REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 18

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

I A SEPARATE PEACE SIGNED. THE RAPID GERMAN ADVANCE. FEVERISH DEFENCE PREPARA- ' TIONS. JAPAN MAY INTERFERE IN SIBERIA. (By Cable.) Krylenko telegraphed to the German General Staff requesting a renewal of the armistice with a view to Russia's acceptance of the peace terms. ( The Central Powers, replying, declared 'that they will cease only when the peace . treaty has been signed. Three days will ' be allowed for negotiations. Mr Shaplen, United Press correspondent , at Petrograd, reports that Lenin, addressing the executive on Sunday, said: "We might accept the German terms. Our position is hopeless; Germany's knees are on our chests. But when the world's proletariat comes to our aid we shall renew the fight." Mastoff, leader of the Mensheviks, vigorously opposed surrender, arguing that Russia would become Germany's vassal. The Mensheviks left the meeting filled with disappointment and despair. Lenin, in an article in the newspaper Prada, explains that the acceptance of peace is essential to secure the continuance of the Bolshevik regime. Refusal to sign peace is only possible to those intoxicated ! by revolutionary phrases. The army is demoralised and refuses to fight. " I always tried to persuade members of our party to clear their minds of revolutionary cant," writes Lenin. " One of the greatest of present evils is phrase-making.' I Lenin claims that he warned Russia that refusal of this peace would result in worse peace terms. "All bourgeoisie Russia," he states, " is jubilant at the approach of the Germans. _ We are compelled to submit to a distressing peace, but this will not stop revolutions in Germany and other countries in Europe." " ' / Trotsky, further interviewed, professed his belief that the Bolsheviks are still able to carry on the revolution. "If a favourable peace with the enemy proves to be impossible," he declared, " we are none the less determined to carry on a class war. We know how to make our war-cry reach the German masses despite the Imperialists." The former Russian peace delegates have issued a_ proclamation as follows :—" We have decided in favour of war. The enemy will only enter Petrograd over our bodies. Our slogan is : 'Victory or death!'" PEACE TREATY SIGNED. ' The delegation at Brest-Litovsk wired on March 2 : "As we anticipated, deliberations on the peace treaty would be absolutely useless. They could only make things worse, and would even lead to the presentation of another ultimatum. In view thereof, and of the refusal of the Germans to cease military action until peace was signed we resolved to sign the treaty without discussing the contents. We therefore requested a train, intending to sign the treaty to-day, and leave afterwards." The Peace Delegation was wired by the Council of the Commissaries ordering it not to surrender anything without a struggle, and urging it to fight to the last, j 'adding that the garrison consisted only of small detachments. Nevertheless, it appears that the delegates decided to sign peace regardless of conditions. Under the latest Russo-German agree- I ment Russia hands over the districts of | Batum and Kars (Trans-Caucasia) and j Karaghan (North-west Persia).

