FEAR OF BOLSHEVIKISM

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 14051, 18 February 1918, Page 5

FEAR OF BOLSHEVIKISM

• TENSE FEELING I CENTRAL EUROPEAN ■ CIRCLES ' ■ '■';"'■: . . . ■ ' ■■' ' ' DISAPPEARANCE OF INFLUENCES IMPEL'LING UNITY ■»■■■■ '■■■ Austria desperately anxious for ■' '/PEACE ; -' ;■•■'•"• WILL GERMANY ATTACK RUSSIA? NAVAL RAID ON ENGLISH COAST SEVERAL VESSELS SUNK IN DARKNESS GERMAN SUBMARINE BOMBARDS DOVER

RESIGNATION OF GENERAL ROBERTSON THE HOLY SEE AND PEACE CONFERENCE Per Cable—Press Association—Copyright ~.'ji) j.. . ■ ■ ■ ■ RUSSIAN SITUATION FULL OF SUkPRIS^ POSSIBILITIES DISAPPEARANCE OF SLAV MENACE MAY CAUSE AUSTRO GERMAN'RUPTURE. AUSTRIA DESPERATELY IN NEED'OF PEACE. ________ i . (United Service.) Received February 17, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, February 16. A special report says that the recent Russian developments are full of possibilities of surprises and serious embarrassment to the Central Powers. The dissolution of the old Russian peril deprives the artificial Austro-Gcrman unity of its former impelling forces. Austria is desperately anxious for.peace, and is no longer sharing the common antagonism. Austria may therefore break away from German control, and cease to set herself against the natural development of the Slav races. The Austrian internal position is already perilous, owing to the determined and probably permanent Slav Union against the Government.. . Beneath 'the masterful German announcements, threats, and anti-Bolshevikism," there are signs of nervousness and hesitation. Reports from Vienna state that the Austrians are puzzled by the possible ramifications of the Bolsheviki policy. It' is supposed that Trotsky expects the Central Powers do not intend to attack Russia. The latter can 'then afford to await the results of the Western offensive. Germany's remedy for the Polish situation is awaited with the keenest interest. The newspapers are divided. Some are bellicose, and others, are fearful of the ultimate outcome.

GERMANS FEARFUL OF RUSSIAN NEWS REACHING- THE OUTSIDE WORLD. BOLSHEVIKIS IN LONDON RIDICULE IDEA OF PEACE. '('"The Times" Service.) Received February 17, 5.5 p.m. ■ LONDON, February 15. The latest Bolsheviki arrivals from Russia ridicule the idea of peace. They declare that the Rada is thoroughly impotent as the Soviets now control all the big towns in the Ukraine. The Bolshevikis, while demobilising the regulars, will organise extensive forces for guerilla warfare, in the event of the Austro-Ger-mans attempting hostilities.. Kieff and Petrograd will henceforth act conjointly while treating. Germany is anxious-to prevent Russian news reaching the outside world, and thence percolating: into the Central Empire. The Germans have severed the direct cable between Petrograd and Sweden. Hence practically all Russian news is now edited in Berlin. (AJitraltan ma Sow Zealand Cabli AHoolation.) "_ ; PARIS; February 15. - The Zunch correspondent of Le Matin states that the announcement is formally confirmed that if Trotsky does not give-Germanv a clear answer whether Russia wants war or peace, German troops will march on Reval and Petrograd. ',' A Berlin report states that at the final scene of the BrestLitovsk negotiations Baron von Kuhlmann stated that peaKhad nqt bsen concluded with-Russia; and the armistice was ided; ■therefore the war must be recommenced. ' ' '

GERMANY CONSIDERS HERSELFFKEE TO ATTACK RU^Ui MILITARY OFFENSIVE EXPECTED TO AID UKRAINE. (United Service.) Received February 17, 5.5 p.m. \_ '> ;■..,;.'■ ;;\ i It is reported that a German conference'of political representatives and 1, military officers have decided, iii-yiew-of Trotsky's evasion, that Germany- is'quite free to t renew hef war agji'inst Russia. 'The first operations will probably befinadV. in; support of the Ukraine, ' '• : ' • ' . -■■ ',V .'.'.■•■■ . , A well-informed authority states jhat Trotsky.'' returned to Petrograd and told the people that he, had/cleverly' avpideel the German conditions, but' Germatf'troops would follow liilii. . All the reports fro;n Germany. suggest that the Government is seeking an excuse for an' opportunity to re-attack, Northern Russia, in order to ensure the peace with Ukraine, which secures. supplies .of wheajt. Inspired messages to this effect-'are being pub-: tolled in the German newspapers. : ■ ■'.'■••; ■' ' \;■ The Lokal' Anzeiger says* that the Maximalists are bullying, the Germans hrEsthonia and Livonia, aiid;ealls oil the German. Government for speedy action to save Germanism. The Bolshevikis at Beval have arrested three thousand Germans;'locking the men in the castle and the cinema theatres. Arfests.are 'also reported \ti other places.' The whole German mobility of Esthohia and Livon\ have been declared suspect, and are.liable to arrest, and court--, martial. ' ■ .' • ' ... y, '. : .' ."■''. PEACE WITH UKRAINE CAUSES UPHEAVAL. ■ i '• " THE REPUBLIC OF KIEFF SURROUNDED BY SeMIES. • ~~ y ■ •■.'■■• '■' ißeuter'a Telegrams,) Received February 17, 5.5 p.m; '■.... •,..'■ AMSTERDAM, February 16.' A Vienna message states that in accordance with the terms of peace with Ukraine, Austro-Hungarian troops have entered Brody. Thus the last biff* town, in- East Galicia has reverted to. Austroj Hungary. ' , : . •/

