TELEGRAM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT
May 14, 1919
We have received the following telegrams from the Plenipotentiary of the Council of Defense: the first, “The front along the Don has been breached,” and so on; and the second, “It is imperative to purge the ranks of the Red Army,” and so on.
In addition, there are reports of disintegration within our units and a complete lack of initiative on the part of local command. As is evident, the suppression of the uprising is dragging on ever longer, while the threat of the insurgents joining forces with Denikin’s troops continues to grow.
Are you monitoring operations closely enough?
Is it not necessary to reinforce the Southern Front with additional units from the reserves? How many of the 214 communists whom the Chief of the Political Administration dispatched to the south in April and May have you deployed for this purpose? What new measures have been taken to effectively put an end to the uprising, and when can we expect its complete suppression? Is mobilization underway among the peasantry south of the insurgent zone? The case of General Staff officer Karpov must be thoroughly investigated. We await your reply.
Lenin