BOLSHEVIK ATTITUDE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 76, 3 April 1918, Page 3

BOLSHEVIK ATTITUDE.

PEACE ONLY TRANSITORY

LONDON, March 18. A message from Moscow states that the. establishment of a new army of 500,000 young men is now the main question interesting the Council of Commissaries. It is recognised that experience has discredited the principle of soldiers' selfl government, and the commissaries are introducing a system under which the men will elect well-educated company commanders; then the officers in each grade will elect the next above, to be divisional commanders. The majority of the 'Russian newspapers continue to emphasise that the peace imposed by the German Imperialist offers a necessary respite to enable the Soviets to «o"rganise the country for a fresh and bitter struggle with the in"vader. The treaty must inevitably be rescinded once a real national authority is constituted. Reuter's correspondent at - 'Moscow states that the resolution of the Congress of Soviets ratifying the peace treaty describes the • peace as' painful, forced, and dishonouring, and urges all workers to employ all their strength to . establish the defence of Russia upon the basis of Socialist militia. All persons of both sexes, young and old, should receive a miltary training. M. Lenin, in his speech, said- that the peace should be accepted as a respite, pending the moment when the European proletariat would come to their assistance. Reuter's correspondent at Petrograd states that M. Lenin said that the breathing space would be very short, but it would give needed rest to the army, which was afflicted with the epidemic of panic. x v