RUINED RUSSIA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16211, 14 May 1918, Page 7

RUINED RUSSIA.

FINAL CATASTROPHE NEAR

I (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) ! ("The Times.") LONDON, May 12. "The Times" correspondent at Moscow states that Russia again seems, dangerously near a final catastrophe. The cry here is that the Germans will shortly occupy Petrograd and Moscow. This is based on the belief that tho Bolshevik dictators will not yield to a series of German ultimatums, or that submission had been made purposely impossible. The people now recognise that it is only the German .will which count's. Some welcome tho invasion, hoping that it will terminate the present chaos. The Gei-man Ambassador's demands include the immediate return of all German prisoners, tho restoration of order, for which purpose the Soviet forces are insufficient, and the surrender of Fortino, which is connected with Kronstadt's system of fortifications.

Commissaries sit in constant session, sending protest's to Berlin, which remains uncompromising. It is stated that two Gorman divisions from Pskoff will occupy Fetrograd unless the Soviet submits.

(Router's TclegTama.)

MOSCOW. May 12. Many political and criminal prisoners h.aro been released, including the exWar Minister General Sukhomlinoff:

also other Ministers of the Romanoff and Kerensky regimes, except those charged with high treason or embezzlement. THE ROMANOFFS' CAPTIVITY.

(Australian and Cal>l© Association.) BERNE, May 12. The "Frankfurter Zeitung's" Crimea correspondent visited Diublo Castle, where the Romanoffs aro kept prisoners under the surveillance of 25 soldier's from Sebastopol. The Soviet has sworn to prevent their escape. Tho Archduke Nicholas refused to receive the correspondent, explaining that ho had nothing to say.