THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16149, 1 March 1918, Page 8

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

GERMAN INVASION. BULSMEVIKS 6TILL HOPEFUL. tßv C^Uc. —Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian. arid N.Z. Cablo Association.) i.llsntcr'a Telegrams.) AcKiraity per Wireless Prce". LONDON". February 27. A Russian official communique "The German Government formally refused to grant ait armistice, because it desires, not- peace, but the strangling of the Revolution. "An obstinate and pitiless resistance to the German hordes is thus the task of the Revolution. x '■(Jur greatest strength is our wide territories. The occupation oi Roval and Pskoff —and even of Pctrograd, which is still distant —will in nowise decide the destiny of the Revolution. '•Should the threat against Petrcyrad J increase, the Soviet Government will retire to Moscow or elsewhere in Russia; but our chief present task is to bar tho roads to Pctrograd with overv obstacle. "We will prove to f lie Germans that they must disperse throughout Russia before they can crush the authority of the Soviets. They will never havo the forces necessary ■'The more deeply they penetrate, tho more surely will they bring on a in Germany." GERMANS SWEEPING ON. ("The Times.") PETROGRAD, February 27. It is rcoorted that the Germans have captured Duo. an important railway centre, and the junction of tho direct Petrograd-Riga-Libau lines. The civil war is going on sporadicnllv. The Soviet forces routed tho Cossacks at Rostoff,_ and arrested thenleader, General Nasaroff. PEACE DELEGATES REASSEMBLING. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association) AMSTERDAM, February 27. Herr von. Dembussehe, in the Reichstag, said that the German and AustroHungarian had arrived at Brest Litovsk. . The Russian delegation had been delayed north of Pskoff by a blown-up bridge. ' HOW PSKOFF WAS TAKEN. PETROGRAD. February 27. Only two cavalry squadrons and six armoured cars entered Pskoff. i-he defenders took panic and fled. The Letts recovered soonest, and offered resistance when they learned that the enemy were so few. Thero -was some street fighting till German reinforcements arrived, hut the invaders soon pushed beyond the town. The People's Commissaries in Petrograd are torn by dissensions. It is understood that Irotaky has retired. TROTZKY'S CALCULATIONS UP^ETi. LONDON, February 27. Mr Arthur Ransom, correspondent of the "Daiiy News," telegraphing from Pctrograd, says:— , . "The suddenness of the German aavaiice upset the Russian calculations. Lenin always favoured a peace signed at Brest Litovsk. but Trotzky, was convinced i&at a Western revolution was, much nearer. When he found ho was wrong it -was too late to stop the Germans and there was no time to call a meeting of the Central Executive. . ''When the news of the capitulation was published there was a storm of indignation. The extremists attacked the Soviet for stopping tho war, and others attacked it for failing to conclude peace. Generally, the soldiers are against war, and the workers favour fighting ' J "Trotzky had some ground for his . belief that the Germans could not advance, as it was reported that a Gei'J - man regiment had shot 42 officers when it was ordered to advance. "Radek is the leader of the war party- which ig composed of extremists, who joyfully contemplate a guerrilla war against the Germans. Many violent party meetings have been held, the Leninists-arguing that the Russian Revolution must be preserved until the bourgeois power in Europe bleeds to death. , . . .. "Tho Germans are now driving,, the Russian armies like stampeding cattle. TVhen the armies are dispersed the Soviet will be forced to fight Germany, as . the latterV terms are such as no country can live under." * FUTURE OF' LITHUANIA. ' ZURICH, February 27. Tho Saxon official Court newspaper states that if the throne of Lithuania is definitely offered to a prince of the Government will consider to what extent the proposal is oomgntible with tho.interests of the Saxon rown. . _ _ . , Saxony's historic ties with Poland constitute a grave Objection, involving the risk of offending Polish opinion. The King's brother, Prince John George, refused the Polish throne two years' ago. If the Lunuanian offer is roaae, the King's second son, Prince. * Christian, will become king. THE GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. "* (Australian, and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Beut-ei'a Telegrams.) (Received February 28th, 7 p.m.) LONDON, February 27. A German official report states: — "We captnred two Russian regiacnts northward of Dorpat, and dis-