MM. Lenin and Trotsky report that the latest German terms, more stringent than those of February 25, -were presented as an ultimatum, and the delegation signed them without discussion. The new terms compel Russia to yield the Batoum, Ears, and Karachan districts. The signing of the agreement without discussion has made a bad impression on the Council Commissaries. Mr' Shaplen, United Press correspondent at Petrograd, interviewed M.' Kalegayeff, Commissioner for Agriculture, who said that the war continues, irrespective of the signing of peace at Brest-Litovuk. The Germans occupy only breadless provinces. If they take Petrograd they must feed 3,000,000 inhabitants. Their military successes, therefore simply tighten the economic noose round the German neck. GERMANY'S TERMS. Germany's terms to Russia, being interpreted, mean the desire to make the Baltic Sea a German lake, establish a chain of buffer States between Russia and Germany, i" and secure a footing on the Black Sea across Ukrainia. The last-mentioned would have an important bearing on the Eastern situation, making Germany independent of Turkey and Bulgaria, because she would then have a new line of communications from Berlin via the Black Sea ports of Odessa and Trebizond (Turkey in Asia), bringing Germany deep into Persia, and close to India. The Manchester Guardian says that the strange thing about Germany's terms is that no demand is made for the Russian fleet. Presumably the Germans feared that the Russians would destroy it, and Xhey hope to get it later. A large number of Provincial Soviets, including those in Moscow, are dissatisfied with the peace terms, which were conveyed to the Congress of Soviets at Moscow on the 12th of February to discuss the conditions. y . , THE GERMAN ADVANCE. Fierce fighting occurred at Pskov, which has changed naiids several times. The first German detachments were small, but. well equipped, but large reinforcements are now approaching. Enormous supplies of valuable munitions are stored in the neighbourhood; hence the German anxiety to capture the railway to Petrograd, cut the bridges, and block up the roads. Only two cavalry squadrons and six armoured cars entered Pskov. The defenders took panic and fled. The Letts recovered soonest, and offered resistance when they learned that the enemy were so few, and there was some street fighting till German reinforcements arrived. The invaders then soon pushed beyond the town. , ' jueporte from Pskov state that the Germans have split, and are advancing in two directions. One force aims at the capital direct; the other, travelling through Bologoe, aims at cutting Petrograd off from Moscow and the south. Detachments of Red Guards are concentrated at Luga.' The Germans attempting to capture Vitebsk were forced to retire. The Russians have removed the storc3 from the Orsha region. The Germans have resumed their advance from Pskov, and have occupied Khastitea. It is expected that they will attempt to capture Bologni (midway between Petrograd and Moscow), which is the main channel of Petrograd's food supply, with a view to starving the capital. The Germans have dep«Xed from Pskov to Germany all men under 42 years of age. Tht> Germans have becrnn an encircling movement southward of Petrograd, tie object apparently being to cut off the capital from Moscow. The Germans have reached Narva; 80

miles from Petrograd, and are approaching Longadno. The capture of K .the latter will give three-railway connections with Petrograd, Patrols have penetrated deeply at some points. DEFENCE PREPARATIONS. Russian official : The People's Commissary for Food appeals to all who 'are v not engaged in military service to organise the speedier transport of bread and reorganise the railways. Tie adds: "We sound the tocsin. The enemy.is before the gates of red Petrograd. Upon our food supplies depends the success of the last great decisive battle for peace, for the land, and for Socialism. ' Labourers over the whole world' who are not strong enough to help us immediately are watching events with restrained breath and alarm. We must, awaiting speedy help, hold out for several days in a desperate battle against the world's usurpers." The German Government, has_ formally refused an armistice, because it desires no peace, but the strangling of the revolution. An obstinate and pitiless resistance to the German hordes is thus the task of the revolution. Our greatest strength is our wide territories. The occupation of Reval and Pskov, even of Petrograd, which latter is still distant, will in no wise decide the destiny of the revolution. Should the threat against Petrograd increase, the Soviet Government, will retire to Moscow or eke where in Russia; but our chief task at present is to bar the roads to Petrograd with fjfcery obstacle. We will prove to the Germans that they must disperse throughout Russia | before they can crush the authority of the Soviets. They will never have the forces necessary, and the more deeply they penetrate the more surely they will bring on a revolution in Germany. A proclamation has been issued by the Presidency of the Central Soviets and the Committee of Defence in Petrograd. It declares that the proletariat are organising, in 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. Petrograd has been thrown into a ferment in view of the apparent German intention to occupy the city. The Soviet ordered the enrolment of workmen between the ages of 18 and 50 into a Red Army ior a holy war. The Smolny Institute has been changed into a military camp. Workmen are assembling en masse. All the British and Americans at the Embassies have left. The absence of newspapers brought thousands into the streets to learn the news, but there was no panic. Speculation is rife as to whether the Germans are sending Germanised Russian bands to Petrograd as saviours of society, with the Duke of Hesse, brother of the ex-Czarina, leading, with a view to founding a new dynasty. There were strange scenes when the blare of syrens woke the inhabitants of Petrograd on Monday night. Few knew what the noise signified, but went into the streets and were immediately summoned to get picks and shovels and dig trenches in the roads. Telephones buzzed everywhere, telling that the Germans were coming from Pskov. Trams ran all night. Motors were requisitioned, and the railways were closely guarded. The Bolshevik's claim to. have enrolled over 100,000 volunteers, of whom 53,000 have been formed into fighting detachments. The Russians are reported to have captured Pskov, and fighting for its possession continues. The sailors at Helsing•fors and Kronstadt have decided to remain at their posts. The workers have joined ihe garrison at Narva, and combined with the Red suard.>, forming a total of 10,000 troops, portion has been despatched to Reval. Similar mobilisations are proceeding elsewhere. The Soviets are active in the centres, promoting the rapid distribution of arms and supplies. > The Russians are swarming in from Moscow and other points, and are entrenching on a front of several miles. The civilians have fled. Heavy fighting is expected. The Germans naTs-Tci-wl birg'o supplies in the Viglisk and Polotz districts. The retard' :d spetd iit the advance at some points is possibly connected with the final pence Negotiations, but the Bolshevik? claim that it is due to increasing resistance.

