31 July 1917. Alfred Knox

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Alfred Knox

On July 31st General Brusilov was removed from his position as Supreme Commander-in-Chief and was replaced by General Kornilov, who, however, did not assume control till August 5th. General Radko Dimitriev resigned command of the 12th Army, nominally on grounds of ill-health, but really because he had at last found that even his concessions were unable to keep pace with the growing demands of the men. He was succeeded by General Parski.

General Gheremisev was promoted to command the South-West Front.While the army was going to pieces in front, in rear there was an economic and food crisis. The demands of the workmen exceeded all bounds, the technical officials were expelled or murdered and the Government proved powerless to restore order. The peasants held back their grain, the paper currency having lost value and there being no manufactures which might induce them to part with their produce. The production on the great estates had diminished, as the owners had been expelled, and the peasant expropriators awaited a “legaltitle” before commencing to till. The railways were rapidly deteriorating. In August, 1917, 26 per cent, of the engines and 8 per cent, of the wagons were under repair as compared with 18 per cent, and 3 per cent, in August, 1916. The autocracy in the war had brought Russia very near to disaster, but the flabbiness of the Government which succeeded it did more harm to the country in four months than the autocracy accomplished in two and a half years.

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