THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 15

THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

Field Headquarters have issued a communique after several weeks, during which there were no operations on the northern front, stating that fraternisation has been plentiful. The communique indicates that at least two-thirds of tho Russian lines aro still in existence. An independent Ukraina Government has assumed tho responsibility for the defence of tho Uukrainian sector against Germany. A significant sidelight upon the peace manoeuvres at Brest-Litovsk is tho antipeace propaganda which, according to the Petit Parisicn, tho German Iligh Command is conducting in the trenches. A document has been circulated declaring that the peace which the German delegates at Brest-Litovsk accepted would ruin Germany, for whose future development the possession of Briey and Longwy as the basis of the economic and military control- of Belgium was essential. Dozch Fleurofc, the New York World's Petrograd correspondent, says that the persistent reports that the Germans are massing troops opposite Dvinsk has angered the Bolsheviks, one of whom caused the interruption in tho negotiations at BrestLitovsk. JCPORTED MUTINY OF GERMAN TROOPS. A Russian wireless message states that German deserters declare that as a consequence of the drafting of all Gorman soldiers under 35 years for the western front, which has been goflig on in contravention of the terms of tho armistice, desertions are numerous. They also state that 25,000 German troops in tho eastern part of tho province of Krovno (Dwina area) have revolted, and aro <-ntrenched with rifles and machine guns. The authorities aro powerless, and aro trying to cut off tho rebels' food supplies.