; The Revolutionary Committee has summoned all officers on the military list to co-operate in the defence of the country. A German aeroplane bombed the city and killed three and wounded five. ADVANCE REPORTED TO HAVE CEASED. A late message says that owing to the, signature of the Peace Treaty military movements in Great Russia have ceased. GERMAN REPORTS. A flying detachment occupied Dorjatcovred, covering over 130 miles in five days and a-half. The whole staff of the Russian special army at Rovno fell into our hands; the Commander-in-Chief fled. We established contact with the Ukrainian troops at Metomir. We occupied Pernau, where an Esthonian battalion placed itself under German cominand. We occupied Dorpat, and took 3000 prisoners, as . well as hundreds of automobiles. We have reached Jitomir. Four days after crossing Moon Sound 1 the troops were marching upon Reval, and captured the fortress after a battle. Flags were hung in many ! towns in Livonia when we entered. Many i inhabitants were arrested after the capture iof Pskov. General Linsingen stormed and ! carried Kolenkowitz and Railstaim. His forces covered upwards of 300 kilometres ,in a few days. Co-operating with the [ Ukrainians, they have cleared the greater ' part of the country of looting gangs. We j recently took prisoner on the eastern front I three divisional staff officers, 180 < fficers, j and 3676 men. } We captured two Russian regiments northward of Dorpat and dispersed battalions opposing us 30 kilometres eastward of Jitomir. We have reached Berditcheff, southward of Jitomir. We captured at ' Krementz a Russian commander's staff. ;. The Fourth Esthonian Regiment placed itself under our command to clear the country of marauding bands. We captured 20C0 machine guns and 60,000 rifles at - Minsk. Advancing eastwards along the northern frontier of Ukrainia we reached the Dnieper and encountered near Rjestchiza ,a strongly-fortified, bridgehead. We stormed and captured the town and the railway station and took a few hundred prisoners. j We seized at Mosyr six armour boats, 36 i motor boats, and six hospital boats. We reached the Kieff-Shmerinka railway, near i Fastoff and Kasatin, and hastened to assist Polish Legionaries engaged against 1 superior numbers south-west of Constanti- ' noff, the enemy t being defeated. AustroHungarian forces, in response to an Ukrainian appeal, entered Ukrainia . in wide sectors northward of the Pruth. I We have captured Gomel (beyond the . Dnieper, midway between Mohileff and ! Kieff). The Ukrainians and Saxons have liberated Kieff. j, Austrian official : We have reached Lacsowy, Proskuroff, and Linkany. We have occupied Chotin and Kamienec Podolsk, • where the staffs of two Russian corps surrendered.. Tlvree hundred guns, 200 field kitchens, one complete radio station, and much other material were captured. ! [Proskuroff is in Podolia, on the LembergOdessa railway. Linkany, further south, is in Bessarabia, on the Czernowitz-Odessa line, which runs between the Rivers Pruth and Dniester, on either side of which latter river stand Chotin and Ka- | mienec (or ,-Kaminiets) Podolsk.] j After a hard fight we captured Pleskau, also Polozk. Bolishofr has junctioned with the Polish divisions at Bobtuisks. The Austro-Germans have ' entered Shmerinka. We took prisoner , 6800 officers, 57,000 men, 2400 guns, 5000 ! machine guns, thousands of vehicles, including 1000 motor vehicles, 11 armoured , motor cars, 800 locomotives, 8000 railway trucks, and great quantities of artillery munitions. Moreover, we took prisoner at Reval 513 men and captured 220 guns and 22 aeroplanes. An Austrian official message states : We entered Podolia and reached the line between Now r osielica, Chotin, Kagniec, and Podolski. So far 10,000 Russians have ' downed ai*ms. •THE RUSSIAN FLEET. From the position of the Russian fleet in the Baltic Sea there seems little doubt that it will fall into German hands. The ' enemy, however, probably through shortago ox seamen, find it difficult to adequately man the larger vessels. A few British submarines in the Baltic are not likely to fall into the enemy's hands.

