THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16154, 7 March 1918, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

PETROGRAD

EVACUATION BEGUN

(By CabJe.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Keillor's Telegrams.) (Eeceived March Oth. 11..55 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 5. London advices state that the evacuation oi' Pctrograd lias begun.

THE PEACE TREATY

I-TllTJl Ell PROVISIONS. tlleu'.er's Telegrams.) LONDON, March o. The I' us.so-German peace treaty provides: — Persia and Afghanistan are free and independent States. The contracting parties undertake to respect their political and economic independence and territorial integrity. War prisoners fiio to !::• mutually repatriated. The contracting pa riles mutually renounca the indemnification of war costs, namely, .State expenditure and public and private damages which have arisen through military measures, including all requisitions undertaken in the enemy countiy. The final clause provides for ratification within a fortnight.

BOLSHEVIK JUSTIFICATION. (Itcuter's Telegrams.) (Received March Gtli. 5.5 p.m.) .PETROGRAD, March 5. The newspaper "Pravtla" urges that the signing of the peace treaty was justified because a refusal meant the overwhelming defeat of the Soviets and the advent of a Miliukoff or a Keren sky Government. RATIFICATION UNLIKELY. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) PETROGRAD, March 5. Judging by the resolutions of many Provincial Soviets against peace, it seems unlikely that the Congress of the* ; Soviets at Moscow will ratify tho treaty. The fortnight granted by the German* will probaoly bo employed in tho organisation of tne -Red -\riny and tiu- means of defence or evacuation of Petrograd. Tho Bolsheviks in the Ukraine have issued a proclamation calling on the people to resist the enemy, and to destroy tlio ammunition before evacuating towns. JLiomn and Trotzky announce that the ratfiication of the treaty of peaeo lixoil for March 17th, is dependent on the decision of the Soviets' Congress on March l-th. < &KRIOUS DEFENCE IMPOSSIBLE. LONDON, March 5. The • 'Daily Chronicle's'' Petrograd correspondent states that tho majority of the .Social Revolutionaries of the Lett, and a section of the Bolsheviks, still favour a revolutionary war, but a serious defence is impossible. The Regular Army, with few exceptions, is flocking to the interior as far as possiblo from tho invader. The bulk of tho Petrograd regiments sold their regimental property, divided tho proceeds, and have gone to their homes. The new Red Army is enthusiastic, hut raw, and cannot seriously resist the invaders. Tho capital is uncannily quiet. The peace terms seem to have struck a blow at tho national feeding. The Cadet Party issued a manifesto declaring: — "Tho calamities of the anarchy, deplorable as they are, cannot be* compared to the horror of enslavement- to a foreign yoke." It appeals to the country to rally to the defence, in association with tho Russian allies. FIGHTING ON TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY. SHANGHAI, March 3. Sharp fighting occurred on the trans* Siberian railway between tho Cossacks under the leadership of General Samcnoff, and the Bolsheviks. The latter, with a large number of well-armed troops, forced Samenoff to withdraw. Insurance oompanies at Vladivostock are not assuming further responsibility owing to the Bolshevik threats to commandeer the stores. GERMAN ADVANCE CONTINUES ("TEo Times.") (Received March 6th, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, March 5. Tho Germans are reported to be continuing their advance, despite the order for the cessation of hostilitiosGerman airmen bombed Petrograd. | It is believed that thoy were aiming; at the principal railway station. Zeppelin appeared at Gathina, but were driven ofE. ROUMANIAN OUTLOOK! THE CENTRAL POWERS' THREAT. (Reuter'B Telegrams.) v (Received March 6th, 11.53? p.m.) • WASHINGTON, March 5. 1 The State Department haa been advised that Count Czernin has. warned Houmania that if she fails to accede to the Austro-German terms she will bf •wiped off the map of Europe.