V. I.

Lenin

221

To:   E. M. SKLYANSKY

Comrade Sklyansky, I am not well, I have had to go to bed.

Therefore reply by messenger .

The delaying of the offensive in the Voronezh direction
( from August 1 to 10 !!!) is monstrous. The successes of
Denikin are enormous.

What’s wrong? Sokolnikov said that there (on the approaches to Voronezh) our forces were four to one.

So what is wrong? How could we miss the boat in this way?

Tell the Commander-in-Chief that this won’t do . Serious
attention is required.

Should I not send the following telegram to the
Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front (copy
to Smilga):

In code

To be late with the offensive is quite intolerable, because this delay will yield the whole Ukraine to Denikin
and will ruin us. You answer for every day and even hour
that the offensive is held up unnecessarily. Inform us at
once of your explanations, and the date when at last you
will begin a resolute offensive.

Lenin
Chairman, Defence Council

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