Tho Committee in charge of the Russian Baltic fleet has decided to prepare ships to fight to a finish against the White Guards. CIVIL WAR CONTINUES. Civil war is going on sporadically. The Soviet forces routed the Cossack 3 at Rostoff and arrested the leader (Nasaroff). Russian Revolutionary troops captured Novo Scherkask. The cadet officials fled. Tho Bolsheviks captured Bostoff, after street fighting. The Germans entered Wolmar. The Red Guards resisted and then fled, but were mercilessly shot down. Forces hostile to the Bolsheviks, under Generate Alexieff and Korniloff, are attempting to fight through into the interior of the Don district. Many leaders of the counter-revolution havo been taken prisoner. POSITION IN FINLAND. Latest news from Finland states that the White Guards are winning everywhere. The Reds are quarrelling, brawling, and becoming disunited. The Red Guards massacred 5000 White Guards who had taken refuge on Pellinger Island. The victims were mostly students. / The Germans are transporting troops to South Finland, in order to surround the Red Guards. The first Finnish Government has written to the Kaiser asking him, as the mightiest protector of Germanic culture and evangelic faith, if he will obtain security for the Finnish people, who are striving for full liberty and peaceful development, by demanding at Brest-Litovsk that Russian troops be withdrawn from Finland and that steps be taken to see that such measures are carried into effect at once. The White Guards commenced a determined offensive on Tammersfors on Tuesday. _ , There is a terrible famine at Helsingfors, the last bread ration having been distributed yesterday. The Finnish Premier has resigned. ' The first conflict between Swedish and Russian troops is reported from the Aaland -Islands, where Russian 1 batteries fired upon the Swedish military expedition on its arrival. The shells exploded in the water. The Red Guards attacked two Swedish posts, and hand-to-hand fighting occurred in one case. This will inevitably entail further- military' intervention by Sweden, whose people are unanimous in desiring the Aalands, which in foreign hands are a danger to Sweden. Germany has officially informed Sweden that she is sending troops to Finland at the request of the Finnish Government to suppress the revolution. The German troops will -use the Aaland Islands as a halting place. Germany assures Sweden she has no territorial interest in the Aaland Islands, and recognises Sweden's vital interest therein Sweden replied, and 6trongly objects to the eventual inclusion 'of the Aaland Islands in the sphere of war operations, and emphasises even limited utilisation,-ac-cording to ■ German conditions, might create difficulties in the way of Sweden's humanitarian work of the protection of the population of the islands.

