V. I.

Lenin

196

TELEGRAM TO I. N. SMIRNOV

May 12, 1919

Ivan Nikitich Smirnov, Member of the Revolutionary Military Council
Revolutionary Military Council 5

Do you guarantee that the reports attributed to you, concerning the demoralisation of Kolchak’s forces and their
mass desertion to our side, are not exaggerated? If you do,
what steps have you taken, first, to accelerate the offensive
and consolidate the victory and, secondly, to dispatch to
all units of both the Eastern and Southern Fronts deserters
from Kolchak who have experienced his atrocities and are
capable of raising the spirit of our army?

Lenin
Chairman, Defence Council