Russia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 74, 25 February 1918, Page 5

Russia

GERMANY’S PEACE TERMS.

A REPLY TO RUSSIA .

MAILED-FIST CONDITIONS.

Press Assn.—Copyright.—Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Renter. /Received 11.30 a.m.) London, February 24. A Russian wireless message states': Replying to the Russian proposals of 19th February, Germany on the 21st intimated her readiness to conclude peace as follows: (1) Gertnany and Russia to declare the- State of War ended; (2) The regions west of the line indi-' cated at Brest Litovsk to the Russian delegation, formerly belonging to Russia, are no longer under Russian territorial protection; in the region of Dvinsk:’ this .line must be advanced to, the eastern frontier of Courland. Germany and Austria-Hungary will define the further fate of these regions in agreement with their populations. (3) Livonia and Esthonia must immediately be cleared of Russian > troops and Red Guards and be accupied by German police till security is guaranteed by their Constitutions. (4) Russia will concl'ude a peace with Ukraine and evacuate Ukraine and Finland. (5) Russia will do her utmost to secure the orderly return of the eastern Anatolian frontiers to Turkey; (6) The complete demobilisation of the Russian Army; (7) The Russian Fleets, including the Entente warships, must be kept in Russian harbours till there is a general peace or till they are disarmed; (8) The Russo-German commercial treaty of 1904 comes into force ; free export of ores must be guaranteed, and a new commercial treaty must be negotiated; (9) Legal and political relations must be regulated in accordance with , the first German-Russian conven tion; (10) Russia promises to end the propaganda against the Maudruplice; (11) These conditions must be accepted within forty-eight hours; the Russian plenipotentiaries must sign at Brest Litovsk within three days a peace treaty which must be ratified within a fortnight.

GRAVE MENAGE TO EUROPE.

FRENCH OFFICALS ALARMED.

Press Association—Copyright, Austra

lian and N.Z. Cable Association

London, February 23

The Paris correspondent of the Daily News states that French official circles are gravely concerned at the position in Russia, and have urged speedy Allied action; otherwise Germany will obtain such gigantic power as to menace the independence of Europe. News from Russia is extemely sombre. The Express Petrograd corres pondent reports that the Germans have already occupied Hapsal, and that Lenin and Trotsky are trying to resuscitate the half demobilised army but that the degenerate rabble have no fighting spirit left. The Bolsheviks are withdrawing the army from Finland.

THE GERMAN ADVANCE.

TROOPS: PRESSING EASTWARD.

Press Assn.—Copyright.—Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn,, and Renter. London, February 23. Wireless German official: We occupied Hapsel, in Esthonia. The First Eshonian Regiment placed itself at the. disposal of the German command. We passed beyond Ronneburg, Weimar and Spandau. and entered Riezitza, amid the rejoicings of the inhabitants. Thence we advanced to the Luizin and occupied Minsk. With our assistance the Ukrainian struggle for freedom is progressing. We junctioned with Ukrainian detacha\, ments at Novogorod and Volynsk. and other columns are marching on Bubo. Our troops in Esthonia are pressing j, eastward, and have occupied Wary. j.< .Liyonia, and- D.ubno.

volutionary mobilsation for guerilla warfare in every street, village, and town, if the Germans refuse to con elude peace.

POSITION OF INHABITANTS.

Petrograd ( February 23

The enemy has advanced 50 miles on the whole front. Aeroplanes are distributing leaflets advising calmness on the part of the inhabitants, and stating that the Germans are bringitlg restoration of order and food. The advance is not resisted anywhere. Forty-seven thousand troops seized twenty-seven trains and fled back to Moscow. The Germans are not taking prisoners, but are merely disarming them. The Bolsheviks are at their wits’ end. The majority of civilians are praying for the Germans to . reach the city before, the anarchists kick over the traces. The British consulate is crowded. All, especially the women and children, are warned to leave immediately. The Bolsheviks’ north-western headquarters staff have fled to Bmolny, abandoning touch with the armies.

NAVAL DISORGANISATION

Petrograd, February 23

The disorganisation in the navy is irremediable. The majority of the crews oppose active defence, and some demand their immediate discharge. The situation at Reval is tragic. The authorities desire to remove the warships to Kronstadt, but the ice prevents, and a similar position prevails at Helsingfors. The authorities are considering whether they ought to destroy the warships if it is impossible to intern them in Finland as neutral territory. The Connbil of the Commissaries has ordered the evacuation of Finland.

The rapidity of the German advance on Reval will decide the fate of the Russian Baltic fleet, which is icebound there, also the Helsingfors fleet, the crews of which have deserted. These include four dreadnoughts, seven big cruisers, and sixty-four destroyers. The capture of the big ships will not affect British superiority, but the destroyers would prove most useful to Germany. It is expected that she will attempt to secure the Russian Black Sea fleet, but the Allies would mine the Dardanelles,

AN OFFER OF SUBMISSION.

