February 17, 1920

Under transport conditions, the labour army has to be regarded also as a reserve of the High Command, therefore it is not possible to refuse to detach a division from the army for combat tasks. The 56th Division is being transferred to the Caucasian Front, where the situation is very serious. Units of the 19th Division will be used for the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk operations; two cavalry regiments are being taken for the Polish Front, where, with the arrival of these regiments, a six-regiment cavalry division will be formed. The 10th Division is designated for detachment if reinforcement of the VI Army is required. Until the final clarification of this latter question, the 10th Division remains in the composition of the labour army and may be drawn into labour, but only to an extent that does not undermine its combat effectiveness.

To the Tambov Provincial Food Commissar: "Report immediately whether this order has been carried out in even a single instance. In issuing it, you exceeded your authority... What concrete practical measures have you taken for the purpose of control over the acceptance of grain and prevention of cases of delivery of damp grain, as well as for the purpose of control over the storage of grain and bringing it to a quality ensuring its long-term preservation. Reply to me immediately, with a copy to the Council of Defence, Lenin."

* In the margins of the original, written in V. I. Lenin's hand, there is his postscript: "all in cipher".