Chief aver all Forces acting against the Counter-revolutionary Troops of Kerensky,
Lieutenant-Colonel Muraviov
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-13/register/precautions-for-safety-of-venice-tdfsbmnlw
* The “Pulkoff detachment” is unknown to history. The context, however, suggests that this name has been bestowed upon the Extremist force raised at Pulkovo, a small village, famous as the seat of the Nicholas Observatory, five miles north of the former Imperial borough of Tsarskoe Selo, and about eight miles south of Petrograd. Any force fighting on the Pulkovo-Tsarskoe Selo line would be well forward of the chief Russian Wireless Station, the recapture of which has presumably enabled the Extremists to transmit the above grandiloquent message in the guise of Government communications.
---------------
The sub editors at The Times who had obviously pored over Russia atlases were correct. The "Pulkoff Detachment" were a key element in the revolutionary army who took on and defeated advancing troops from the south ad loyal to Kerensky. From their base at Pulkovo they took and held the town of Tsarskoe Selo where the Government Short Wave Radio transmitter was sited. A copy of the order of the day on that occasion read;
To the Troops of the Pulkovo Detachment.
November 13, 1917. 38 minutes past 9 a. m. After a cruel fight the troops of the Pulkovo detachment completely routed the counter-revolutionary forces, who retreated from their positions in disorder, and under cover of Tsarskoye Selo fell back toward Pavlovsk and Gatchina.
Our advanced units occupied the northeastern extremity of Tsarskoye Selo and the station Alexandrovskaya. The Colpinno detachment was on our left, the Krasnoye Selo detachment to our right.
I ordered the Pulkovo forces to occupy Tsarskoye Selo, to fortify its approaches, especially on the side of Gatchina.
Also to pass and occupy Pavlovskoye, fortifying its southern side, and to take up the railroad as far as Dno.
The troops must take all measures to strengthen the positions occupied by them, arranging trenches and other defensive works. They must enter into close liaison with the detachments of Colpinno and Krasnoye Selo, and also with the Staff of the Commander in Chief for the Defence of Petrograd.
Signed,
Commander in Chief aver all Forces acting against the Counter-revolutionary Troops of Kerensky,
Lieutenant-Colonel Muraviov
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-13/register/precautions-for-safety-of-venice-tdfsbmnlw
november 13, 1917
Precautions for safety of Venice
By the flat banks of the Lower Piave is going on a massacre of campaniles. Out of the soft grey mists of the fenland these slender church towers rise, giving wide views that would dominate the artillery positions of either side. So the rude necessity of war demands that they should be destroyed. Beyond this mutual destruction of observation posts and occasional splutters of machine-gun fire, there has yet been nothing in the way of an attack upon the new Italian defensive line. The last Italian rearguard pushed back pursuing detachments of Austrians at Valdobbiadene, so as to gain time to cross the river and blow up the Vidor Bridge behind it. Work and fighting are being done in the snow, for what is only raw dampness down here in the plain takes the form of bitter winter conditions even among the lower Alps. The next point of note is Asiago, which has witnessed severe fighting within the last two days. Asiago had been abandoned to the enemy after street fighting which gave the Italians time to entrench themselves on the opposite side of the depression south of the town. Three miles farther east the Italians held an advanced line. On this the Austrians delivered a determined attack with several regiments after preparing the way by an artillery bombardment. But, having lost their front-line positions, the Italians won them back again with a counter-attack in which they took 100 prisoners. The Austrian losses in this engagement have been very heavy.
As the fighting line draws nearer Venice the Italian Government is doing all in its power to safeguard what it rightly esteems as something more than a national possession against danger from the blind, destructive fury of war. An hours bombardment, if the Austro-Germans ever succeeded in coming within range, would destroy the irreplaceable treasures of ages. So everything possible is being done to remove from the enemy the faintest shadow of a pretext for treating Venice as a fortress or an element of the Italian defences. No one in uniform is now allowed to enter the city, and the civil population is being encouraged to leave by a free train service. In such trying circumstances, Venetians are keeping up their hearts, and those now coming away all look forward with confidence to an early return.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-11/register/italys-ordeal-venice-threatened-l6nzrc9fr
Yesterday the Austro-Germans were closing round Conegliano. It is not to be expected that Conegliano, though protected on the north by hills, will be able to delay the enemy much longer. The troops left there are tough and have done all possible to prolong resistance, to the extent, even, of barricading the streets. They must inevitably fall back or find their line of retreat cut. They must retire across the River Piave by the great new bridge, and Italy must then stand face to face with her second and her greater crisis.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-11/register/italys-ordeal-venice-threatened-l6nzrc9fr
november 11, 1917
Italy’s ordeal — Venice threatened
The Italian forces have fallen back to the right (western) bank of the Piave and the artillery has entered into action. Before leaving Conegliano (five miles east of the Piave) Arditi shock troops made a fine defence in the streets, and between Conegliano and the Piave counter-attacked firmly, while at the same time the cavalry charged, advancing on the enemy on both flanks. Then before the enemy had recovered the Arditi and the cavalry passed undisturbed over the Pritla bridge, which was immediately blown up. The conduct of the rearguard troops, which have fought without intermission from Udine to the Piave, has won the admiration of the whole Army.Yesterday the Austro-Germans were closing round Conegliano. It is not to be expected that Conegliano, though protected on the north by hills, will be able to delay the enemy much longer. The troops left there are tough and have done all possible to prolong resistance, to the extent, even, of barricading the streets. They must inevitably fall back or find their line of retreat cut. They must retire across the River Piave by the great new bridge, and Italy must then stand face to face with her second and her greater crisis.
Her first crisis came on that morning when the Germans passed through the gap at Caporetto on to Italian soil. Udine and the Friuli fell into their hands then, and a limb of the country was gone. But today, with the arrival of Austro-Germans on the Piave, a greater peril may have to be faced.
If the Austro-Germans succeed in crossing the Piave there is no longer any natural barrier between them and Venice, and it would be as if the hair of Italy had been torn from her brows. Strategically it would mean that Austria had practically gained naval preponderance in the Upper Adriatic. A good omen is that the skies have repented of their favouritism. Rain has been falling, which will swell the river. It is a pity it did not fall sooner, but the Piave, like the Tagliamento, rises quickly. It also resembles the Tagliamento in those banks of gravel which lie in its bed but are covered when the river is high. Besides the bridge on the Conegliano road other important bridges were on the road to Oderzo and at Vidor, just after the river leaves the mountains, near where the poet Browning lived at Asolo.
If the Austro-Germans succeed in crossing the Piave there is no longer any natural barrier between them and Venice, and it would be as if the hair of Italy had been torn from her brows. Strategically it would mean that Austria had practically gained naval preponderance in the Upper Adriatic. A good omen is that the skies have repented of their favouritism. Rain has been falling, which will swell the river. It is a pity it did not fall sooner, but the Piave, like the Tagliamento, rises quickly. It also resembles the Tagliamento in those banks of gravel which lie in its bed but are covered when the river is high. Besides the bridge on the Conegliano road other important bridges were on the road to Oderzo and at Vidor, just after the river leaves the mountains, near where the poet Browning lived at Asolo.
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