THE DEFENCE OF PETROGRAD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 7

THE DEFENCE OF PETROGRAD

ENROLMENT OF VOLUNTEERS PROCEEDING.

■ (Rec. February 25, 8 p.m.) Petrograd, February 24. The enrolment of volunteers to defend the capital is proceeding lapidly. It is' anticipated that fifty thousand men will be under aims in a few days, besides the soldiers who desire to fight. Spscial Socialist regiments are being formed from the JSsthonian, Lettish, and Mussulman regiments in Petrograd. Many of die women wish to take up arms against the Germans and the supporters of Kaledin. The same thing is happening at Kielf, Moscow, and Pskoff—Renter. RESISTANCE RESOLVED ON. Paris, February 24. Telegrams from Petrograd indicate that the Council of Commissaries lias resuived on resistance to the German invasion, and sounded the French mission under General Disseile on organisation of the defence. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. > MASSES ROUSED TO ACTION. Petrograd, February 24. The advance of the Germans has aroused the masses, who are rapidly enrolling to defend the capital, where martial law has been proclaimed. A drastic Press censorship has been established with stringent regulations against looting. Persons possessing arms are ordered to hand them over to tho military authorities.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A HUNDRED GERMANS CAPTURED DVINSK! Petrograd, February 24. The Soviet chairman states that Dvinslc was taken by only a hundred Germans, owing to the members of the local committee losing their heads. The committee"will be tried by revolutionary tribunal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EXODUS OF FOREIGN AGENTS. (Rec. February 26, 0.40 a.m.) Petrograd, February 24. The Japanese and American Embassies, and the Chinese, Siamese, and Brazilian Missions, left on Saturday. They are going to Piatka, and if necessary will reside in Siberia or Vladivostok. Many centres report the formation of revolutionary detachments, composed of soldiers and civilians. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE WAR IN FINLAND <■ Stockholm, February 24. The White Guards drove, back theßed Guards at many points, »nd captured Bjorneborg and Tammerfors. They are now advancing towards an important junction on the Helsingfors-Viborg raihvny.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. EVACUATION OF THE AALAND ISLANDS. (Rec. February 25, 8.30 p.m.) Stockholm, February 24. An agreement has been reached for the evacuation of the Aaland Islands by the Russian Finnish troops. A Swedish force has gone to the islands to maintain order.—Renter. A TELL-TALE MAP Paris, February 24. The "Matin" states that the so-called ethnographical map published in Berne in 1917 by the Geiman propagandists shows the delimitation of the Ukrainian and Polish-frontiers as defined at Brest Litovsk. It bl-.ows that the Western frontier to be given to Russia would run by Pskoff and Kharkoff, merging into that which was formerly the easterly limit of Greater Poland, while Petrograd is shown as belonging to Finland, thus driving Russia back to the Muscovite steppes.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUMANIA TERRITORY FOR THE BULGARS AND TRADE CONCESSIONS FOR THE TEUTONS. Amsterdam, February 24. Informal peace negotiations between .Dr. von Euhlmann (German Foreign Minister), Count Csrcrnin (Austrian Foreign Minister), M. Radoslavoff (Bulgarian Premier), and General Avorescu (Premier of Rumania) began on Saturday at Castel Bufl'tcn. near Bucharest. The terms of the Central Powers comprise territorial acquisitions for Biih'aria, .iml economic inciliiies for Austria and Germany. General Averescu left for Jnssy to consult the Kinc, and obtained a few days' grace for Rumania in which to reply.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Tfe WAR IN THE WEST

ARTILLERY BOMBARDMENTS ON THE FRENCH FRONT (Roc. February 26, 0.40 a.m.) London, February 24. A French official 'communique, states:—"There was fairly great_ artillery activity in the regions of Vauxaillon, Chavignon, Butte-du-Mesnil, and the left b.tiik of the Meusc. Our detachments in Upper Alsace valiantly penetrated the Pontiasigoch region, north-west of Aspach-le-Bas, and destroyed the German organisations."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. WORST OF MUD AND WINTER OVER TROOPS IN GREAT HEART FOR THE NEW CAMPAIGN. London, February _ 24. The ground on the West front lias hardened, and the worst period of nntd and"winter is over. A calm clieeriness prevails, and everything is in readiness for the new campaign. Nobody at the front _ believes the Central Powers'ire capable of breaking the French and British lilies. General Smuts, after an inspection of the Imes, reported that he 2;nve the Boehe no chance in an offensive. The arrival of Turkish troops in Belgium is interpreted to mean that the divisions nse'd against the Russians have been brought westward. The Austrian troopa, apparently, are intended ss reserves. Their number is unknown, but there ; s reason to believe thr\t Aus-tro-Hiingary is niggardly—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Assn. TANKS TO FIGHT TANKS. \ (Rec. February 26, 0.40 a.m.) London, February 24. Mr. Philip Gibbs mites:—"The enemy is preparing to bring his tanks into action. He has been training his troops to attack behind them. We may see tanks' fighting tanks, hut with the long start in experience the advantage is immensely in our favour."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.