THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

PRISONERS DEMANDS.

[PF.B PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPTHICHT.]

RUSSIA'S CRISIS.

THE GERMAN ATTITUDE,

PETROGRAD, Dec. 26th. Trotzky has ordered the immediate arrest of persons who invited the Chinese troops to enter Harbin. Tho Germans asked the Leninites to postpone the peace negotiations until Jan. 24th.

It is generally expected that the Germans at Brestlikovsk will absolutely refuse to discuss a general peace, and negotiations will thus quickly break off.

Austro-Germans have concenrated a huge- force on the south-western front. Tho German Oommnnqrs have confiscated tho entire issues of the newspapers which are being distributed amongst the German troops. The commanders decline the agitation of their armies.

RUSSIAN TOPSY-TUR.VEYDOM.

A NEW ZEALANDER'S ACCOUNT.

IjONDON December 26.

Mr. Williams (a New Zealander) telegraphing from Petrograd on the 25tli. states that the peoples’ Commissaries are forming a new calendar abolishing Christmas and Easter and the Gregorian calendar. The new system will he abolished on 6th. January Thousands of former officers who were, degraded from the army, have formed a working Union, unloading trucks at the railway stations and earning 20 roubles daily. The Government has evicted civil servants who were , striking against Leninism, from official quarters, and are arresting the leaders. Suppression of the newspapers has idled the majority of journalists, and an army of municipal employees, are workless, and professors, lawyers, and notaries are idle.

The whole thought producing system in Russia is in abeyance.

GERMAN COMMISSION

(Reuter’s Telegrams.)

(Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 28

A German Commission, as provided by the armistice, is proceeding to Petrogrn'd to arrange for the exchange of civilian and unfit war prisoners, and the restoration of Russo-German relations within defined limits. I

NEW RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.

(Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) VANCOUVER, December 27

The Russian Consul at Seattle has been advised, by cable, via India of the establishment of a new Russian Government at Varonage on the Azov Sea. It is believed the leaders are members of tho Kerensky Provisional Government who fled from Petrogra'd.

AN OMINOUS CONSULTATION,

WILL JAPAN ENTER RUSSIA?

LONDON, Dec. 26

The “Daily Chronicle’s” Tokio correspondent says: The gravest significance is attached to the consultation between the Emperor and Viscount Mstono, Foreign Minister, the elder States m e n, Prince Yamagata, General Matulshi. Viscount. Saionyi. It is believed that they have discussed Japan’s attitude in the event, of Russia concluding a; separate peace.

(Received, This Day at 8.50. a.m.) PETROGRAD December 27.

A committee representing several hundred thousand Austro-Gorman prisoners, passed a resolution at Petrograd, demanding the acceptance by Germany, of Russian “Democratic peace terms” otherwise they will declare war on Austro-Gorman Imperialists, and join Russia. In order to enforce democratic terms they urge Aus-tro-German soldiers in the trenches to surrender.

REVOLUTIONARY PROFA-

GANDA.

Received, tKs day at 8.45 a.m. PETROGRAD December 2? The Council of Commissaries have assigned twV) million roubles for a revolutionary propaganda in foreign countries.

PETROGRAD STRIKE

Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. PETROGRAD, Dec. 27

Municipal employees at Petrograd are calling a strike embracing hospitals water supply and food. The situation in the city is worse. A famine threatens in a week’s time.

DECLINE RUSSIAN TERMS.

f AUSTRALIAN A* N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION!

(Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, December 27

Official advices from Vienna state the Central Powers join Russia in condemning the continuation of the war, for which the sole object as conquest. They solemnly declare they are willing to sign a peace with a'll belligerents hut demand that all must accept the principles of no annexation and no indemnities and require a Russian guarantee that all Russia’s Allies will adopt these principles. The Russian proposal concerning the peoples deciding their own national groupings is rejected so far as tho peoples of the Central Powers are concerned. ’The matter cannot be settled internationally, hut must he done independently by each State and people.

A GUILLOTINE

(Received This Pav at 10.15. -i.*'' ' PETROGRAD, Dec. 27

An engineer has submitted to the People’s Commissaries a perfected guillotine electrically worked, capable of decapitating .500 victims simulianeouslv.