5. With the abolition of the rank of officer, all separate officers’ organisations are abolished. Note.—Orderlies are left only for headquarters, chanceries, Committees and other Army organisations. _President of the Council of People’s Commissars,_ VL. ULIANOV (LENIN). _People’s Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs,_ N. KRYLENKO. _People’s Commissar for Military Affairs,_ N. PODVOISKY. _Secretary of the Council,_ N. GORBUNOV. * * * * * _On the Elective Principle and the Organisation of Authority in the Army_ 1. The army serving the will of the toiling people is subject to its supreme representative—the Council of People’s Commissars. 2. Full authority within the limits of military units and combinations is vested in the respective Soldiers’ Committees and Soviets. 3. Those phases of the life and activity of the troops which are already under the jurisdiction of the Committees are now formally placed in their direct control. Over such branches of activity which the Committees cannot assume, the control of the Soldiers’ Soviets is established. 4. The election of commanding Staff and officers is introduced. All commanders up to the commanders of regiments, inclusive, are elected by general suffrage of squads, platoons, companies, squadrons, batteries, divisions (artillery, 2-3 batteries), and regiments. All commanders higher than the commander of a regiment, and up to the Supreme Commander, inclusive, are elected by congresses or conferences of Committees. Note.—By the term “conference” must be understood a meeting of the respective Committees together with delegates of committees one degree lower in rank. (Such as a “conference” of Regimental Committees with delegates from Company Committees.—Author.) 5. The elected commanders above the rank of commander of regiment must be confirmed by the nearest Supreme Committee. Note. In the event of a refusal by a Supreme Committee to confirm an elected commander, with a statement of reasons for such refusal, a commander elected by the lower Committee a second time must be confirmed. 6. The commanders of Armies are elected by Army congresses. Commanders of Fronts are elected by congresses of the respective Fronts. 7. To posts of a technical character, demanding special knowledge or other practical preparation, namely: doctors, engineers, technicians, telegraph and wireless operators, aviators, automobilists, etc., only such persons as possess the required special knowledge may be elected, by the Committees of the units of the respective services. 8. Chiefs of Staff must be chosen from among persons with special military training for that post. 9. All other members of the Staff are appointed by the Chief of Staff, and confirmed by the respective congresses. Note.—All persons with special training must be listed in a special list.