persed a battalion which was opposing us 30 kilometres eastward of Jitomir. "Wo have reached Berditcheff, southward of Jitomir. "Wc captured at Krcmentz the Russian Commander's staff-" • PETROGRAD SWARMING WITH ENEMY. (United Servicc.) (Received Februarv 23th, 7 p.m.) PETROGRAD, February 27. Austrians and Germans, with and without uniforms, arc already swarming in the city. The Russians hurriedly evacuated Orsha and Smolensk. The Germans have captured Borisoff. A GERMAN REVERSE. (Australian and N.Z. (jjiible Association.) (Received February 28th, 7 p.m.) PETROGRAD, February 27. Reports from Pskoff state that the Germans have split and are advancing in two directions. One aims at the capital, while tho other aim s at cutting Petrograd off from Moscow and the south. Detachments of Red Guards arc concentrated at Luga. The Germans attempted to capture Vitebsk, but were forced to retire. The Russians have j-emqyed all stores from the Orsha regionCIVIL WAR STILL PROCEEDING. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Router's Tflle^rams.) Admiralty per Wireless Prea?. (Received February 28th, 7 p.m.) LONDON, February 27. A Russian official report states: — "Revolution a ry)troops havo captured , Novo-Tcherkask. The Cadet officials fled. > SWEDES AND~RU SSI AN S AT GRIPS. 1 (Kcutcr's Telegrams.) (Received February 28th, 7 p.m.) LONDON, February 27. Tho first conflict between Swedish and Russian troops is reported from the Aaland Islands, whero tho Russian > batteries fired on the Swedish military ' expedition on its arrival. The shells ' exploded in the water. 1 ho Red Guards' attacked two Swedish posts, and thero was hand-to-hand fighting in on© case. This will inevitably entail further military intervention by Sweden, whose people are unanimous in desiring the Aaland Islands, which, in foreign hands, would be «• danger to Sweden. GERMANY'S LAST WORD. (United Scrvicc.) (Received March Ist, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 28. Russia bos been notified that the German advancc will continue till her peace terms have been signed and carried out. THE ALLIES' ATTITUDE. BRITAIN'S INTENTIONS OUTLINED. (Australian and N.Z. Cat la Association.) (Received February 28th, 7 p.m.) LONDON, February 27. Mr Balfour (Foreign Minister), in the House of Commons, stated that tho Government intended that tho final fate of the Russian provinces and of Roumania and Armenia should be settled by the final peace, despite any peace now enforced on Russia or Roumania. A WARNING FROM JAPAN. (Received February 28th, 7 p.m.) TOKIO, February 27. It is announced that Japan will take drastic measures to cop© with any detrimental results arising from the Russo-German peace. • ACTION IN MANCHURIA INEVITABLE. (United Service.) (Received February 28th, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 27. "There is keen discussion in British and French political circles concerning expected action by Japan. Well-informed Japanese in London say that the occupation of a part, and perhaps of the whole of Manchuria, and even the despatch of an army to Siberia, is inevitable to prevent an invasion. Japan's determination to block the reestablishment of the Germans in the Pacific leads to the conclusion that strong action has already been initiated. OPINION IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, February 27. The London correspondent of the "New York Times" says that there is r a growing opinion that Japan should t act in Siberia.' p The "New York Times" urges that . the Government, before it allows steel . plates to be exported , to Japan from t America, shoyHl stipulate, that Japan will transport specified quantities of I Australian wheat to England. JOINT ACTION DESIRED, i ! (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received March Ist, 1.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 27. Japan has directed enquiries to the Entente and the United States regarding joint military operations in Siberia to save the vast quantities of war supplies stored in Vladivostok and along the Siberian railroad. The situation is regarded by Japan as warranting action on her part, but she is willing for the co-operation of the Allies and the United States to

avoid the question of the ultimate disposition of the occupied territory in r Siberia. ROUMANIA'S FUTURE. "KAC|" Js'JiGOTI'ATI ONS PROCEEDING. I AMSTERDAM, February 27. ; Austrian reports state that the Roumanians at riio peace negotiations arc claiming three Bessarabian districts lost by the Peace of Berlin. The Hungarians are strenuously claiming the security of their Trausylvanian border. This must bo pro- 1 vided for, but Herr von Ivuhlmann and Count Czernin are determined that the prospects of peace with Roumania will not bo prejudiced by outrageous Hungarian claims. A STORMY MEETING. (Received February 28tli, 7 p.m.) PARIS, February 27. The "Petit Parisien" states that the first meeting of Count Czernin and Herr von Kuhlmann with General 1 Averescu (Premier of Roumania) was s a stormy one. 1 Count Czernin adopted an aggreesive attitude, reviving personal bitterness regarding the Roumanians, and the meeting broke up without any tangible | result. " ' BULGARIA'S DEMANDS. j AMSTERDAM, February 27. ' A message horn Sofia says that the Foreign Minister in the Sooranje (M. ] Rfidoslavoff), in asking for a war credit ] of 1,000,000,000 francs, anticipated that the loan would not be borno by Bui- i garia. ' This confirms telegrams stating that < Bulgaria is demanding, in addition to ( the Dobrudja, big economic concessions, and a war indemnity of 1,000.000,000 s francs in gold. * 1 AVAR IN BESSARABIA. 1 BERNE, February 27. ! The Vienna correspondent of the < "Frankfurter Zeitung" reports continu- ] ous lighting between the Bolsheviks and 1 Roumanian troops in Bessarabia, in ( many parts of which the Bolsheviks are 1 conducting guerrilla warfare against the 1 Roumanians. I There has been severe fighting • around Kishmcff. 1 ]