RUSSIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 March 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA

LARGE GtKMAN FLEET

EN ROUTE TO FINLAND. (Rec. March 1, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON,. Feb. 28. A message from. Berlin states that a large German fleet left a Baltic har•bour en rctt 6 to Finland, also a great transport with German weapons and' munitions. 6£fiMANSiD¥A»G!rtG IN TWO SECTIONS ALREADY POURING INTO PETROGiRAD. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association PETROGRAD, Feb. .27. (Reports . from Pskov state that the Germans, have split, and are advancing in two directions. One aims at the capital direct, and the other through Bologie, aims at cutting Petrograd off from. Moscow and the south. •Detachments of Red Guards are concentrated at Luga. (a district in the Government of Petrograd). The Ger-. mans attempting to capture Vitebsk (86 miles N.W. of Swofensk) were forced to retire. The Russians removed stores from the Orsha region (about 74 miles by l-ail W.S.W. of Smolensk on the MoscowWarsaw railway). Austro-Germans with and without uniforms are already swarming into the city. The Russians hurriedly evacuated Orsha and Smolensk (on the Dnieper at the junction of the railways from Moscow to Warsaw and trom Riga to Orel 252 miles by rail W.S.W. of Moscow). (The Germans captured Borisov. ADVANCE TO CONTINUE. LONDON, Feb. 28. Prussia has been notified that the German advance will continue till peace terms are signed and carried out. ". ' COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMiENT. (Rec. March 1, 12.50 p.m.) PETROGRAD, Feb. 28. Enemy forces under Generals Alexieff and Korniloff are attempting to fight through into th e interior of the Don district: Many leaders of the counterrevolution have been taken prisoner. Enrolment -of a Socialist army at Petrograd is proceeding. 'Cossack' regiments stationed at Petrograd have been sent in the direction of Anskoff. ' ENVOYS LEAVE RUSSIA.

(Rec. March 1, 11.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 28. The United: Press Petrograd correspondent states that American, Japanese, -Brazilian and Siamese envoys have left for Vologda. SITUATION 1 AT PEmOGRAD. SWIFTNESS OF GERMAN ADVANCE. . RUSSIAN* PLAN'S UPSET. RUSIANS DRIVEN LIKE STAMPED TNG CATTLE. (Australian and N.Z. Qabl* Association) LONDON. Feb. 27. •Mr Ransome {Petrograd correspondent of the Daily News), telegraphing from Petrograd, says the suddenness of the German advance upset the Russians' calculations. ■ M.- Lenin {Bolshevik Prime Minister) always favoured the peace signed at Brest Litovsk, but M. Trotzky (Bolshevik Foreign Minister) was convinced that a Western revolu . < tion was much nearer. When he found he was wrong it was too late to stop the Germans, and tnere was no time to call a meeting of the central executive. "When the news of the capitulation was published there was a storm of indignation. The extremists attacked the Soviets (council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates) for stopping the war and others for failing to conclude peace. Generally the soldiers are against war, while the workers favour fighting. ' Trotzky had some ground for his belief that the Germans could not advance, as it was reported that a German regiment shot 42 officers when ordered to-advance. M. Radek {one of the Russian Ministers) is leader of "the war party, composed of extremists, who joyfully contemplate guerilla war against the Germans. -Many violent party meetings have been held. Lenin is arguing that the Russian revolution must De preserved until bourgeoisie power in Europe bleeds to death. The Germans are now driving the Russian armies like stampeding cattle. When the armies are dispersed the Soviets will be forced to fight Germany, as the latter's terms aTe such as no country could., live under. CIVIL WARFARE. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Association and Renter.) (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) LONDON, Feb. 27. A Russian official-message states that revolutionary troops captured Novocherkask (on the Don 45 miles from the Sea of Azov, adjoining the Black Sea). The Cadet officials (Social Democrats) fled.

A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.) (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) LONDON, Feb. 27. A German official message says: "We captured two Russian regiments northward of Dorpat (in Livonia, 158 miles by rail N.E. of Riga), and dispersed a battalion opposing us thirty kilometres (about 22 miles) eastward of Jitomir. "We reached Berditcheff, southward of Jitomir. "We captured at Kremenetz the Russian commander's staff." CHINA'S WAR POLICY IMPORTANT CONFERENCE AT PEKIN. (Außtermlian and N.Z. Cable -Association^ TIENTSIN, Feb. 27. Important Government conferences are going on at-Pekin for. speeding up China's participation in the war in view of Germany's - Eastern aims. Special mandates are momentarily expected. THE AALANO ISLANDS FIRST CONFLICT BETWEEN SWEDES AND RUSSIANS. iAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, Feb. 27. The first conflict between Swedish and Russian troops is reported from the Aaland Islands, where Russian batteries fired on the Swedish military expedition on its arrival. The shells exploded in the water. The Red Guards attacked two Swedish posts, and hand-to-hand fighting followed in one case. This will inevitably entail further military intervention by Sweden, whose people are unanimous in desiring the Aalands', which in foreign hands would be a danger to Sweden. THE GERMAN PEAOE TREATIES NOT RECOGNISED BY THE ALLIES. (Australian and. N.Z. Cable AsßOciation / LONDON, Feb. 27. Mr Balfour, in the House of Commons t stated that the Government intended that the final fate of the Russian provinces, Roumania and Armenia, should be settled in the final peace, despite any peace now enforced upon Russia and Roumania. AUSTRIA POLITICAL CRISIS CONTINUES. (Rec. March 1, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 28. A Vienna message states that the political crisis continues in Austria. The Government delivered an ultimatum to the Socialists to pass the Budget in 48 hours, or the session would be suspended. Ther e are many serious strikes' in Galicia.