Amsterdam, February 23

A Russian courier has delivered to Berlin a message of submission, signed by Trotsky and Lenin and dated Wednesday. The courier returned empty-handed, German. 7 intimating that a period may elapse before the, reply would be ready, because Dr. von Kuhlmann In d gone to Bucharest and was unable to give his attention to the matter. Meantime the invasion proceeds. The Board of the Petrograd Council of Army Commissaries has discussed the question of Germany’s refusal of the peace offer, and the Council is preparing defence schemes, notably the development of a new army. The old army’s position is considered hopeless. Nevertheless Bolshevik in-

flnence on the Council increases. The majority of the Bolsheviks oppose the “honly war,” and favor Lenin’s attitude.

Reliable reports state that ten German transports sailed northwards from Danzig on the 20th, and that a naval squadron quitted Libau northwards. It is reported that Germany will occupy Petrograd until Russia ! gives guarantees for peace and also J for a thirty-years trade treaty. The Council of Commissaries has issued a manifesto, in which it declares that the republic is imperilled, and appeals to all citizens to enrol for the defence of the revolution. It warns the Soviets to defend their positions to the last drop of blood, and that railways must be destroyed, ( and rolling stock and locomotives re--1 moved eastwards. The people are

ordered to raise battalions and construct defences in the cities and towns. The lawless elements must be expelled from the army, and discipline firmly maintained. The bonrgeoise must enlist or be shot at sight. i A special military general staff of five has been appointed, and has resolved to mobilise the whole of the

able-bodied men, and to confiscate all property necessary for defensive purposes. Martial law has been established. ; RED AND WHITE GUARDS. > The Red Guards are gradually concentrating at Mammerfors. They are pressed on all sides by the White 'Guards, who are seizing an important junction with a view to cutting it off from Helsingfors. A decisive battle is expected near Vilpall for the mastery of middle Finland. Russian aviators are dropping leaflets inciting the population. Petrograd is greatly agitated at the report that a German officer, instructed from Berlin, is assisting ftie White Guards, This is regarded as treachery. ; The Commissaries have ordered the retiring troops to destroy everything, thus once more frightful devastation is being committed over the already ruined country. 1 The Germans can easily occupy Petrograd. ; A report from Haparanda states that four vessels have arrived from Germany bringing provisions and German volunteers, also Finiush cavalry which formerly served in Germany, 100,000 rifles, and a large quantity of field and machine guns. A strong offensive is expected towards Yiborg and Mammerfors. The Red Guards at Yiborg are receiving further large reinforcements, also guns and armored cars. j It is reported that the Russian I position on the northern front is critical, owing to the disorderly retirement blocking the roads. With a view to relieving the situation, the Commissaries are despatching the Red Guards from the detachments not 'yet entirely disorganised. The enemy has occupied the entire first line of the northern front on the Dvina, and is moving towards Volmar, endeavoring to cut off Reval.

| The Russian commander •on the ( west front has ordered the retiring armies not to fight nor destroy ammunition pending Germany’s formal reply to Trotsky. j General Krylenko, in a proclamation, states that the struggle continues not for certain peace terms, but to end the Soviets’ power. The enemy is unable to throw large armies against Russia, but only small detachments of from 1000 to 2500. General Krylenko appeals for small detachments to oppose the invader, and to check the forward movement. The foreign embassies are preparing to leave. Trotsky has gone to Dvinsk for the purpose of stopping the new hostilities. He carries Russia’s reply to Germany’s demands, but it is expected that Germany will now insist on non-intervention in Ukraine, the stoppage of civil war in Ukraine, non-in-tervention in Finland, and withdrawal of 'the Russian troops from Finland. ! The Kaiser has received a telegram from the Lubeck Senate, asking that assistance should be sent to the people of Esthonia. The Kaiser replied: “The words of the Senate are reechoed profoundly in my heart. The desperate cry for help will not be unanswered. Rigorous measures will be taken against the gangs of marauders, to end a situation of complete anarchy.” i DVINSK PASSED TO ENEMY. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received 8.50 a.m.) Petrograd, February 34. The Soviet chairman states that Dvinsk was taken by only one hundred Germans, owing to the local committee losing their heads. The committee would be tried by revolutionary tribunal. WHITE GUARDS’ SUCCESS. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. (Received 11.5 a.m.) Stockholm, February 24. White Guards drove back the Red Guards at many points, and captured Bjorneborg and Tammerfors, and are now advancing towards an important junction of the Helsingfors-Viborg railway.