December 15, 1918
To the Revolutionary Military Council: NJB: once again and again:
nothing to the west, a little to the east, all (almost) to the south*
Lenin

* The resolution was written by V. I. Lenin on the following telegram from the Chief Commander to the head of the Red Army supply department: "The units advancing to the west are not sufficiently provided with supplies, especially bread. It is proposed to urgently organize this matter under your personal responsibility so that the troops do not experience any shortages."

** The All-Russian Bureau of Military Commissars was established on April 8, 1918.

## NOTES ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN BUREAU OF MILITARY COMMISSARS**
December 17, 1918
Bureau of Military Commissars
About 6 departments
More than 6,000 (up to 7,000)
commissars
In a district, 2 commissars in provinces, regions, etc.
((This bureau includes all kinds of commissars.))

Departments:
- registration and distribution
- agitation and enlightenment
- military communications
- inspectorate
- [conflict]
- cadets (military
commissioners)
- information

### 1917 - 1918 YEARS

44525
## NOTE FROM V. I. LENIN AND I. V. STALIN VIA DIRECT WIRE
Dvinsk
December 18, 1918, 23:55
The note has been received. We are all very pleased with your reports.
Greetings. Free Vilnius* as soon as possible.
Lenin. Stalin
Printed from a typewritten copy.
14519
## FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE
December 18, 1918

### ON THE REPORT BY I. V. STALIN ON PROVIDING THE RED ARMY WITH ACCOMMODATIONS
Approved, to be published**.
* On December 18, a report was received from Dvinsk about the beginning of the evacuation of German troops from Vilnius and the establishment of a Council of Workers' Deputies there (see "Izvestia" No. 278, December 19, 1918).
** The decision of the Council of Defense was published in "Izvestia" No. 278, December 19, 1918, signed by V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin. The decision stated:
"In order to provide the Red Army with necessary accommodations, the Council of Defense has decided:
1. To form, within three days, a Central Commission for finding accommodations for the Red Army under the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs, consisting of representatives from the People's Commissariat for Education, the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs, the housing and land department, the Moscow Military District Commissariat, and the VCPK.
2. The Central Commission for finding accommodations for the Red Army is tasked with: a) using vacant closed factories, plants, almshouses, arenas, large commercial buildings; b) densifying all accommodations, including barracks; c) clearing, if necessary, large stone houses with central heating; d) doubling and scheduling classes in schools to free up some school premises for barracks.
3. The Central Commission is to establish, as auxiliary bodies: a) district commissions, consisting of representatives from the Commissariat for Education, the Military District Administration, the housing and land department of the local Soviet, the housing administration, and the provincial executive committee; b) provincial commissions, consisting of representatives from the Commissariat for Education, the military and housing-land departments of the Soviet.
4. All People's Commissariats and their local departments are to consider the decisions of the Central and district commissions as final."

### ON DETERMINING THE SIZE OF THE ARMY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY
The Council of Defense approves, for the near future, a plan to form an army of one and a half million people and 300,000 horses.

### ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ARTILLERY FACTORY IN THE VOLGA REGION
The Main Artillery Administration is instructed to report on Wednesday on the state of our army's artillery supply and production capabilities.
Chairman of the Council of Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Printed from the protocol No. 6 of the meeting of the Council of Defense, December 18, 1918.