The Swedish commander of the islands ha.s been informed tc expect the arrival of a German expedition. A large German squadron passed Gothland on Saturday, steering northerly. The squadron was apparently transporting troops to the Aaland Islands. The transports were protected by cruisers and detrovers, and the .disembarkation took place on Saturday. There is great excitement in Sweden as the result of these developments. -, , THE TROUBLE IN POLAND. A Berlin message announces that troublous events in Poland have led to the proclamation of martial law at Czertchowd, Lodz, and Wloclawek. A Cracow paper states that the Germans killed and wounded many persons in Warsaw during a demonstration against the annexation of Cholm by Ukrairiia. The text of a suppressed speech by the Polish deputy Glombinski in the Austrian Chamber shows that, he declared that Count G'zerhin forced Cholm on the unwilling Ukrainians without previously consulting the Poles, and described Austria's duplicity as rivalling Prussian brutality. TURKS ENTER TREBIZOND. Turkish communique: We re-entered Trebizond, which is aflame. WILL JAPAN INTERFERE. ALLIED PRESS VIEWS. - The Japanese Foreign Minister, speaking in the Diet, said that should the Russo-German peace actually be concluded it goes without saying that Japan will take decided and adequate steps to meet the occasion. The withdrawal of Ucnida is due to the unsettled and dangerous conditions in Petrograd. It does not mean a rupture. Regarding Russia's separate peace, the fullest understanding exists with Britain, America, and the other allies. The Maximalists are reported to have seized munitions at Vladivostock. It is reported that 200,000 Austro-Ger-man prisoners in Siberia have been liberated and supplied with arms. This is regarded as a serious menace. Two thousand Germans are drilling at Irkutsk. British, French, and American newspapers generally express the opinion that it is time for Japan to act, as the German peril in the East is too real to be ignored. The United Press correspondent at Washington learns that at a meeting between President Wilson and the Cabinet it was decided that the United States would raise no objection to Japan sending troops to Siberia in self-defence, but the United States forces will not participate. It is generally believed that Japan intends energetic measures. She is deter-

mined to prevent the Germans seizing the copper and platinum mines in the Orals, also to save the vast munition stores at Vladivostock. If her action is sanctioned, Japan can land 200,C00 troops in Siberia within two weeks to protect allied interests and supplies. Shortly afterwards half a million more men would be available. As a result of negotiations proceeding between the Governments concerned, a decisive move at Vladivostock is expected. The United Press Tokio correspondent says that the report that the Bolsheviks had seized the piers at Vladivostock containing munitions and supplies valued at 100,000,000 roubles is not confirmed. The Bolsheviks threatened to requisition foreign merchantmen in port, whereupon the allied warships in the harbour prepared to land marines. After the meeting of the Japanese Emperor and his Cabinet on Friday Admiral Tanaki hurriedly departed for Vladivostock. Viscount Motono, Minister of Finance, speaking in the Diet, emphasised -the fact that the allied Ambassadors had leftPetrograd because their personal safety was endangered. Diplomatic relations had not been severed. Count Terauchi, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, warned the people of Japan to consider the subject calmly. They must take the greatest care not to make mistakes:' The Japanese Embassy to the United States reports that Japanese and Chinese troops have been ordered to Siberia. The Japanese are merely guarding the railway n,fear Harbin. Washington press correspondents point out that the situation is delicate, because the Allies do not want the Bolsheviks to construe Japanese participation as an unfriendly act towards Russia. In the House of Commons, questioned as to the prospects of an Anglo-Japanese military convention, Mr Balfour iS&id that if the question meant a convention upon reciprocal military services, such a convention was unlikely. CHINA SPEEDING UP. Important Government conferences are going on at Peking for speeding- up China's participation in the war, with a view J to Germany's Eastern aims. Special mandates are momentarily expected. JAPAN- AND THE PACIFIC. The Japanese Consul-general, lecturing in Sydney, and referring to the war, said: "You may rest assured that Japan, both during and after the war, will be found to" be protecting the general peace in the Pacific with all her power, indefatigably and energetically, so that justice and the common interests of mankind shall prevail, instead of brutal militarism." There was, he said, a strong desire in Japan, as well as in Australia and' New Zealand, that the German colonies in the Pacific should not be handed back to Germany. If they were, the peace of the Pacific could not be regarded as secure from the operations of threatening and dangerous elements LITHUANIA AND ESTHONIA. A Saxon official Court newspaper states that if the throne of Lithuania is definitely offered to Saxony the Government will consider to.what extent the proposal is compatible with the Saxon Crown interests Saxony'3 historic ties with Poland constitute a grave objection, involving the risk of offending Polish opinion. The King's brother, Prince John George, refused the Polish throne two years ago, and if the Lithuania offer is made the King's second son, Prince Christian, will become King. Berlin reports that the Reval Town Council has proclaimed Esthonia's independence and neutrality. A Provisional Government is being formed, and Esthonian soldiers are being recalled from the Russian army. Mr Balfour, in the House of Commons,, stated that the Government intended the final fate of the Russian provinces, Rumania, and Armenia to be settled at the final peace negotiations, despite any peace now enforced upon Russia and Rumania. THE DEPOSED CZAR. At a dinner in honour of Sir G. Buchanan, late British Ambassador to Petrograd, Sir George said he could not yet make a full rerelation of the things he had seen in Russia. It-almost broke his heart to think of them. He had told the Czar at the end of 1-916 that he had come to the parting of he ways and must choose between the path leading to victory and that leading to revolution. He chose the path to reaction, but it was untrue to say that the Czar on the eve of his abdication favoured the concluding of a separate peace with Germany. The Czar was not a traitor, and would never betray, the Allies' cause.

