THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16143, 22 February 1918, Page 8

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

OFFENSIVE. f ' ~ ! } ADVANCE TOWARDS PETROGRAD. j j (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) j | (Router'a Telegrams.) i (Received February 22nd, 12.20 a.m.) j LONDON, February 20. | A German official report states:— "We advanced 20 kilometres astride !l the Riga-Petrograd railway, and adj I t-anced on tfide sectors between Dvinsk ! | and Lutsk. I|j "We are now marching on Rovno. : | "'We took prisoner 2500 and cap- ! bured 100 Runs and much rolling stock." | LONDON,. February 21. ! A German official report states: — || "Wo entered Esthonia and passed !| through Werner." i BOLSHEVIKS ORDERED TO - FRATERNISE. * 1 By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) iT i (Australian-and N.Z. Cable Association.) | ; " iiONDON, February 20. j r A Russian official message states:— | 1 "Ensign Krylenko has ordered the \ irmy to organise massed pourparlers flJvith the German soldiers. If they lill not refrain from fighting, the utlost resistance should be offered." LONDON, February 19. A Russian official message states: — "An enquiiy has been sent to Count Izemin, asking whether Austria is Iso at war with Russia." GERMANY'S PEACE DEMANDS ACCEPTED. PETROGRAD, February 19. / : There aro indications that M. .. ■ -

Trolzky has already replied to 1 - many's demands, which include the retention of Poland, Lithuania, and I the Moon Islands, and the payment of an indemnity of £800.000,000. IJrobably the indemnity will be reduced by a half. (Australian and X.Z. Cnblo Association.) CCou'.or'a Telegrams.) (R-eceived February 22nd, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, February 20. A Russian official report states: — "Germany has acknowledged the receipt of the Russian peace offer." RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SURPRISED. LONDON February 20. M. Litvinoff (bolshevik representative jn London), in an interview, said ' that he was astonished at the _ announcement that Russia was signing a German peace. 110 did not- regard tins unfavourably, but withheld judgment until he is "in possession of the full details. AUSTRO-GERMAN PLANS. AMSTERDAM. February 20. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" states that Austria and Germany have agreed that Germanv shall undertake military action in Russia, while Austria is to conduct operations in the Ukraine. ATTEMPT TO EMBROIL POLAND. LONDON, February 20. A "Morning Post" despatch from Berne says:— ... , "Polish indignation is intense at tne establishment of a Great Ukraine in the South and a Great Lithuania in the North, both at Poland's expense. The Germans anticipated this. and probably hope that the Polish indignation will become open hostility, because the German Command would be glad of the opportunity of rectifying the Eastern frontier by annexing desirable strips of Russian Poland. The creation of an independent Polish Kingdom would then be abandoned." SWEDISH AID TO FINLAND. COPENHAGEN, February 20. The White Guards, after a violent defeat at the Aaland Islands, fled across the ice, and took refuge aboard the ships of the Swedish cxpeditiou. Another Swedish expedition departed to the Aaland Islands on Monday carrying soldiers who will form a guard on the islands for the duration of the war. TYPHUS IN PETROGRAD. NEW YORK, February 20. The Petrograd correspondent of the "New York World" reports that typhus is spreading fast. "The Petrograd hospitals aro filled to overflowing, j Sixty per cent, of the cases are fatal. LATEST BOLSHEVIK OUTRAGES. COPENHAGEN. February 20. It is reported that M. Kerensky has arrived at Christiania. An attempted assassination of M. Rodzianko failed. A group of officers endeavoured to stop his carriage in South Russia. They fired several shots and injured MM. Rodaianko and G'oalhalge, but both escaped. Complete disorder continues in Petrograd. Machine-guns are heard in all quarters during the night, and there are many murders, garotings, and robberies. The Italian Ambassador, who was driving in a sleigh, was held up by three armed men, who took his fur coat and valuables. MURDER AND PILLAGE IN FINLAND. ("The Times.") (Received February 21st, 8 p.m.) PETROGRAD, February 20. A group of Grand Dukes and Duchesses has petitioned the Bolshevik Government to permit the ex-Czar and his family to take refuge in France or England. It is reported from Helsingfors that all money in the State Bank was stolen and sent to Petrograd for the purchase of arms and provisions. The Russians systematically looifc the homes of all residents not favouring the revolution. Resisters are shot. The Red Guards continue the killing and stripping of war prisoners. Many naked corpses have been found. BOLSHEVIKS THREATEN BRITAIN. (Received February 21st, 8 p.m.) LONDON, February 20. The Itussian Press states that the Bolsheviks vcill assumo freedom of action towards British residents in Russia if the British. Government withholds official acknowledgment of M. Litvinoff (Bolshevik representative in Britain). They also threaten energetic repressive measures against both British and Americans unless the pressure causing the closing of the Manchurian border is removed. IN SOUTH RUSSIA. THE UKRAINE PEACE. LONDON, February 20. The Amsterdam correspondent of the "Dailv Chronicle" says that the signing of the Ukrainian peace has already been the subject of a film scene, which is being shown in German kinema theatres. "Vorwaerts" declares:—"The treaty is a mere scrap of paper. It can only be made effective when it is signed again with German blood. The separation of North Russia from the Ukraine is merely moipentary. They cannot be kept separate by foreign bayonets." STATEMENT IN THE REICHSTAG. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 21st, 8.20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, February 20. Herr von Kuhlmann, addressing the

