THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16155, 8 March 1918, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

LEAVING PEtROGRAD. , POPULATION HASTILY » DEPARTING. i (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright; ; (Reuter'a Telegrams.) (Received March 7th, 7.40 p.m.) PETROGRAD, March 6. Apparently tho Government lias rei solved to evacuate the city, for it has established the State institutions in ■ Moscow, Nijni Novgorod, and Cagan. The Foreign Affairs and Roads Ministries have left, and tho population is hastily departing in all manner of vehicles NAVAL BOOTY AT REVAL. (Received March 7th, 7.40 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 6. Eight old submarines and three serviceable steamers were secured by the Germans at Reval. EX-CZAR MAY BE RESTORED. (Australian and N.Z. Co-ble Association.) i (Received March 7th, 7.40 p.m.) BERNE, March 6. The "Neuesto Nachrichten," in an inspired article, states that there is a strong reaction in Russia in favour of a monarchy. It is probable that the Czar will be restored under German protection. ATTEMPT TO BETRAY RUSSIA. (By Cable.—Preeg Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, March 6. . The United Press roports that authoritative advices have been received here, stating that Leni n is attempting to deliver Russia into Germany's hands, and is trying to arouse the Russian people against the "Allies' militarism." LENIN GOVERNMENT ASSAILED. LONDON, March G. The l'etrograd correspondent of tho "Daily Express" says that Lenin's peace terms caused a storm of indignation among the local Soviets, who were not consulted. They fear that the terms mean tho mailed fist to crush the revolution, cripple Russian industry, and alienate tho sympathy of European workers. Maxime Gorky's newspaper is particularly bitter. It calls tho treaty a criminal scrap of pap«r, and expresses wonder why the Lenin Government is still in power. BOLSHEVIK GOVERNMENT DIVIDED. | NEW YORK, March G. Tho United Press correspondent at Washington states that the officials still believe that Trotzlcy is trying to keep the revolution alive, with the result that the Bolshevik Government is divided. VIEWS OF AUSTRALIAN KOLSHEVIIv. SYDNEY, Marcli 7. Simonoff, a young Broken Hill miner, and formerly a journalist in Russia, who was appointed by the Bolshevik Government as the Russian Gonsul-Gene-ral in the Commonwealth, declares that the Bolsheviks' main objects are the establishment of the common ownership of land, just and equal distribution of commodities, and the abolition of all exploiting. He believes the Bolsheviks will remain long in power. They are, he says, strong enough to cany out their pur-

pose, unless something happens from outside. He declares that the royalist regime is ciend, and that thero is no possibility of its revival unless forced bv outside intervention. Mr Peter Simonoff was appointed Russian Consul-General in Mclbourno early last month. He was, until comparatively recently, a resident of Broken Hill. He was a member of the Labour Volunteer Army, an extreme fighting body. About seven or eight- months" ago lie left Broken Hill for Brisbane, where he founded a Russian newspaper, which the authorities suppressed. Ho is said tn have b<vn in n hank in Russia. In Broken j Hil; he was ;i militant, unionist, and was registered as an alien. CONCESSIONS TO FINLAND. STOCKHOLM. March li. An Ait of Liquidation between Russia and Finland was signed on Friday, und'i- which Russia cedes the territorv Ivordcring on the Arctic Ocean to Finland and gives up the Valkeassaxi-Petro-grad railway. Russia retains tho Jmo fortress. Germany's action is agitating Ilelsingfors, and the President of the Revolutionary Government has declared that the whole Finnish population will resist aggression. SUPPLEMENTARY PEACE TREATIES. (Aus;ra.ian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 7th, 8.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 0. A Berlin message states that supplementary Russo-Gorman treaties guarantee Germany free commercial intercourse with Persia nud Afghanistan via Russia, indemnification for the damage of Consular property, and the private property of German subjects, and also provide for tho cancellation of tho order annulling the payment of German loans.! The- agicement permits Gennanj^tb,organise Spitzbergen,

s FURTHER DETAILS. (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received March 7th, 11.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 7. j A Berlin semi-official message states: •'An economic political appendix to the Russian pe-aco treaty generally restores the Russo-German. commercial treaty of 1901; secures direct commercial connexion with Persia and Afghanistan ; protects Germany against increases in Russian duty until 1925, and restores all German private rights, including payment as early as possible, of debts duo to German creditors, liotli parties undertake to organise Spitsbergen according to German proposals. GERMAN'S STILI/ FIGHTING. (Australian and N. 2. C.able Association.) (Reutcr's Telegrams.) Admiralty per Wireless Pree3. (Received March 7th, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 0. A Russian official report states :— "Ensign Krylenlco has sent a message to the Austrian and German army chiefs complaining that their troops are still fighting at Jamburg, Orcha, and Komelbriansk, and enquiring whether the cessation of hostilities has been ordered GERMANY AND THE AALANDS?' (Received March 7th, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. A German official report states:— I '"In pursuance of Finland's request for assistance, German troops have landed at the Aaland Islands." GERMAN INTENTIONS STATED. (Reuter'a Telegrams.) (Received March 7th, 11.45 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 7. Berlin announces that German naval forces anchored at Eckerse, in the Aaland Islands, on March sth. It is officially explained that these forces are destined to establish a halting phice in connexion with the despatch of assistanco to Finland. ROUMANIAN OUTLOOK. PEACE TREATY SIGNED. (Reuter'a Telegrams.) NEW YORK, March 6. A Berlin message states that Roumania signed the peace treaty with, the Central Powers on Tuesday. Tinder the terms she cedes part of ■ the Dobrudja. TERMS OF THE TREATY. (Reuter'a Telegrams.) (Received March 7th, 11.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 7. A message from Bucharest states that the terms of the preliminary treaty signed between the Quadruplice and Roumania stipulate: — Roumania shall cede the Dobrudja, as far ns the Danube, tho Quadruplice to provide for tho maintenance of a trade route for Roumania, via Oonstanza to the Black Sea. Roumania shall acccpt in principle frontior ratifications demanded by Austria and Hungary, which are not specified; also the economic measures corresponding therewith The demobilisation immediately of at least eight Roumanian divisions; 1 -Marshal von Mackeusen to sharo tho J control of the demobilisation with the , Roumanian Command. The remaining demobilisation to bo undertaken when peace between Russia and Roumania is restored

Roumanian troops shall immediately cvacuato Austro-liungarian territory. Tho Roumanian' Government shall undertake to support with all its strength the railway transport of Quadruplice troops through Moldavia and Bessarabia to Odessa. The Dobrtidja is the south-eastern portion of Roumania, between tho lower Danube and tho Black Sea. It was transferred to the Kingdom by the Berlin Congress of 1378. which iixed the southern limit at a line from Silistria on the Danube to Mangalia on tho sea coast. ENEMY JOURNAL'S COMMENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, March C. The peace treaty earring up Roumania will be signed to-day. The treaty cedes the Dobrudja. to Bulgaria, fixes the new Roumanian and Hungarian frontier, and grants the Central Powers economic concessions. The "Arbeiter Zeitung," of Vienna, protests that the conditions offered to Roumania are disquieting, and hear no resemblance to Count Czernin's pro-

eramme of no annexations or indemnities. ICING'S ABDICATION DEMANDED. BERNE, March .6. Vienna papers stato that the Ivmg s abdication is the first condition of Roumania's peace terms.