THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16141, 20 February 1918, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

WAR AGAIN. GERMANY ATTACKS NORTHERN GOVERNMENTS. (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) (.Received Februarv 19tli, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, February 18. Germany is attacking Livonia and Esthonia. Livonia is one of the three Baltic provinces of Russia. It contains an area of 18,153 square miles. It forms the eastern side of the Gulf of Riga, and lies between Esthonia on the north and Courland on the south, bein<x separated from this latter by the river Dwina. The country is mostly flat, and nearly one-fourth of it is covered with forests. Esthonia is the most northerly of the Baltic provinces of Russia. It is bounded E. bv the river Narova. S. by Livonia, W. and N. by the Baltic, and has an area of 7818 squaro miles. It constitutes a broad flat ridge, extending from west to east, with a gentle slope towards Livonia. The chief town is Reval, which was recently- reported to be threatened with occupation by the Germans. The population (over 500,000 in pre-war times) consists of two divisions. the Esths and the Estlilanders. The latter are a mixed race of immigrants, the German element largely preponderating. German, which was until recently the official language and the language of tho educated classes, has been, as far as possible, superseded by Russian, the use of tho latter tongue having been made compulsory in all places of instruction. Esthonia was conquered by Waldemar 11., of Denmark, in 1219, but in 1346 it was sold to the Teutonic Knights, and incorporated with Livonia. From 1561 it belonged to Sweden, until in 1710 it was seized by Peter the Great, who definitely united it to his own dominions by tho treaty of Nystad, in 1721. THE GERMAN ANNOUNCEMENT. (Atiatralian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter'a Telegrams.) (Received February 20th, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 19. A wireless German official report states: — "Hostilities on the Russian front .began at noon yesterday. "Wo crossed tho Dvina towards Dvinsk without fight. "We also commenced an advance towards Kovel in response to the Ukraine's appeal." THE GERMAN EXCUSE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 20th, 12.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, February 18. A Berlin official message states that the Petrograd Government's conduct has in. effect terminated the armistice, therefore the German Government claims that its hands are free in every respect. ITEMS FROM PETROGRAD. (Received February 20tli, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, February 18. The "Daily Chroniclo's" Petrograd correspondent says: — "A Socialist delegation visited tho south with a view to obtaining foodThey found a vast quantity of corn, Belling at 6d and 7d a pound, but Uiul Ukrainians refused to supply them, saying that if sent at all it must bo addressed to tho Constituent Assembly, and not to the Leninists. Tho delegation refused to accept this condition. "A pro-Austrian feeling has arisen in Southern Russia owing to the Bolsheviks' attack upon the bourgeoisio. "Tho text of tho repudiation of the national debt cancels aid Governmont debts of overy description from Decembtr 14th. All foreign loans have beon cancelled unconditionally, without exception." OPPOSING THE BOLSHEVIKS. (Received February 19th, 7.35 p.m.) PETROGRAD, February 18. General Alexieff's operations are developing in the region of Tagantag. There was a violent encounter near Rostoff. while near Voroness tho Bolsheviks are surrounded. Two outstanding forces are now arrayed against tho Bolsheviks, namely, General Alexieff's army and the Church. Th followers of General Alexieff and General Korniloff are apparently increasing. It is reported that the Bolsheviks are sending an army of 100,000, under Ensign Krylenko, against General Alexieff. The latest information in the cables relating to Ensign Krylonko (Bolshevik Commander-in-Chief) was to the offect that he had been captured by the Poles, and was being held as a hostage. PLAGUE AND TYPHUS OUTBREAKS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, February 18. Telegrams from Petrograd disclose that the situation is unchanged. Famine is imminent, and there is bittor distress among all classes. Typhus has appeared at Petrograd, and there is an outbreak of plague in Southern Russia. ANARCHY IN PETROGRAD. NEW YORK, February IS. Advices from Petrograd state that nearly a hundred persons have been killed during the rioting in Petrograd, where anarchy prevails. The Whito Guards at Petehersk massacred 1400 Red Guards. THE STRUGGLE IN FINLAND. (Reuter's TclegTania.) PETROGRAD. February 18. The bourgeois "Evening Post" states that tho 42ud Army '•Dorps has been ordered to begin operations against tho White Guards in Finland. Largo detachments _of Petrograd troops aro on route to Viborg. The backbone of General Manncrheim's White Guards is composed of several thousand Finns from Germany. They ar e well supplied with artillery. General Mannorheim commands about 60,000 men. RED GUARD REINFORCEMENTS. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 19th. 7.55 p.m.) STOCKHOLM. February IS. Petrograd advices state that the Leninists have telegraphed to the Rovolutionary Governmont at Helsingfors that troops and artillery are beirg sent, i and urging them to hold out.

VICTORY FOR WHITE GUARDS. ("The Times.") (Received Februarv lDth, 7.55 p.m.) PETROGRAD, February 18. The hite Guards have captured Tammorfors. which is burning. Tammerfors is the chief manufacturing city of Finland. It is 50 miles north-west of Tavastehuus. It is situated on a rapid which connects two lakes, and affords motive power to cotton, linen, paper, and woollen mill?. THE REPUDIATION Or LOANS. (Reuter's Telegrams.l (Received February 20th. 1.30 a.m.) PETROGRAD. February IS. The representatives of the Allies am", neutrals have presented the Bolsheviks with a Note refusing to recognise the decrees which repudiated State loans and confiscated property. In so far as foreign subjects are affected, the Note warned the Bolsheviks that they would at a later date insist on satisfaction for all losses sustained under these decree's. THE UKRAINE. PROTEST FROM POLAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) COPENHAGEN. February 18. The Polish Government, in a proclamation, protests before God, tho world, and history, against the new partition by the separation of Cholm, which has been given to the Ukraine. The proclamation states: — "Tho Central Powers promised us independence, but they havo now bought peace with the Ukraine by selling a Polish province." Tho "Lokal Anzeiger" says that the proclamation is equivalent to a declaration of war against the Contra! Powers, which liberated Poland from the Czar's yoke. UKRAINE APPEALS TO GERMANY. AMSTERDAM. February 18. The journal ''Gcrmania" asserts that the Bolsheviks arc burning tho stocks of grain in th e Ukraine as far as possible. A Gorman semi-official announcement states that the Ukrainian Delegation to Brest Litovsk has requested tho German Government to make th© following announcement to the Gorman people:— "Tho Maximalists havo undertaken a Holy War against tho Ukrainian Socialists. This barbarian invasion seeks to destroy our independence. We are concentrating new forces in order to oppose the northern hordes. Wo look for help to the German Army in our struggle for existence, bv protecting the northern frontier. We know that our voice will he heard." UKRAINIANS IN CANADA. (Reuter's TclcgTams.) (Received Februarv 19th 8.25 p.m.) OTTAWA, February 18. Two thousand Ukrainians, representing 250,000 of the population of Canada, havo denounced the separate peace, and havo resolved to carry on 'tho war. They have issued a statement to the Dominion Government, offering to mobilise Ukrainian labour to carry .-n war duties, provided the Governmonl removes the stigma that they aro alier enemies. The Premier, Sir Robert Borden, hat given a favourable reply, declaring that their offer is entitled to consideration.