THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16142, 21 February 1918, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

GERMANY'S NEW

OFFENSIVE

DVINSK AND LUTSK

CAPTURED

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON, February 19. The Germans have captured Dvinsk, and tho Austrians have captured Lutsk.

Dvinsk is the important- fortress on ed early this morning stated that Mr which the Germans repeatedly attempted to tako in 1915 without suitcess. Lutsk, in the government of Volhynia, on a branch of the main railway to Brest-Lit-ovsk, is 23 miles from tlie Austrian frontier.

THE ENEMY ANNOUNCEMENT. (Reuter's. Telegrams.) Admiralty per Wireless Press. (deceived February 20th, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, February 19. A German official roport states: — "We occupicd Dvinsk, encountering only small enemy resistance. "A Russian attempt to blow up the Dvina bridge was unsuccessful." An Austrian official message states: — "Yve occupied Lutsk, unopposed." LANDINGS ON BALTIC COAST. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) Admiralty pet - Wireless Preaa. STOCKHOLM, February 19. According to reports in the Swedish Press, Germany is preparing to land a Finnish battalion of tho German Army and other forces in Finland. These operations are to bo accompanied bv_ naval action in tho Baltic, with landings also in the unoccupied i parts of Livonia and Esthonia. RUSSIA CLIMBS DOWN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Admiralty par Wireless Press. (Reuter's Telegram 3.) (Received February 20th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 19. A Russian official message states: — "Lonin and Trotzky have sent a message to the German Government protesting against tho Gorman invasion while the Russian Army is demobilising. "The Council of the people's commissaries is now forced to declare formally its willingness to sign poaco upon the conditions dictated by the Quadruplo Alliance at Brest Litovsk. A detailed reply to these conditions will be given without delay.'' RUSSIAN BALTIC FLEET DEPARTS. (Australian and X.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received February 20th, 5.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, February 19. The Russian Baltic Fleet, which was icebound at Helsingfors, has now departed. UNSPEAKABLE CHAOS IN PETROGUAD. (Received February 2Gt'.i. 0.0 p.m.) J/OXDON 1 , Februp.ry 19. Delayed messages from I'ctrograd roj>ort unspeakable chaos owing to tho unbridled license of hordes of Rod Guards. Wholesale robberies aiul confiscations have taken place. Owners of more than three horses or four sheep or two pigs are heavily taxed, tho Soviets and Peasants' Committee getting 25 per cent, of the procoeds. A perfect saturnalia of murder, outrage, and robberv continues. As a result of simplification of divorce proceedings, od,ooo applications for divorce were made in three months. The Bolsheviks are despatching

numerous Cossack battalions to tho Don to assist tho workers against General Kaledin. KALEDIN REPORTED DEAD. (Router's Telegrams.) (Received February 2dth. 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD. February 10. It is reported that Geneial Kaledin has committed suicide. RUSSIA TO FIGHT THE INVADERS. (Australian and X.Z. Caljlo Association.) NEW YORK, February 10. Tho United Press Association learns that the Pctvogrnd Foreign Office announces that Russia will light the Gorman invaders. GERMANY'S POLICY OUTLINED. NEW YORK, February 10. Tho Rutterdam correspondent of the "Now \ crk World" says that ho lenrns from a reliable source that Germany's future policy includes tho occupation of the remainder or the Baltic Provinces, with n. view to incorporating thorn iu tho German Empire; also too further dismemberment of Poland. Despite oßicial denials, it is declared that Germany is laying plans for conquest- and annexation, and tho greatest possible territorial expansion. dERMANYS PEACE TERMS. PETROGRAD, February 10. Tin; Foreign Office has announced that as a result of tho German invasion, loci uit-ing i'.ns been enormously stimulated. Trotzky made a statement that Germany's peace terms, which Russia refused, included the detention of Poland, Lithuania, Riga, and tho Moon Island, and payment of -1,000,000,00') dollars indemnity. ANNULMENT OF LOANS. PETROGRAD, February 10. An oilicial decree has been issued, annulling all loans except advances by Russians holding Government bonus unuer 10,000 rouolo*, who cuu exchange t-iiem lor certificates in tho new loan of tho Russian Socialistic Federal Republic.

