RUSSIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16477, 23 February 1918, Page 9

RUSSIA.

DANGER TO PETROGRAD. , Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn." PETROGRAD, Feb. 20. Headquarters express the opipion that if the German northern advance continues the fate of Petrograd will bi decided within a fortnight. PREPARATIONS FOE. DEFENCE. NEW YORK, Feb. 21. | A "United Press message from Petroj grad states that the authorities have ordered the stoppifig of the demobilisation of the Russian Army and Navy and also ordered the troops to resist the German advance. Preparations are being made to defend Pclrograd. GERMAN OFFENSIVE CONTINUED. / PETROGRAD, Feb. 20The German offensive continues in the direction of Vitebsk, Molodetchno and alinsk. It is believed that Kieslu'tcha has already fallen. TREATY WITH UKRAINE. GERMAN MINISTER'S STATEMENT LONDON, Feb. 21Dr Kuhlmann, addressing the Reichtfcag Committee, referring to the ceono. mie treaty with Ukraine, said there wero special arrangements to onablo the transportation of huge supplies from Ukraine, of which the Germans had taken advantage during the present year. During the discussion, Herr "WestjH'Pj ft Coaserratjyo, expressed his un.

mixed joy at the pence with "Ukraine. Ho advised the greatest reserve in dealing with Cholm.

Dr Kublmann, replying to questions, said the representatives of Ukraine and Poland had nob conferred before the settlement owing to the rapid conclusion of peace. The Bolshevik attack on Ukriiine in force proved the existence of food supplies. The delegations anticipated that the Poles would, gravely quest-ion the oessxon of Choto, | but it was essential to make ppace, speedily. Controversial questions woxild only result in uncertainty. SWISS GENEROSITY. PAYMENT NOW SOUGHT. BERNE, Feb. 21. Wireless advices state that since th® Bolshevik advent at Petrograd all. remittances to Switzerland have stopped, hence many thousands of Russians in Switzerland are destitute. Swiss hotelkeepers and others allowed them to continue to lodge and hoard on credit. "The Swiss Government now appeals to the Bolsheviki to acknowledge the generous hospitality of the Swiss "oy remittances recovering Itus-N sian liabilities, aggregating 20,000,000 j francs. :

DUPLICITY TO POLAND. ' ■ i LONDON, Feb. 1 21Newspaper comments on. the Polish, i outcry suggest that Germany welcomes' tlio Austro-Polish embroilment. Austrian and German interests in Poland havo always been antagonistic. Germany now wishes to oonvey the impression in Poland that she was reluotant to cede Cholm, thus Germany, at' the .same.time, really welcomes the op. portunity to develop her eastern schemes beyond the Black Sea. j The cession of Cholm would enable her to play th* part of Ukraine's friend and : ally. SWEDEN AND FINLAND. ! - COPENHAGEN, Feb. 21. The Swedish Prime Minister secured a triumph in the Reichstag when, denouncing a proposal to actively intervente in Finland's affairs. The debate revealed that the official Conservatives disavow any connection 'with tHne advocates of active intervention.