THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16167, 22 March 1918, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

PEACE TREATY IGNORED ENEMY OPERATIONS CONTINUE. (Bv Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Reutor'a Telegrams.) PETROGRAD, March 20. Despite tho peace treaty, the enemy operations aro continuing. Tho suspected intention is to outtlank Moscow. M. Trotzky has arrived nt Moscow. If tho enemy operations eontinuo the Government will probably bo transferred to Saratoff. or to Nijni Novgorod. The Patriarch of the Russian Church announces that tho Church cannot support a poaco which threatens to dismember tho country. Three Commissioners who were entrusted with tho reorganisation of tho Navy, wore mysteriously murdered. The newspaper "PraTda" says:— Russia is split, up, enslaved, and humiliated. This is all the revolution has accomplished, but we must continno to figlit, making our motto, "Victory or death." TOKIO, March 20. M. Kerensky is reported to be safe in Christiania. (United Service.) LONDON, March 20. The Petrograd correspondent of the "Daily Express" repofts that it is believed that the peaco treaty contains a German offer to exchange the Russian war prisoners if the whole fleet is given ur>. GERMANY AND THE AALANDS. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) WASHINGTON, March 20. Official dispatches from France state that Germany invited Sweden to send representatives to Brest Litovsk to consider the Baltic question, and particularly tho future of tho Aaland Islands. Sweden did not reply, whorcupou Germany occupied tho islands. American State Department's reports from Sweden show that the Germans have requisitioned the food supplies in the Aaland Islands, causing famine conditions.

I OUTSPOKEN GERMAN SOCIALIST. AMSTERDAM, March 20. A Socialist deputy named David caused a sensation in tho Reichstag by declaring that the German delegates at tho Brest Litovsk Conference surrendered to the militarists. General Hoffmann threw in tho victor's sword, he said, turning tho scale for the treaty, and causing widespread indignation in Germany. The nation doubted the honesty of the German policy. It could not reconcilo vou Hortling's promises of self-determination with his acceptance of tho militarists' demands. Germany's enemios wero now welded moro closely in the West, while the "East was smouldering. The German policy in Finland would result in the acutest anti-German feeling. BOLSHEVIKS IN SWITZERLAND. BERNE, March 20. A numbor of Russian troops affected by Bolshevism, took refuge in Switzerland, where, stimulated by Swiss revolutionary Socialists, they have carried on subversive propaganda, Bomc of them committing crimes. j The Swiss Gorernnlont has now arranged for their repatriation.

POSITION IN SIBERIA. ("The Times.") WASHINGTON, March 20. President Wilson's refusal to assent to Japanese intervention in Siberia is unchanged, but ho will assent later if public opinion insists, owing to the position growing more serious. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) TOKIO, March 20. All business at Vladivostock is suspended. Japanese and British - warships assure the safety of foreigners. Japanese _ volunteers are hastening from Tsitsihar, towards Blagovestchensk, to assist the Japanese who are fighting tho Bolsheviks. PEKING, March 20. It is reported that 2000 German prisoners assisted the Bolsheviks at Blagovestchensk. (Heater's Telegrams.) PETROGRAIS, March 20. It is officially announced that the Soviet authorities in Siberia have concluded an agreement with the Chinese Government regulating the frontier questions. An American mission is going to Siberia to investigate reports regarding armed prisoners of war. (Received March 21st, 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, March 20. The United Press correspondent at Petrograd states that tho Foreign Minister. M. Tchicherin, declared that the Soviet commissaries were considering the possibility of the United States op" posing Japanese intervention in Siberia. He said that he believed negotiations for that purpose between the United States and Russia were possible. M. Trotzky opposed M. Tchicherin, declaring that Russia should not bo undoi any obligation to capitalistic America.