THE NEW WAR ON RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 133, 22 February 1918, Page 5

THE NEW WAR ON RUSSIA

PUZZLING REPORTS ON PEACE ISSUES

REPORTED ACCEPTANCE OP GERMAN

DEMANDS

a j • u ™- , -n . „ London, February 19. Admiralty, per Wireless Tress.—A Russian official inquiry has been sent to Count Czermn asking whether Austria is also at war with Russia. Krylenko, the Bolshevik Commander-in-Chief, has ordered the Army to organise massed pourparlers with German soldiers. If the Germans will not refrain from fighting, the utmost resistance should be offered —Aus - N.Z. Cable Assn. JOINT AUSTRQ-GERMAN ACTION. ' ™ ,„ .. . „. L " , Amsterdam,' February 20. T J he l, F ra , nkfurter Zeitung" reports that Austria and Germany have agreod that Germany shall flndortako military action in Russia, while Austria shall conduct the operations in the Ukraine.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TROTSKY AND THE PEACE DEMANDS -i'h •i- i- il ,~. , , , Petrograd, February 20. ■ there are indications that 'Jrotsky has already replied to Germany's peace demands, ivhich included the retention of Poland, Lithuania and Mohn Islands, and tho payment of an indemnity of 800 millions sterling Probably the indemnity will be reduced by half.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ° AN ASTONISHING ANNOUNCEMENT. ..f *h kitvinoff the Bolshevik Envoy in London, interviewed safd'Vwas °" * announcement that Russia was signing a derman peace Ho did regard the report unfavourably, but withheld judgment until he was in possession of full details.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • STATEMENT BY DR. VON KUHLMANN EXPLAINS THE NEW WAR AGAINST RUSSIA. ' (Rec. February 21, 8.20 p.m.) v> „,, , 1L „' t, . Amsterdam, February 20. . r ; T( ") Kuhlmann (the German Foreign Minister), addressing tho Jteicnstag Committee, stated that Russian appeals for help were becoming daily more numerous and urgent. Germany could not tolerate tho destruction of Young Finland, and the outrages in Lithuania and Esthonia, nor permit the Bolsheviki to carry out their threats .against the Ukraine The cession of Kholm (in Poland) had created a bad impression, but it was the only decision possible without blocking peaco with tho Ukraine. Tho Austrian Premier had declared that Kholm would not be ceded to the Ukraine but a mixed commission of Poles and Ukrainians would consider the matter ethnographically, and if necessary the boundaries would be removed east-wards.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Dr. von Kuhlmann said that the new war against Russia would strengthen the Bolsheviki's inclinations towards peace. Germany no longer believed in Russia's professions, and must consequently enforce order a°nd peace in the occupied regions. "Even to-day," he said, "\ve are willing to conclude a peace corresponding to our own particular interests. The decisive factor in the Ukraine peace was the valuable economic advantage Germany would gain during 1918."—"The Times." THE AUSTRIAN-INVASION OF THE UKRAINE. (Rec. February 21, 8.20 p.m.) Amsterdam, February 20. A semi-official Austrian statement, evidently intended to justify the invasion of the Ukraine, says: "The revolt in the Ukraine is purely a political pretext for Bolshevik marauders to plunder, murder, and burn. Many are utilising armed motors and armoured trains, and their swiftness has hitherto prevented the Rada troops from coping with the marauders. Immediate action by the Central Powers is imperative."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ; AUSTRO-RUSSIAN PRE-WAR FRONTIER RESTORED. (Rec. February 21, 9.30 p.m.) London, February 20/ An official message from Vienna states that in accordance with the provisions of the Ukraine peace treaty, the Austro-Russian pre-war frontier has now been completely restored.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE GERMAN ADVANCE (Rec. February 22, 0.20 a.m.) London, February 21. A German wireless report states: "We advanced twenty kilometres (about 12 miles) astride tho Riga-Petrograd railway, and advanced on wide sectors between Dvinsk and Lusk. We are now marching on Rovno. We nave taken prisoner 2500 and captured one hundred guns and much rolling stock."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-R'euter. RUSSIA'S PEACE OFFER ACKNOWLEDGED. 1 . (Rec. February 22, 0.2 ; O a.m.) London, February 21. A Russian official report states that Germany has acknowledged the receipt of Russia's peace offer. [A, Russian official report yesterday stated: "MM. Lenin and Trotsky have sent a message to the German Government protesting against the German, invasion while the Russian Army is demobilising. The Council of the People's Commissaries is now forced formally to declare its willingness to sign a peace upon conditions dictated by the quadruple alliance at Brest Litovsk. A detailed reply to these conditions will be given without delay."]

HOW THE HUNS DUPED THE POLES

POLISH EESISTANOE WILL FURTHER THE SCHEME

London, February 20. The "Morning Post's" Berno correspondent states that Polish indignation is intense at the establishment of a great Ukraine in the south, and a great Lithuania in the north, both at the expense of. Poland. The Germans anticipated this, and probably liopo that the Polish indignation will become opon hostility, because the Gernian would be glad of an opportunity to rectify the eastern frontier by annexing desirable strips of Russian Poland. The creation of an independent Polish kingdom has been abandoned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i ,