NO NEWS FROM BREST-LITOVSK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 121, 8 February 1918, Page 5

NO NEWS FROM BREST-LITOVSK

MYSTERY ABOUT TROTSKY NEW CRISIS IN PETROGRAD By MsKrarli-Prese A«6ooiation--CopvriglH London, February 6. The Amsterdam correspondent of tho "Daily Express" states that he believes that Dr. von Kuhlmann and Count Czernin have returned to Berlin with a complete, peace treaty with the Ukraine, for the purpose of submitting it to the Kaiser. The treaty is understood to embrace political, military, and economic matters, and to provide for the exportation of vast quantities of Ukrainian wheat to Germany.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Copenhagen, February 6. Private messages state that the Russian delegates hae left Brest Litovsk. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .NEGOTIATIONS BROKEN UP. (Rec. February 7, 8 p.m.) London, February G. The Exchange Telegraph agent at Petrograd reports that the peace negotiations at Brest Litovsk have broken up. The Central Powers decline to modify their fundamental terms to allow the Russian delegates to visit Moscow and Vilna —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. Berne, February G. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" indicates that a conference is being held ill Berlin to discuss peace with the Ukraine. ■ It states that it is becoming increasingly clear that Trotsky does no® aim at peace, but a general revolution, which makes peace with the Ukraine increasingly necessary. The "Berliner Tageblatt"' states that conferences are also'being held to discuss the possibility of a peace witji Rumania. The Kaiser presided at the Berlin conferences, those present including generals and Premiers of all the Central Powers. The Crown Prince was also present.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. UKRAINE CONCENTRATION NEAR KIEFF. Amsterdam, February 6. German reports state that the Ukraine Rada (Assembly) has concentrated half a million troops near Kieff. According to the "Voss'iche Zeitmig," the Rada troops have recaptured Kharkoff.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assns, SOVIETS IN POWER IN UKRAINIA. (Rec. February 7, 8 p.m.) London, February 6. A wireless Russian message states: "The Ukrainian Soviets now have supreme_ authority in Ukrainia. Agreements have been reached for a federal union with Russia, and complete unity in foreign and internal affairs,—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. NO NEWS OF TROTSKY FOR TWO DAYS STATEMENT BY LENIN. (Rec. February 7, 8 p.m.) Petrograd, February 6. Lenin states that the Bolshevik Authorities for two days have had no communication of any kind from Brest Litovsk. Trotsky is isolated, and it is evident that the Germans have something to hide. The internal situation is most critical. There was a sanguinary conflict on Sunday night as the result of the looting of a wino and spirit store. Soldiers joined in the mob and all bccame drunk, and commenced shooting one another until armoured cars and machine-guns dispersed the mob, aftor 120 had been killed, the bodies being heaved into the ice-bound canal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. KALEDIN AND THE GRAND DUKE THE LATEST STORY ABOUT THE UKRAINE. (Rec. February 8, 1.5 a.m.) London, February 7. The position in the Ukraine continues to excito public discussion. A Berlin message puts a new aspect on tho Ukraine problem. It states.that the Grand Duke Nicholas is behind General Kaledin, who, with 150,000 troops, has joined the Ukraine. The statement adds: "The mass of the people in Petrograd aro ready to join tho movement."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FOOD CRISIS AGAIN ACUTE London, February 6. Food difficulties in Petrograd are, according to the Petrograd correspondent of the "Daily News," becoming acute. Many trains bringing food are held up and looted by armed robbers. The peasants are disinclined to sell their flour and produce, and prices generally arc soaring. A chicken sells for 265., a small hare for 305., potatoes aro '2s. 6d. a pound, butter is almost unobtainable at 245. a pound, and sugar costs 14s. a pound. Under these conditions it is not surprising that crime and typhus are spreading together,— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANARCHIST ACTIVITY AN EARLY DEMONSTRATION EXPECTED. Petrograd, February 6. The doings of four Anarchist parties are attracting attention. The Anarchists in Petrograd dress entirely in black, and are always armed. It is predicted that the Anarchists will shortly assert themselves. A bomb exploded in an Anarchist club on Sunday, wounding eleven persons.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' THE POLISH COUNTER-MOVE Petrograd, February 6. The report of the occupation of >the Bolshoviki main headquarters at Mohileff follows on an announcement that 26,000 Polish legionaries belonging to the Russian Army, who joined tho revolt against the Bolsheviki, succeeded in occupying Rogatcheff, sixty miles to tho southward of Mohileff.