BOLSHEVIKS DALLYING WITH PLAN TO FIGHT GERMANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16760, 29 January 1918, Page 5

BOLSHEVIKS DALLYING WITH PLAN TO FIGHT GERMANS

WAITING FOR REVOLUTION TO RISE IN AUSTRIA. DECLARATION OF WAR UPON THE BOURGEOISIE. Australian and N.Z. (Received 11.15 t>.m.) LONDON, Jan, 27. The Petrograd correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that the Bolshevik newspapers admit that the Brest Litovsk negotiations exposed the German Government's intention to annex the western provinces of Russia. They claim that knowledge of the fact was due to Bolshevik efforts. They explain that it will not matter if General Hoffmann carries out his threat of seizing Reval. He will really expose the true position to the German army and people, and lead to the overthrow of the existing Berlin regime. Meanwhile, the Bolsheviks are- dallying with a scheme for resisting a German advance by creating a highly-paid volunteer army to engage in a holy war against all Imperialisms. They are also waiting to see the red flag raised in Austria. They believe that Petrograd is destined to become the capital of a federation of Soviet Republics. M. Trotzky, however, tells his fellow-revolutionaries that the bourgeoisie of the West is much better organised than in Russia, hence the progress of revolutions must be slow. The German attempt to make peace with the Ukraine separately irritates the Bolsheviks exceedingly, despite their proclamation of the right of each nationality to determine its own destiny. It was in consequence of this that delegations consisting of workmen and non-commissioned officers from Reval and Kharkov were sent to Brest Litovsk. The Soviets conference in Petrograd adopted all the points of the programme enunciated by Lonin and Trotzky, including the disarmament of bourgeoisie. Lenin, who received a great ovation, addressing the conference, said, We shall continue the civil war until wo gain a complete victory. We shall make mistakes, as we have to essay a great task without a precedent to guide us." Thus far the conference has not discussed peace terms, to the dismay of the majority of the delegates.