The Council of Workmen's and Soldiers'
Deputies leads you to peace by another route. We lead you to peace
by calling upon the workers and peasants of Serbia and Austria to
rise and revolt; we lead you to peace by calling an international
conference of Socialists for a universal and determined revolt
against war. There is a great necessity, comrades--soldiers, for
the peoples of the world to awaken. Time is needed in order that
they should rebel and with an iron hand force their Czars and
capitalists to peace. Time is needed so that the toilers of all
lands should join with us for a merciless war upon violators and
robbers.

_But remember, comrades--soldiers, this time will never come if
you do not stop the advance of the enemy at the front, if your
ranks are crushed and under the feet of Wilhelm falls the
breathless corpse of the Russian Revolution_.

Remember, comrades, that at the front, in the trenches, you are
now standing in defense of Russia's freedom. You defend the
Revolution, you defend your brothers, the workers and peasants.
Let this defense be worthy of the great cause and the great
sacrifices already made by you. _It is impossible to defend the
front if, as has been decided, the soldiers are not to leave the
trenches under any circumstances_.[19] At times only an attack can
repulse and prevent the advance of the enemy. At times awaiting an
attack means patiently waiting for death. Again, only the change
to an advance may save you or your brothers, on other sections of
the front, from destruction.

Remember this, comrades--soldiers! Having sworn to defend Russian
freedom, do not refuse to start the offensive the military
situation may require. The freedom and happiness of Russia are in
your hands.

In defending this freedom be on the lookout for betrayal and
trickery. The fraternization which is developing on the front can
easily turn into such a trap.

Revolutionary armies may fraternize, but with whom? With an army
also revolutionary, which has decided to die for peace and
freedom. At present, however, not only in the German army, but
even in the Austro-Hungarian army, in spite of the number of
individuals politically conscious and honest, there is no
revolution. In those countries the armies are still blindly
following Wilhelm and Charles, the