THE BOLSHEVIK AMBASSADOR TO GREAT BRITAIN. The agent of the landlord of the socalled "Russian Embassy" office in Victoria street, London, prevented Litvinoff, the Bolshevik Ambassador, and his staff from entering, offering to refund the rent for the unexpired term of the tenancy, an offer that was declined. The court has issued an interim injunction restraining the landlord from ejecting litvinoff or denying access to the premises. Sir George Cave declared in the House of Commons that Litvinoff came not as an Ambassador, but to engage in revolutionary propaganda. He nad issued a manifesto of such a nature thai many had been seized. He had also conferred with British soldiers. He had now given a promise not"*-to engage in propaganda. Kamaneffs position was the same. The French Government, to whom he was sent, had not allowed him to land. The British Government had refused to allow Kameneff to address meetings. These foreign envoys cama to recommend 80l-

shevism, -which had ruined Russia. Ho ridiculed the idea that British workmen would listen to such doctrines. Lritvinofi denies Sir George Cave's statement that he had used the alias of Finkelstein and Buchanan, and protested against a Oabinot Minister spreading false information. The Russian peopie would regard Sir George Cave's action <is a grO.~e insult which might lead to grave consequences. As Romanoff was not allowed to cash a cheque for £SOOO he will return to Russia. :• GENERAL ITEMS. Ensign Krylenko, the Commander-in-Chief of the Bolshevik forces, was shot and wounded in the neck by a Socialist, who was arrested. A despatch received at Berlin from Petrograd states that General Brugevitch has been appointed Dictator in Russia and also commander of the armies. He orders the troops to fight to the last. •German newspapers report that the Bolsheviks have ordered ex-Generalissimo Grand Duke Nicholas to be court-mar-tialled on a charge of treason against the republic. Efrenoff, who was Minister of Justice in Kerensky's Cabinet, has addressed a moving appeal to the Allies. He says that the Russians have lost 5,000,000 killed during the war. There has b'een a dearth of medicines, clothing, and- every kind of industrial machinery since 1914. The distress among the Russian people is unimaginable. The-brutal question is whether Germany shall organise Russia against the Allies or the Allies organise Russia against Germany. s ■ The Journal de Geneve states that it has Compiled from authoritative sources statistics of Russia's war losses, which include 5,000,000 killed and 6,000,000 wounded, whereof 40 per cent, will not work again j 3,000,000 prisoners, whereof 1,500,000 are suffering from consumption. -The Frankfurter Zeitung's Vienna correspondent reports continuous fighting between the Bolsheviks and the Rumanian, troops in Bessarabia, in many parts of which the Bolsheviks are conducting guerrilla warfare against the Rumanians. There is severe fighting around Kishineff. A meeting of over 3000 German, Magyar, Czech, and Polish war prisoners at Moscow carried a resolution welcoming the revolution, which they were confident would extend to Western Europe. The meeting followed a solemn religious service commemorating the deaths of Russian revolutionaries and strikers in Berlin aiui Vienna. ." . / The American Labour Federation ha* sent a message to the Russian people, urging them to fight the Germans. The delegates appointed by Australian Socialists to go to ituesia have been refused passports. ' • \