861.00/5454: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Viborg (Imbrie) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 23, 9:10 a.m.]
125. The statement of Russian General Staff that Kronstadt has been captured by Whites is untrue and was made for political purposes that Finnish Diet might be influenced against negotiating peace with Bolsheviks. Petrograd has issued an order announcing that Petrograd will be defended and calling for reinforcements. The mining of the Neva bridges has been inspected and machine guns moved to strategic points. If Petrograd is not taken within one week, the probabilities are it will be only taken upon Denikine’s advance from south.
There is now in session at Moscow a convention of representatives from all Soviets of Russia, called for purpose discussing plans for saving Soviet Government.
A report just made to the Central Executive Committee by engineers in charge of various factories is to the effect that it will be impossible for the works to function longer than one month and that the evacuation of machinery is impracticable, because railways are wholly occupied with military transport.