UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF AFFAIRS ON RUSSIAN FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3072, 7 May 1917, Page 5

UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF AFFAIRS ON RUSSIAN FRONT

PRACTICALLY AN ARMISTICE RUSSIANS AND GERMANS FRATERNISING AT MANY POINTS . Vancouver, May 4. .Hie United Press correspondent at Petrograd states that practically an armistice exists on the whole Russian-German front. ™ f shot has been tired hy the Austrians or Russians for a month past. the fraternising between Russians and Germans at many points was so lrequent that General Gourka, the commander in the Minsk area, was obliged to want the soldiers that the Germans AV ere probably intending a ruse.—Aus.A.Z,. Gable Assn. GRAYE POLITICAL SITUATION IN PETROGRAD ~, . Vancouver, May 4. the United Press Agency's correspondent at Petrograd states that the situation 13 undoubtedly tense. A rupture between the Provisional Government and the AVorkmen's Committee resulted through a demand by the latter that the Government should take it into its full confidence regarding Russia's engagements with the Allies. Two thousand soldiers from the Petrograd garrison are being used to guard the Government leaders. _ At a meeting a gigantic demonstration was made against M. Miliukoff (Minister for Foreign Affairs) because of his declaration that Russia would observe the Tsar's foreign agreements. The United Press correspondent says there is no question, that the", situation is grave. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RUSSIA'S NAME WILL NOT BE STRUCK OFF THE LIST OF THE ALLIES New York, May 4. The Petrograd correspondent of the United Press that M. Miliukoff, the Russian Foreign Minister, addressed a mass gathering of those antagonistic to him, and won a- personal triumph. He assured them that the Provision!;! Government would never strike Russia's name off the list of the Allies. He did not fear for himself, but he feared for Russia. The Government would never consent to a separate peace. Significant and prolonged cheering greeted the statement that a separate peace would never be permitted. The situation has greatly improved.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • DRAMATIC MIDNIGHT ADDRESS FROM'PALACE BAL'CONY. Petrograd, May 4. The Committee of Workers' and Soldiers' Delegates is gravely dissatisfied with the Note which the Provisional Government addressed to the Allied Powers promising to carry on tho. war to a yictorious ond and not make a separate peace. , A Finnish infantry regiment made a demonstration outside, the Tsars Palace, demanding th 6 resignation of M.M. Miliukoff and Gutohkoff. Other Labour demonstrations were made with similar demands. These aroused energetic counter-demonstrations in favour of tho Government. A joint sitting of tho Provisional Government and tho Committee of Workers' and Soldiers' Delegates was immediately During the sitting M. Miliukoff appeared on a balcony of the palace, and in tho course of a. dramatic midnight address to the excited crowd in the square .said:_ "The Government is not going to allow Russia to betray the Allies. Russia will never consent to a separate peace.? Telegrams bring disquieting news from, Helsingfors, where there have been serious strikes, due to the work of German spies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , GOVERNMENT'S EXPLANATION ACCEPTED AS SATISFACTORY (Rec. May. 6, 11.5 p.m.) Petrograd, May 5. The Executive of the Workmen's and Soldiers' delegates, by 34 to 19, accepted as satisfactory the explanation by the Provisional Government of Miliukoff's Note. Tho Council of the Workmen's and Soldiers' delegates, consisting of 2500 members, voted the Provisional Government by a majority of thirty-five^ Tho Duma meets to-day for tho first time since the revolution. The streets on Saturday were filled with excited crowds discussing the situation; Tho majority denounced the pacifist agitation. Suddenly a, band of socalled "Leninists," who. are pacifist and_ anti-Government,' marched to Nevsky Prospect. A collision occurred with the partisans of the Government, including many soldiers. The "Leninists" fired rifles, and several on tho other side were killed and wounded. . The "Leninists" were finally dispersed and the .streets picketed.—Renter.

