RUSSIA'S NEW RESOLVE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2946, 5 December 1916, Page 5

RUSSIA'S NEW RESOLVE

M. TREPOFF OUTLINES HIS POLICY j -■ ; i - - u A FIGHT TO THE END , J ■ ;;j Petrograd, December 3. v| - The Duma has reopened. The Prt-'.- '-'.'ji mier (M. Trepoff), in a speech, said ' I that Russia would never lay. down •* -" j arms till complete victory had been atr -A tained, whatever difficulties- and' : ;-'.':•'! temporary checks were encountered.: I The power of. the enemy, had been : ,'j shaken, but immenso efforts were re- ' ; || quired to definitely break his. resistanco. He regretted the food and trans- ;;; port difficulties that existed in many, V./S localities, but the Government would v ; take- measures to firmly establish order j behind the armies. Ho recognised the •:' necessity for vast railway construction . ' 1 and an increase in the production of; ;'■'■'..'i metals and fuel, the erection of muni-- V; tions factories, and the development ; ;'5 of technical'education. A Bill would;'.--.'■"'■'■> be introduced for compulsory elemen- j tary education. ■ : ■ < ~f. The Premier announced l that the Eng- v.j lish, French, and Blissian Agreement, ;-,; concluded in 1915, to which' Italy ad- ' .1 hored, definitely estaMished the right .■:-.;; of B.ussia to tho Dardanelles and .th,6 : ■'• -.- " i Bosphorus Straitß and Constantinople. ;",- -:J He stated that the declaration wa«; | made in accord with the Allies, who' : -;j were absolutely united "thereon. After. -:■ :) obtaining sovereign possession and: .:.J free passage to the Mediterranean, ■■ <| B.ussia would grant freedom of naviga- ;i tion to Rumania. He emphasised! the ..] fact that, besides reconquering the ter- --- -,:j ritories occupied by the enemy, _ Russia ' ..-; nrust wrest Russian and. Austrian ro-,,:'.' land from her enemies and reconstitute! ;,! a free Poland, inseparable from United .. | . Russia .—Router. '.;\ ; j

THE PRO-GERMAN PEACE MOVEMENT

(Rec. December 4, 11.45 p.m.)' Amsterdam, December 4. The Hungarian Press announces that negotiations are proceeding between 1 neutrals with the object of arranging a, conference between the belligerents. It is stated that the issue between England and the Central Powers is not so sharp as before. Both Count Reventlow and the "Vorwaeftz believe that Mr. Gerard (the United States Ambassador) is bringing peace proposals.—"The Times."

THE POLISH FARCE

TEUTONIC REGENT CHOSEN. Paris, December 3.' "Le Matin" states that Vienna reports say that the negotiations hetween the German and Austro-Hungar-ian Governments in the choice or a, Polish Regent have been concluded, and that a Regent will be chosen from a Roman Catholic dynasty.—Austra-lian-New Zealand Oahle Association.

WAR NEWS IN BRIEF

(Rec. December 4, 5.15 p.m.) The new Kingdom of AraHa (states a Router message from Washington) has vigorously protested to the civilised •world, against the cruelties of the Turks, who are treating their prisoners brutally. Mr. Lansing (United States Secretary of State) is at a loss how to respond, because Arabia's sovereignty has not yet been recognised. A message from El Paso reports that Villa has been defeated by the Caxranzistas thirty miles north of Chihuahua, npon -which he is retreating — Reuter. An official statement from Berlin shows that there were 1,663,794 prisoners in Germany on August 1 last. Deaths of prisoners during the war totalled 29,297, including 6033 from tuberculosis, 4201 from spotted fever, and 6270 from wounds. The cases of tuberculosis are decreasing.—Reuter. Negotiations have been commenced by Brazil for the acquisition of forty. German- merchant vessels now m Brazilian ports.—Australian-New Zealand Cable' Association. ■~,;■. ~ Great Britain emphatically denies tna German, allegation that she is seeking to secure transit of ivar -material to Russia via Sweden.—Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.

MORE TROUBLE IN THE MINES

ENGINEMBN AND WINDERS DEMAND INCREASES. Sydney, December 4. Further coal trouble is threatened. The engine-drivers and winders state that thev refuse to resume work un- ' less paid Is. Bd. daily, the amount they lose through the . eight-hour day granted to the men. ,' . I W.W. OVERTURES TO THE UNIONS. (Rec. December 4, 10.20 p.m.) Sydney, December i. The majority of the miners resumed to-da,v. The latest move is for the I.W.W. agents to approach a number of important unions, including the wharfmen, seamen, and coal lumpers, asking them to striko unless_ the convicted members are released. These advances have not been favourably received. .