THE EAST FRONT.

Evening Star, Issue 16663, 20 February 1918, Page 6

THE EAST FRONT.

ENEMY RESUME OPERATIONS. TWO FORTRESS TOWNS FALL. GULF OF FINLAND PREPARATIONS. LONDON, February 19. (Deceived February 20, at 8.55 a.m.) The Germans have captured Dvinsk (on the Dwina), and the Austrians have captured Lutsk (Yolhynia). Admiralty per Wireless Press. STOCKHOLM, February 19. According to reports in the Swedish Press, Germany is preparing to land a Finnish battalion of the German army and other forces in Finland. These operations are to be accompanied by naval action in the Baltic, with landings also in those parts of Livonia and Fsthonia (Baltic provinces} not already under German occupation. BOLSHEVIKS TALK OF RESISTANCE. NEW YORK, February 19. (Received February 20, at 9.30 a.m.) The United Press learns that the Pctroarad Foreign Office has announced that Russia will fight the German invaders. OUT FOR CONQUEST. NEW YORK, February 19. (Received February 20, at 9.30 a.m.) The ‘ New York World’s ’ Rotterdam correspondent says that he learns from a reliable source that Germany’s future policy includes' the occupation of the remainder of the Baltic provinces, with a view to incorporating them in the German Empire. Germany also contemplates a further dismemberment of Poland. Despite her official denials, it is declared that Germany is laying plans of conquest and annexation and the greatest possible territorial expansion. ; AMSTERDAM, February 19. (Received February 20, at 9.10 a.m.) George Bernhardi, writing in the ‘ Vossiache Zeitung,’ says that the inefficiency of German diplomacy shows that the war cannot end in a purely military way, owing to Germany’s failure to profit by her vic° tones in the field. Bernhardi asks who is responsible ofr announcing war with Russia has ended—a statement which has misled Germany more than anything else. The ‘ Yossischo Zeitung’ demands Yon Kuhlniann’s resignation as Foreign Minister. RUSSIA’S CIVIL WARS. FINLAND AND THE AALANDS. STOCKHOLM, February 19. (Received February 20, at 9.55 a.m.) A Helsingfors message reports that 15,000 Red Guards, armed with rifles and machine guns, have arrived in Southern Finland form Petrograd. Several hundred White Guards have reached the Aaland Islands after crossing on the ice. Their arrival caused further bloody fighting with the Russians, who now refuse to leave the islands unless the White Guards also leave. THE UKRAINE. MURDEROUS KIEFF FIGHTING. BOLSHEVIKS NOW DOMINANT. THE DON CAMPAIGN. ALEXIEFF’S DEFEAT CLAIMED. ‘The Times.’ LONDON, February 19. (Received February 20, at 8.45 a.im.) ‘The Times’s’ Petrograd correspondent _>ys that extraordinary stories are coming ! from Kieff describing the recent fighting .(between Bolshevik and the Ukrainian and Cossack forces. Over 2,000 were killed and 9,000 wounded. The lurid picture includes street battles, bombardment from both banks of the Dnieper, an artillery attack on the Petchorsky monastery, while Bolshevik aeroplanes were bombing indiscriminately. Simultaneously wholesale looting went on in shops and residences by armed hooliand soldiers. The Jewish quarter particularly suffered. ADihe Bolsheviks twice captured Kiel!. The second time they were reinforiflxl by six infantry regiments, two divisions of artillery, and cavalry from the south-west front. The artillery razed the walls of Petdhorsky monastery, in which Ukrainians, Cossacks, and Cadets resisted for three days. Then the Bolsheviks entered and made the garrison prisoners. - The Ukrainians fought in the centre of the town until their ammunition was exhausted and they were suffering severely. Then they surrendered. Two' days later detachments of Ukrainians and Cossacks reformed and reopened a violent fire in van one parts of the town. During the two days of terror 400 residents "were ' killed. A Bolshevik report states that the massacre reached its climax by a murderous Coasacjc (bombardment on the workers’ quarters. Ultimately the Ukrainians and Cossacks/were driven out, and took refuge in the Kievopetchera monastery in the suburbs, using some artillery; but they were surrounded on all sides. The Bolsheviks claim to have heavily defeated General Alexieff near Veronest (on the Don), and Alexieff then retreated to Novocherkask. The Cossacks are forcing the miners at Taganrog to supply coal exclusively to towns in the Don region, and any railway men refusing to handle coal are being shot.

RADA OFFICIALS ARRESTED BOLSHEVIKS REPUDIATE PEACE. PETROGRAD, February 19. (Received February 20, at 9.55 a.m.) The Bolsheviks have arrested all merahers of the Ukrainian Central Rada and Ukrainian delegation at Brest-Litovsk, including the. president, charging them with high treason. The Bolsheviks refuse to recognise the peace concluded by the Rada with the Central Powers. THE MEW FINANCE. BOLSHEVIKS WIPE OUT CAPITAL. PETROGRAD, February 19. (Received February 20, at 9.10 a.m.) An official decree lias been issued annulmg all .loans, except in the case of Rusinmaho dl u g Go I? ninle,lfc bomLs for under 10,000 roubles. Tliese bondholders can exchange then- scrip for certificates in the new loan ot the Russian Socialistic Federal Republic. Ihe same applies to savings bank, co-operative, and other Solialistic institmacns. All money not strictly earned by personal labor will lie confiscated.