GERMAN POLICY AS REGARDS RUSSIA HAS CHANGED (Rec. May 6, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 5. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent' says: ''The German policy as regards Russia's internal development has notably changed. Apparently they regard the Stochod attack as a psychological mistake, despite the fact that a Russian army corps was wiped out, because it consolidated the army and checked the growth of revolutionary principles therein. The German attack on Petrograd may be regarded as postponed for the present in the hope that political ferment will produce a, more favourable situation later. Meanwhile, a host of German agents is working for the same end. _.''■■' ' U "The ftnglo-Frer.ch activity on the West is a contributing factor to Germany's inactivity in the East, and already there has been withdrawn seventeen divisions. In any case Russia will not be caught unawares on land, despite the political ferment, because the belated thaw is causing exceptional floods, rendering operations impracticable on several fronts."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN SPIES IN TEE RUSSIAN LINES. Petrograd, Mav 4. General Brusiloff has warned'the Russian armies that German Parlementaires are entering the lines, ostensibly'on peaceful missions. Ho adds that several of these men who havobeen taken prisoner have confessed that; they were acting on instructions to inspect the Russian lino and learn the dispositions and strength of the forces.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. UNSUCCESSFUL RUSSIAN ATTACK IN,THE SUSITA VALLEY, I ■ , .' London, Mav 4. !A] German wireless report claims that the Russians unsuccessfully attacked northwards of the Susita valley.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. RUSSIA'S WHEAT WANTED BY GERMANY. (Rec. May 6/5.5 p.m.) : . London, May 4. Newspapers in Germany point out the importance of ' endeavouring to secure Russia's wheat because Germany's enemies will have a wheat nionj opoly after the war.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICANS WAR PREPARATIONS DESTRUCTION OF U-BOATS COMPLETE, AGREEMENT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND UNIT J) STATES Washington,' May 4. The Allies and the United States are considering laying mines in practically the whole of the North Sea in order to suppress the German submar-ines.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

' New Yorli, May 4. The New York "World" says that Mr. Balfour and President Wilson have agreed on immediate measures guaranteeing food supplies for the Allies, and then a, systematic and scientific destruction of, submarines.—Aus.-N.z! Cable Assn. SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE ALLIES. Washington, May '4. In addition to the Political and Economic Commission, President Wilson will send to Russia eminent railway engineers to assist iiv tho reconstruction of the transport system. A new Food! Bill introduced in Congress makes the President a virtual Food Dictator. Tho Bill gives him absolute control as regards shipments and speculation, and even tho use of food. The Bill also prohibits the production of alcoholic drinks. - Forty-five thousand men have enlisted in tho Army since April 1. Mr. Willard, head! of the Government Transportation Service, proposes a curtailment of the passenger train service, and the shipment of the country's entire output of railway stock to the Allies.—Reuter. HEAVY SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE TWO BILLION DOLLAR LOAN. Washington, May 4. The American Government lips notified tho citizens that any attempts by German Socialists within tho United States to plot or agitato for peace with Germany will bo treated as a treasonable act, and punished accordingly. Subscriptions to tho two billion loan arc pouring iu at the rate of a million dollars hourly. Tho House deleted tho censorship restrictions on newspapers after a bitter debate, in which speakers charged tho Government with attempting to muzzle public opinion.—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assu.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS SUPERSEDE J. P. MORGAN CO. Washington, May 4. The Federal Reserve Banks are undertaking the work hithei'to- transacted by the firm of J. P. Morgan, in purchasing supplies for the Allies. The banks are about to float a loan of four hundred million sterling through Cimliffe, Sons, and Company, the- London bankers. Arrangements are being made with, the Bank of England to make mutual interchange of sorvice possible. Great Britain is spending £1,400,000 in the United States daily on munitions and war supplies.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESIDENT GIVEN POWER TO CENSOR NEWS. in i, . Washington, May i. ine House of Representatives adopted a new censorship clause, giving the resident power to censor news, but permitting trial by jurv in case of vio-lation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH DELEGATES TOURING THE MIDDLE WEST. : r , , , „. , Washington, May 4. General Joffre and M. Viviani aro touring the Middle West.' Crowds have greeted' them at Gary, in Indiana. Elaborate precautions■ for their safety, have been taken—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN SHIPS IN THE PHILIPPINES SEIZED, t,, ~. . Sydney, May 5. I. mlippine hies show that sixteen German ships were seized by the United States at Manila when war was declared, including several NorddeutscherLloyd and Haniburg-Amerika liners. The crews were interned. Manv of tha steamers were damaged internally.—Press Association.