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE CAPTURE OE KRYLENKO. ... r> London, February G. The "Daily Chronicle s J.etrograd correspondent points out that Berlin bad latterly =been publishing tho first news of anything unfavourable to tbe Russian Government. Consequently there may bo, some foundation for tho report which tho German Press is emphasising, that revolting Polish legionaries have captured the Russian military headquarters and taken General Krylenko ana his staff prisoners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.* THE WAR IN FINLAND REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE RED GUARD IS. , Petrograd, February 6 A considerable force of Maximalists has left Petrograd to reinforce the Finnish Red Guard. The Russian troops havo evacuated the Aaland Islands A body of Red Guards, after Doing defeated at Trevaklo, escaped Dv fain. The White Guards, from a ne.-ghbourmg town, were dispatched by train against them. The trains collided midway, and many were killed (in both sides. The R«d Guards were difpeised.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SWEDISH DEMAND FOR INTERVENTION. (Rec. February 7, 8 p.m.) mi e v , r , .. Copenhagen, February C. The Swedish Conservative newspapers aro agitating for intervention in i inland.and demanding the dispatch of troops and material to assist tbe Whito Guards. The Socialist Press claims that the Conservatives aro trying to involvo Sweden in a war with Russia. Tho only solution of the si'tua°tion, they say, is joint intervention by all the Powers which recognise Finlands independence.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CAPTURE OF ULEABORG. (Rec. February 7, 9.40. p.m.) rn. v - n 1 , , Amsterdam, Fobruary 6. The Finnish White Guards captured TJleaborg after two days' fighting — Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT IN THE BALTIC PROVINCES PROCLAMATION OF THE LETTISH REPRESENTATIVES. mi t. • t ,i- i i • i i- • , London, February 6 The Russian Lettish plenipotentiaries havo issued a proclamation, which demands the undivided existence of tho Lettish nation. It denies tho '\ustroGerman claim that the population o l ' Lithuania, Corn-land, and Riga "desired separation from Russia. .Cho pioclamation demands the withdrawal of tho armed forces, to enable a free expression of opinion to bo given. Russia had agreed to withdraw her troops, and the Central Powere could not object if they believed the population desired separation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. YET ANOTHER REPUBLIC OF BOLSHEVIK MAKE. (Rec. February 7, 9.40 p.m.) B, . ... . Petrograd, February 6. llie Bolsheviki have seized tho snips m the port of Chilia and proclaimed the Danube delta between Chilia and Saint George an independent re-public.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE NEW ARMY AND NAVY Petrograd, February 6. Under new decrees, tho supremo command of the Army has been vested in the Council of the Commissaries. Tho Naval Conference has decided to reorganise the Navy on Anglo-American lines, with a maximum personnel of 42,000. The pay of sailors and officers is to bo the same—lso roubles (nominally £15) per month—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THOUSANDS OP RELEASED WAR PRISONERS WANDERING ABOUT. Petrograd, February 6. The local Soviets are releasing thousands of war prisoners, who are becoming nomads. There are forty thousand in the Petrograd district alone.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RELIGIOUS FEELING IN PETROGRAD GREAT ANTI-B'OLSHEVIK DEMONSTRATION. London, February 6. Mr. Ransomo, "Daily News" correspondent at Petrograd, states that an immense anti-Bolshevik religious proccssion was hold on Monday. The priests wore gold, green, silver, and purple robes; and each- church was represented by a cluster of rich banners and a, group of ikons. The Bolsheviki wisely tho Red Guards off tho streets. Trouble was thus avoided, and the day passed quietly. The "Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent states: The Bolsheviki are now "up against" tho Russian Orthodox Church. Prior to October, tho revolution and the Churches disregarded each other. The Church then elected a new patriarch, Tikhon, formerly Metropolitan of Moscow, who thus replaced tho ex-Tsar as the nominal head of the Church. The Bolsheviki began propaganda which ultimately aimed at the complete extinction of the Church. An anti-religious agitation was started in tho villages on tho pretext' of counteracting the anti-revolutionary activities of the priests, and Church lands were declared common property. Tho Ministry of Public Welfare a few days ago annexed the Aloxandronevsky Lav™, in Petrograd, one of the most important and wealthiest monasteries in Russia, and converted all the buildings except the churches into homes for tho aged and infirm. This action resulted in free fights in tho Lavra grounds between the monks and tho Red Guards. The latter remain in occupation of the monastery, the buildings and property of which are of tho size of a small city. Many religious processions of protest aro expected in Petrograd, and,bloodshed is predicted. The Bolsheviki havo issued a dccreo separating the Church from the State, and declaring complete freedom of conscience. The decree forbids religious teaching in schools, and declares that religious bodies aro incapable of owning property.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn.