THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16150, 2 March 1918, Page 9

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

GERMAN ADVANCE STOPPED. CAVALRY PATROLS RETIRE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) PETROGRAD, February 28. It is reported from Novoselto that the German armies have been ordered to 6top the advance. Gorman cavalry patrols at Novoselto have retired. EARLY PEACE EXPECTED. AMSTERDAM, February 28. The "Hamburger Frcmdenblatt' statos that it is expected that tho Russian peace will be signed to-day. THE UKRAINE DELEGATION. LONDON, February 28. A Russian official message states that M. Zatonsky, President of tho Peace Delegation of tho People's Republic of Ukrainia, has sent a message to the Central Powers, and to tho President of the Russian Peace Delegation at Brest Litovsk, asking them to facilitate tho journey of the Delegation from Kieff to Brest Litovsk, in order to 6ign the peace concluded with the former. GERMAN CLAIMS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Admiralty per Wireless Press. LONDON, February 28. A German official message says: — "The fourth Esthonian regiment has placed itself under our command, to clear the country of marauding bands. "We captured 2000 machine-guns and 50,000 rifles at Minsk." AUSTRIANS REFUSE TO FIGHT. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) NEW YORK, February 28. The United Press Association's correspondent at Petrograd reports that the Austrians refused to advance against the Russians in Volhynia. Germans are also reported to be disobeying commands. NEW FIGHTING FORCE RAISED. ("The Times.") PETROGRAD, February 28. Tho Bolsheviks claim to have enrolled over 100,000 volunteers, of whom 53,000 have been formed into fighting detachments. The Russians are reported to have recaptured Pskoff, and fighting for its possession continues. The sailors at Helsingfors and Krons.tadt have decided to remain at their posts. FIGHTING IN THE DON. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PETROGRAD, February 28. Forces under Generals Alexieff and Korniloff are attempting to fight through into tho interior of the Don District. Many leaders of the counter-revolu-tion have boen taken prisoner. Tho enrolment of the Socialist army at Petrograd is proceeding. Cossack regiments stationed at Petrograd liavo been sent in tho direction of Pskoff. ALLIED ENVOYS LEAVE PETROGRAD. NEW YORK, February 28. The United Press Association's Petrograd correspondent states that the American, Japanese, Brazilian, and Siamese envoys have left Petrograd. GERMANS EN ROUTE TO FINLAND. COPENHAGEN, February 28. A message from Berlin states that a large German fleet has left a Baltic harbour en route to Finland: also that there is great transport of German weapons and munitions. MEETING OF ENEMY PRISONERS. (United Service.) (Received March Ist, 8.30 p.m.) PETROGRAD, February 28. A meeting of over 3000 German, Magyar, Czech, and Polish war prisoners in Moscow carried a resolution welcoming the revolution, which they were confident was extending to Western Europe. The meeting; followed a solemn religious service commemorating the deaths of Russian revolutionaries and strikers in Berlin and Vienna. TEE BALTIC FLEET. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March Ist, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 28. From the position of the Russian fleet in the Baltic there seems little

doubt that it will fall into German hands. The enemy, however, probably through a shortage of seamen, will find it difficult- to man adequately the larger vessels. The few British submarines in tho Baltic arc not likely to fall into the enemy's hands.