Reichstag Committee, said that the Russian appeals for help were daily becoming more numerous and more urgent. Germany could not tolerate the destruction of young Finland nor the outrages in Lithuania and Esthonia, nor could she permit the Bolsheviks to carry out their threats against the Ukraine. The cession of Kholm had created a j bad impression, but it was tho only decision possible without blocking peace I with the Ukraine. The Austrian Premier had declared that Kholm would not be ceded to the Ukraine, but that a rtiixed commission of Poles and Ukrainians would consider the matter ethnographically, and, if necessary, its boundaries would be removed eastwards. Herr von Kuhlmann added: —"The new war against Russia will strengthen the Bolsheviks' inclinations towards peace. Germany no longer believes Russia's professions, and must consequently enforce order and peace in the occupied regions. Even to-day wo are willing to conclude a peace corresponding to our own particular interests. The decisive factor in the Ukraine peace is the valuable economic advantages Germany will gain during 1918." KALEDIN COMMITS SUICIDE. - C'The Times.") PETROGRAD, February 20. General Kaledin has committed suicide, owing to General Alexieff's offensive against the Bolsheviks. General Kaledin wished ihe defensive to be localised. General Alexieff is training all Cossack males. General Nazaroff succeeds General Kaledin. The Bolsheviks claim that large revolutionary forces are advancing upon Rostoff from the Caucasus. General Alexieff has fled from Novo Tclierkask. General Ivanoff and Archbishop Vladimir were killed in the fighting in the Petchersky Monastery at Kieff. AUSTRIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 21st, 8.20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, February 20. A semi-official Austrian statement, evidently intended to justify an,invasion of tho Ukraine, says:— "Tho revolt in the Ukraine was a purely political pretext for the Bolshevik marauders, who aro plundering, murdering, and burning. Many aro utilising armed motors and armoured trains. Their swiftness has hitherto prevented the Rada troops coping with tho marauders. Immediate action by the Central Powers is imperative." ODESSA BOMBARDED. - (Received February 21st, 8.20 p.m.) PETROGRAD, February 20. In a two days' fight at Odessa between the Ukrainians and tho' Bolsheviks, Ukrainian aeroplanes and ships bombarded and fired over 500 shells on the town, causing many casualties. PRE-WAR FRONTIER' RESTORED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received February 21st, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 20. An official report from Vienna states: "In accordance with the provisions of the Ukraine peace treaty, tho Aus-tro-Russian pre-war frontier is now completely restored. IN ROUMANIA. ■ THE QUESTION OF PEACE. ("the Times.") (Received February 21st, 8 p.m.) i AMSTERDAM, February 20. A telegram from Vienna states that the Roumanian Government has expressed a desire, to enter into preliminary peace discussions with representatives of tho Central Powers. Count Czernin and others are shortly going to Roumania. Competent quarters express the opinion that Roumania is not ripe for peace. Sh.e still entertains far-reach-ijg aspirations, and appears determined to continue fighting if, the negotiations do not satisfy her aspirations.