MJSTRIANS IN VOLHYHIA REFUSAL TO FIGHT RUSSIANS. GERMANS REPORTED TO' BE DISOBEYING COMMANDS. /Australian and N.Z. Cabla Association) s (Rec. March 1, 8.60 a.m.) NEW YORE:,. Feb. 28. The United Press of America correspondent at Petrograd reports that Austrians refused to advance against the Russians in Volhynia. Germane are also reported to be disobeying commands. JAPAN'S PROBABLE ACTION DISCUSSION IN LONDON AND PARIS. (Australian and N.Z. ©able Association} """London, Feb. 27. There is very keen discussion in British and French political circles concerning the expected action of Japan. Well-informed Japanese in London say that the occupation of part and perhaps the whole of" Manchuria, and even the despatch of an army to Siberia, are inevitable to prevent invasion. Japan's determination to block the re-establishment of the Germans in the Pacific leads to the conclusion that strong action has already,bean initiated. DRASTIC MEASURES CONTEMPLATED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) TOKIO, Feb. 27. It is anounced that Japan will take drastic measures to cope with any detrimental results of the Russo-Ger-man peace. JAPANESE PROPOSAL TO THE ENTENTE AND AMERICA. JOINT ACTION IN SIBERIA. /Renter's Talepframs.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. Japan has directed inquiries to the Entente and the United States regarding ioint military operations in Siberia to save vast quantities of war supplies stored at Vladivostok "and along the Siberian railroad. The situation is regarded by Janan as warranting action on her part, but she is willing.for the co-operation of the Allies and the United States to avoid questions of the ultimate disposition of the occupied territory in Siberia.

ALLIES CONSIDERING JOINT ACTION. (Australian and N.Z. Cabls Association) (Rec. March 1, 8.50 a.m.) "WASHINGTON, Feb. 28. Japan has asked Allied and .American views regarding Joint military operations in Siberia in order to save the supplies stored at "Vladivostok and other points along the Siberian railroad. America has troops in the Philippines. The Allies and America are considering whether a purely Japanese campaign in Siberia or ioint action is most advisable. ROUMANIA CONFERENCE WITH CENTRAL POWERS. 'A STORMY CONFERENCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) PARIS, Feb. 27. The Petit Parisien states that the meeting of Count ■Czernin (Austria) and Dr von Kuhlmann (Germany) with General Averescu (Roumania) "vyas stormv. Czernin adopted an aggressive attitude, reviving personal bitterness regarding the Roumanians. The meeting broke up without tangible result. THE IOOTZfIfIENDI GERMANS REMAINING ON BOARD. (Australian and N.Z ©able Association) COPENHAGEN, Feb. 27. A portion of the German crew of the Igotzmendi refuse to abandon the ship, and refuse to allow the Spanish officers to quit. The sea is still high. Danish lifeboat*, and a warship are standing by. I A German submarine appeared on I Tuesday, but a Danish war?hip drove the submarine out of territorial waters, where it is waiting. I GERMANS "ANXIOUS TO GO ASHORE. ! (Australian and N.Z. Cable A*sooiation).

COPENHAGEN, Feb. 27.

The Germans on the Igotzmendi signalled at two o'clock this morning, askin? to be taken off, but they were told that they must remain on board till the sea moderated.

THE WAIRUNA'S CREW MOST fTAILEN TO GERMANY

WELLINGTON, This Day. The Wellington manager of the Union Steamship Coy. has received the following cable relating to the steamer "Rees, second officer, and Donovan, cook, landed in Denmark. The remainder were taken to Germany well. Report as soon .as possible' signed Rees.

(The Union Company's steamer Wairuna, cleared from Auckland for San Francisco on 30th May last, with 4600 tons of New Zealand cargo. She was m charge of Captain Saunders. After vain searches by several steamers, the vessel was given up as lost. A Court of Enquiry was held at Auckland in October, which failed to fix definitely the . cause of her loss, although some information was given to the Court secretly, and not divulged. The Wairuna was a steel screw steamer of 3947 tons gross, and rating 100 Alat Lloyds. She was built in 1904 by Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and was fitted with' wireless. ■She had been employed in the coal and general cargo trade between Australia and New -Zealand, and latterly the Dominion and America.) EXPERIENCES ON THE WAiBUNA JAustralian and N.Z. Gable Association) (Rec. 'March 1, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Feh. 28. Th e Australian Press Association secured' interviews with, passengers on the lontzmendi. Thomas Rees, first officer of the Wairunaj said the vessel was going to San Francisco on 31st March, when aeroplanes suddenly stopped her south of the Kemaras Islands. The aeroplanes were sent by the Wolf, which was lying- at the back of the Islands. The Wairuna's crew of 42 were taken aboard th e Wolf and the Wairuna sunk. ■ Durirar the cruise, Mr Rees saw the W 7 olf sink nine ships, of which some were neutrals. Two of the Wairuna'3 officers escaped one night when the Wolf -was anchored near the Kemaras Islands. Subsequently 160 prisoners from the sunk steamers wer e locked up for 28 days in the hold', and only allowed fresh air for one hour daily. Thov* suffered terrfbly in the tropical heat. GERMANS RESCUED. (Eec. March 1, 11.10 a.m.) •COPENHAGEN, Teh. 28. Danish fishers- rescued the Germans from the Igotzmendi, who are now interned. VESSEL BREAKNG UP. (Rec. March 1, 12.50 p.m.) . COPENHAGEN, Feb. 28. The Igotzmendi is going to pieces.