Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/198

 discipline, the daily routine was carried on almost as well as under the Czarist régime. That is partly owing to the Soviets and partly in spite of them. In spite of the Soviets, because at the beginning of the revolutionary era they systematically sapped the prestige of the recognized authorities of the army, which constitute, after all, the sole responsible authority competent to deal with all questions of military tactics, properly so called.

The Soviets, in a whole series of questions of internal discipline, have obtained from the soldier better obedience by re- placing the former slavish obedience by a new and more spontaneous discipline with a more direct bearing on the needs and views of the men.

They have had a weakening influence when they introduced into the conduct of military operations and the general direction of the army, an element of parliamentary deliberation, political discussion being incompatible with the principles imposed by the necessities of war, which demand unity of command, centralization of responsibilities, and rapid decisions.