The same provision applies to savings "banks, co-operative, anu other Socialistic institutions.

All money not strictly earned by labour will bo confiscated.

THE STRUGGLE IN FINLAND

STOCKHOLM, February 19. A Helsingfors message reports that 10,000 lied Guards, armed with rifles and machine-guns, have arrived in Southern Finland from Potrograd.

Several hundred White Guards reached the Aaland Islands, after orossing the ice, artd caused furtlier bloody fighting with the Russians, who now reruse to leave unless the White Guards also leave.

POSITION IN MOSCOW

(Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received February 20th, 9.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 19.

The "Daily Chronicle's" Moscow correspondent says:—"Tho Bolshevik regime is milder here, and starvation is less imminent. It is A city of refuge for intclligcncia. Many officers aro selling newspapers in the streets, and others aro unloading trucks or sweeping crossings. The proletariat is not faring much better. The factories are gradually closing, and unemployment is increasing owing to the want of raw materials. Men in soldiers' uniforms are making gre.at profits selling food at excessive prices, after securing the Revolutionary Committee's authority to confiscate the peasants' goods, the peasants being flogged if they fail to give them up. Tho intelligencia aro not seeking palliatives. They arc convinced that the masses must learn from bitter experience what Bolshevik Socialism moans." IN SOUTH RUSSIA. TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER IN IvIEFF. ("The Times.") LONDON, February 19. The Potrograd correspondent of "Tho Times'' says:— "Extraordinary stories aro coming from Kieff, describing the recent fighting between tho Bolshevik, Ukrainian, and Cossack forces. Over 2000 have been killed, and 9000 wounded. Tho lurid picture includes street battles, a bombardment from both banks of tho Dnieper, and an artillery attack on the Peteiiorsky Monastery, with Bolshovik aeroplane.* bombing indiscriminately. Simultaneously wholcsalo looting went on in tho shops and residences by nrmed hooligans and soldiers. The " Jewißh quarter particularly suffered. "The Bolsheviks twice captured Kieff. Tho second, time they wcro reinforced by six infantry regiments and two divisions of artillery and. cavalry from the south-west front. Tho artillery razed tho walls off the Pctchorsky, in which the Ukrainians, Cossacks, and Cadets resisteu for three days. Then the Bolsheviks entered and made the garrison prisoners. The Ukrainians fought in tho centre of tho town until their ammunition was exhausted, suffering severely. They then surrendered. Two days later, detachments of Ukrainians and Cossacks re-formed and reopened a violent fire in various parts of the town. During two days of terror, -100 residents were killed. "A Bolshevik report states that tho massacre reached its climax by a murderous Cossack bombardment on the workers' quarter. Ultimately the Ukrainians and Cossacks were driven out and took refuge in the Kievopotchera Monastery, in the suburbs, using artillery, but they were surrounded on all sides. "The Bolsheviks heavily defeated General Alexieff nenr Voroness, and General Alexieff has retreated to Novo Tcherka.sk. "The Cossacks arc forcing the mineiß of Taganrog to sunply coal exclusively to tho towns in the Don region, anu railwnymcn refusing to handle the coal are being shot." LEADING UKRAINIANS ARRESTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) PETRQOIUD, February 19. The Bolsheviks have arrested all the members of the Ukrainian Central Rada and tho Ukrainian Delegation at Brest Litovsk. including the President, and are charging them with high treason. The Bolsheviks refuse to recognise the peace concluded l\y the Rada. ROUMANIA. NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. (Auftraliau and X.Z. Cabla Association.) | AMSTERDAM, February 19. The "Cologne Gazette" states "that it is expected that negotiations-with Roumania will commence on February 22nd,

when Herr von Kuhlmann proceeds to j Focsani. . i Ukrainian delegates havo arnvea at Berlin to arrango details for carrying out the pcace treaty.