THE EASTERN FRONT.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15894, 7 May 1917, Page 8

THE EASTERN FRONT.

RUSSIANS AND GERMANS FRATERNISE. PRACTICALLY AN ARMISTICE. i ENEMY RUSE FEARED. (Br Cable —Frees Association—Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Cablo Association.) PETROGRAD, May 4. _ A correspondent states that practically an armistice exists along tie -whole .Ilusso-Gorman front. No shot has "been, fired by; the. Austrians or .Russians . for a month past, and the Russians and Germans are fraternising at many points. So frequent Has this becomo that General Gourka, Commander of tho Minsk area, has been obliged to warn, his soldiers that tho Germans are probably intending this as a ruse. ATTACK 0N PETROGRAD POSTPONED. RUSSIA WILL NOT BE TAKEN UNAWARES. GERMAN AGENTS AT WORK. (Received May 6th, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, May 5. The Petrograd correspondent of the

"Morning Post," in a despatch dated May oth, states that the German policy as regards Russia's internal development has notably changed. Germany apparently regards the Stokhod attack as a psychological mistake, despite the fact that a 'Russian army corps was wiped out, because it has consolidated the army and checked the growth of revolutionary principles among the troops. The German attack on PetrogTad may be regarded as postponed for the present in the hope that the political feiment may produce a more favourable situation later. Meanwhile a host of German 3gen>.s is working for the same end. British and French activity in the West is a contributing factor to Germany's inactivity. She has already withdrawn seventeen divisions from the Eastern front. In any case, Russia won't be caught unawares on land, despite the political ferment, because the belated thaw is causing exceptional floods, rendering operations impracticable on the several fronts. SPIES IN THE LINES. G ENERA L BRUSILOFF' S WARNING. PETROGRAD, May A. General Brusiloff has warned his armies that German Parlementaires are entering the Russian lines ostensibly on peaceful missions, but .he adds; "Several of those taken prisoner have confessed to acting on instructions to inspect tho Russian lines and learn the disposition and strength, of the forces."