RUSSIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 53, 2 March 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA

DEFENCE OF PfcTROGiIAD CAPITAL TO HOLD OUT. OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION. 'Australian and N.Z. ©able &.wociation and Renter.) (Rec. March 2, 9.5 a.m.) 'LONDON, (March 1. A Russian official Proclamation has been issued by the Presidency of the Central Soviets and Committee of Defence in Petrograd. It declares that the proletariat is organising for the defence of the capital, which will have to resist a long siege, but will not capitulate until the last moment. The Proclamation urges all producing provinces to send food to Petrograd and Moscow; also troops must be organised and sent to the front without delay. RUSSIAN BALTIB FLEET GERMANY EXPECTED TO .SECURE IT. JAPANESE REPORTED. (Australian and N.Z. Oable Association) , LONDON, Feb. 28. From the position of the Russian fleet in the Baltic there seems to be little doubt that it will fall into German hands. The enemy, however, will probably, through shortage of seamen, find it difficult to adequately man the larger vessels. The few submarines in the Baltic are unlikely to fall into the enemy's hands. The Morning Post's Shanghai coi'respondent- says the Chinese press states that Japan has decided to mobilise for operations in Siberia. China is cooperating, sending four divisions. WAR PRISONERS AND- THE REVOLUTION. PETJKOGRAD, Feb. 28. A meeting of ever 600 German, Magyar, Czech, arid Polish war prisoners at Moscow passed a resolution welcoming the revolution, which they were confident'would extend to Western Europe. The meeting- was followed by a solemn religious service commemorating the deaths of the Russian revolutionaries and «the strikers at Berlin and Vienna.