Page:John Reed - Ten Days that Shook the World - 1919, Boni and Liveright.djvu/266

 CHAPTER IX

VICTORY

Order Number I

To the Troops of the Pulkovo Detachment. November 13, 1917.&emsp;38 minutes past 9 a. m.

After a cruel fight the troops of the Pulkovo detachment completely routed the counter-revolutionary forces, who retreated from their positions in disorder, and under cover of Tsarskoye Selo fell back toward Pavlovsk II and Gatchina.

Our advanced units occupied the northeastern extremity of Tsarskoye Selo and the station Alexandrovskaya. The Colpinno detachment was on our left, the Krasnoye Selo detachment to our right.

I ordered the Pulkovo forces to occupy Tsarskoye Selo, to fortify its approaches, especially on the side of Gatchina.

Also to pass and occupy Pavlovskoye, fortifying its southern side, and to take up the railroad as far as Dno.

The troops must take all measures to strengthen the positions occupied by them, arranging trenches and other defensive works.

They must enter into close liaison with the detachments of Colpinno and Krasnoye Selo, and also with the Staff of the Commander in Chief for the Defence of Petrograd.

Signed,  Commander in Chief over all Forces acting against the Counter-revolutionary Troops of Kerensky, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Tuesday morning. But how is this? Only two days ago the Petrograd campagna was full of leaderless bands, Rh