KAISER DROPS THE MASK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 11 January 1918, Page 5

KAISER DROPS THE MASK.

GERMANY'S REAL AIMS. PRACTICAL AND AGGRESSIVE. LONDON, January 3. Elements of opposition to the German terms are arising at Petrograd. Mr. Arthur Ransome, the "Daily News'' correspondent, claims that the Bolsheviks are considering the rejection of the proposals. He asserts that the negotiations at Breet-Litovsk ended in a lively scene, the Bolsheviks uncompromisingly claiming that the voting in Lithuania and elsewhere should ibe free from German influences, and jeering at the German delegates on the grouuds that the German public did not wish for annexations. They said that the audacity of the German terms surprised even the Junkers. Mr. Ransome states that the Bolsheviks are attempting to reorganise flic front defensively.

The " Dairy Express" correspondent says that regular rail and steamer services from Germany to Russia have been instituted. Other messages show that Germany's intentions are daily becoming franker, and the mask is gradually being dropped. Evidence, which is constantly drib: bling out, of vital differences between the Germans and the Russians at BrustLitovsK, disposes of the Bolsheviks' pretence of candid publicity, and provee that Germany has roughly disclosed her hand, with the sense of Russian weakness.

M. Pavlovitch, a non-Bolshevik delegate to the conference, states that if the Allies refuse to negotiate, Germany will consider herself absolved from her pledge againet annexations. The question of Russian annexations depends largely on the attitude of J the Ukrainians and the Cossacks. Germany's fun-, damental war aim is to create an economic union extending from Hamburg to the. Persian Gulf, giving Bulgaria and Turkey a position similar to that of Australia's economic relation to Great Britain. -

The "'Leipsic Yolks Zeitung" in an article blending brutal candour with humour, states that Germany's aims are purely practical and aggressive, anifl| would be made more palatable by a kind of plebiscite—anything but a manifestation of democratic right to self-deter-mination. Germany intends to use the Baltic barons and the Polish bourgeoisie as a spring-board for bolder annexations. The Baltic provinces and Poland will remain under the military domination of the Central Powers, which is tantamount to annexation.

The " Yolks Zeitung" f eara that this undisguised policy is very inimical to the interests of the Central Powers in connection with the general peace outlook.

A Paris message states that Swiss telegrams show that the German Press, freed from the officially inspired reserve, is cynically discussing the opportunities for plunder.

The " Tageszeitung" alleges that the Bolsheviks have agreed to various cessions.

The " Lokal Anzeiger " remarks that Courland, Lithuania, and Livonia have declared their intention of severance from Russia, therefore Russia's claims are untenable, and these provinces must not be evacuated, even during the negotiations.

Mr Bourchier, special cprreepondent of the "Times' , at Petrograd, states . that civil war is being prosecuted with activity on the Cossack front. The whole population of the Don Valley—men and women alike —was mobilised in 24 hours. Youths and women are being employed behind the lines. Thousands of former regular officers are flocking to General Kaledin, who is stated to have organised a corps of upwards of 20,000 soldiers, who had held commissioned rank in the Russian Army. The Cossacks have occupied Alexandrovsk without fighting, and disarmed the Bolsheviks. v

Violent eight days' fighting, between the Cossacks and the Bolsheviks at Irkutsk devastated the town. Many people are homeless, and whole families have been frozen.

A Petrograd meeeage states that fighting occurred between a Ukrainian lancer regiment and Maximalists between the stations, of Gjatsk and Smolensk. Two officers ani! a large number of men were killed.

A referendum is to be taken at Odessa to decide whether the city should belong to Ukraine or White Russia.

Mr. Bourchier, special correspondent of the " Times," states that the Germanisation of Petrograd is proceeding rapidly. German naval and military officers are arriving in large numbers. Austrian and German prisoners are figuring in street" processions.

The Bolsheviks have liberated large numbers of Auetrians and Germans from a concentration camp near Petrograd. They showed their appreciation by obtaining arms and raiding and plundering the neighbourhood.

Telegrams from Petrograd etate that German goods are arriving and lowering prices. The first convoy of German steamers is expected, in the Neva. The vessels are crammed with merchandise. The Bobhevikfl have taken precautions against British submarines.

The "Daily News" corroepondent's remarkable warning that the Germane are asking Russia to send an army ageinat the Allies ie not considered seriously, Russia's military collapse being «o complete that 2,000 Bolsheviks surrendered to n. few Chinese at Harbin, after a very brief fight. Keuter's correspondent at Zurich states that the " Frankfurter Zeitung" announces that the Government ia taking up a half interest in a Berlin syndicate which is being organised for the purpose of importing breadstuffe from Russia. The Government ia assuming all the riekfl. Similar sj'ndicates will he organised in Austria and Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey.

A sailor, Eremzeff, has been appointed temporary commander-in-chief of tihe Petrograd district.

A Washington message gtates that no official confirmation has been received of the reported arrest by the Bolsheviks of an American. railway mission at Irkutsk. The mission was headed 'by Mr. John Stevens, of New York, former chief engineer of the Panama Canal, and includes a number of most prominent American railway experts and engineers.