, The Ukrainian Rada has sent' a wireless- message that Kieff is attacked on ail sides and a fierce battle is proceeding,' The Rada appeals for military and technical assistance, ; The Central Powers are sending a military guard to occupy themostimportfTnt ports 'and. harbours, • • • Vienna advices state that the Central Powers will provide Ukrainia with military assistance.in defence of the grain stocks and railway junctions against the Bolslievikis. An inspired" statement in-the Austrian press explains that tlie food shortage necessitated peace with Ukrainia; which'was onlv Tea\ched by the cession of Kholm. •■■■■'-• •

GERMANY'S POLICY OF PEACEFUL PENETRATION. AUSTRIAN EMPEROR DESIRES PEACE.'. ■ ■ / (Australian.and Xow Zealand Cable Association.) Received February 17, 5,5 p.m. '•■■.. / ' BERNE,. February 15. Besides sending a commercial mission toKicff, .Germany offers the services of professors to reorganise lire of the Ukraine, also lo lend lier military instruct ors-and 1 supervise ■.tlie.; ; reo;]'giniisiifion of the armVr'Ausfria, Germany! and Turkey daily papoi; is startingpublication in Kieff on, the bt;of March. ■ The Yolks Zeifuug claims to have positive.' knowledge that' the Bolshevikis are concentrating troops and are menacing the authoriiv of Ukraine. 11 V s r ' x the Kjiiscr will issue a proclamation on ilie Ifilh granting Liihuj,,,:., i,, ahtoiioni.v sub,jeet to German protection. 'H'.i' Austria:: has issued a manifesto to his subjects on the oecidcu of p,a,v with Ukraine, stating that when he came to fire throne l:e felt himself bound by ..the imioii" of the people in steadfast resolution to'fight out the struggle forced on them till an honourable peace wasjachieved. They had taken'the first step m that realisation. He trusted a general peace Wild soon be granted suffering humanity. . ,

POLAND LOSES ITS SHORT-LIVED INDEPENDENCE. THE POLICY OP SELF-DETERMINATION INOPERATIVE. ("The Tiwes" Service.) Received February 17,5.5 p.m. . LONDON, February' 16. • The Amsterdam correspondent of The Times says that the con- < viction generally prevails in Polish circles that the independence of the country is'seriously endangered. Poland' has.again .become an occupied State, (Australian and New Zeai.ano Ca.<>« Aaioclitlou.) , N '.-' . AMSTERDAM, February 15.'' .Polish news indicates that Germany, disregarding .the-:phrases about self-determination, is splitting Poland into many fragments, adding some to Ukrainia and others to Lithuania, with the object of blocking the establishment of a United Poland.' ' '. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) '. ' ZURICH, February 15. : Representatives of all the Polish parties met at Cracow and protested against the cession/of Polish territory to Ukraine. Enormous tumultous crows outside the conference building broke the .windows of the Austrophile National Committees. ' '■•■

.„ . RUMANIA PACES GRAVE CRISIS. ' „ CENTRAL POWERS INSIST ON COMPLETE CAPITULATION OP ARMY. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received February 17, 5.5 p.m. . v PARIS, Februaryls, : Le Matin's expert states that thirty-two divisions of German infantry and.several cavalry divisions remain on the. Rumanian front. . (Australian- and New Zealand Cable Association.) ' •! Received February 17,5,5 p.m. . / ~ , ■ \ ■ .'.■' BERNE, February 16.4 ■ Dr Radoslavoff (Premier of Bulgaria), interviewed after attending .the Berlin conferences, said that the Central Powers will insist on the complete capitulation of the Rumanian Aray, After that they will consider what terms will, be .granted; to Rumania. ■■■■•• ' V ■":-- v-V ■:■■;.7: s - \/y; RUSSIAN REPUDIATION OF FOREIGN LOANS. ; - -NEUTRALS SHOWING CONSIDERABLE CONCERN.- ■■ ..'. Renter's Telegram*.) ; '■[ ■'",■'•' . ~'•'■''_; Received February 17, 5.5 p.ni. '-'';'■'.'-. :''.-' ;■■'.' ? 'V '• :••• ''. 1 'AMSTERDMr;;February^.\ : ' ■ In-the Chamber the Foreign Minister stated .that Holland- proposed joint action with other neutrals regarding the annulment of Russian-foreign loans; Spain had already assented her willing ues;3 to joiii. .-.-. ,'. ~.•'•; ■• •' '.<■■'\".''''•.'."• ■"■ .'"■ > \::°o