THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16037, 23 January 1918, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

ORGANISATION QUITE LACKING. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 21. Berlin correspondents draw extraordinary pictures of the Russian front. As the result of masses of desorters, on many sections up to 150 miles in length there gre no opponents to face the German troops. Deserters arrive in the German lines, including tho deposed officers, who fled owing to the men’s cruel treatment. Apparently Russian discipline is entirely disappearing. War material has been carted away, and the rest abandoned, buried in the snow, especially tho heavy guns, which none took the trouble to remove. Tho supply of ammunition has practically ceased. The troops barter horses for food, and even sell their rifles. The conditions on the south-east front are somewhat better, as the Roumanians are still well organised and hostile to Germany. BREST LITOVSK CONFERENCE. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 21. The Brest Litovsk deliberations were resumed on January 18. Trotsky reiterated his demand for a referendum of the peoples in the occupied territories on the question of their future. Baron von Kuhlmann repeated his refusal to withdraw the troops, and declared these territories must ho protected from the spread of revolution. Tho discussion on this question was adjourned. Kuhlmann asked what were the relations of tho, Petrograd to the Caucasus. Trotsky replied that the Caucasus army was absolutely devoted to the Petrograd Government. Regarding the question of the future of tli© Aaland Islands, Kuhlmann argued it was one for Finland, Sweden and Germany. After dissenting, Trotsky intimated ho was compelled to leave for Petrograd, became of internal questions.An agreement was reached between the Central Powers and Ukraine, under which the war terminates. Both part-ieT-vvill immediately resume economic relations. Delegates will consult their respective governments prior to the ratification of the final peace treaty . The telegram does not mention the nature of the peace terms.