THE RUSSIAN MIX UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1918, Page 2

THE RUSSIAN MIX UP.

PETROGRAD EXCITED. AT THE GERMAN ADVANCE. (United Service Telegrams.) LONDON February 26. Petrograd has been thrown into a fright in view of the apparent German intention to occupy it. The Soviet has ordered the enrolment of workmen between the ages of 18 and 50 into the Red Army for a holy war. Smolnev has been changed into a military camp. The-' workmen arc assembling in masses. Anglo-Americans at the embassies have left. The absence of newspapers have 1 brought thousands into the streets to learn the news, but there is no panic. Speculation is. rife whether Germans are sending germanised Russians bands to Petrograd, as saviours of society, with the Duke of Hesse, brother of the ex-Czarina leading, With tt view to founding a new dynasty

THE FIGHTING CONTINUES. GREAT RUSSIAN UPSET. [ LONDON* TIMES SERVICE—COPYRIGHT] PETROGRAD February 26. Fierce fighting continues at Pskov which changed hands several times.

The Soviet is sending fresh troops from Petrograd. The first German detachments were small and well equipped. J.arge'reinforcements are now approaching with enormous supplies. Valuable munitions are stored in the neighbourhood ; hence the German anxiety, to capture the railway to Petrograd, cut the bridges and block them up. The Soviet is almost hourly issuing violent proclamations, goading its supporters. The latest denounces the approaching combinations as “Imperialist assassins,” “damned minions of Wilhelm, the German,’’ and ' “Kaledin’s White Guards,” Strange scenes and a blare of syrens woke the people of Petrograd on Monday night. Few knew what they signified. They went into the streets and were immediately summoned to get picks and shovels W dig trenches in the roads. Telephones buzzed everywhere telling that the Germans Were ■coming from Pskov, f Trams ran all night, and motors were requistioned The railways are closely guarded.

APPEAL TO ALLIES. TO SAVE RUSSIA. PARIS, Feb. 26. Fromoff. Minister of Justice in Kerensky's Cabinet, lias addressed a moving appeal to the Allies. Ho says that Russia has lost five million men killed during the war. -There has heeii a dearth of medicines, clothing and every kind of industrial machinery since 1914. -The distress among the Russian people is unimaginable. The brutal question is whether Germany shall organise Russia against the Allies, or whether the Allies shall organise Russia" against Germany.

A RUSSIA SQUEAL. LONDON Fezruary 26. Wireless Russian official.—Lenin and Trotsky, are complaining of the continuance of hostility and have enquired whether Germany intends to reply to Russia’s expressed consent to sign the proposed conditions of peace, and Krylenko’s enquiry whether ah armistice, does not automatically follow the acceptance of such conditions. ARMISTICE REFUSED. ' NEW YORK, Eebrunry 26. .Germany has formally refused to grant an armistice. The Germans continue the advance on Petrograd. AN EASY CAPTURE. (Received, This Day at 8.50. a.m.) PETROGRAD, Feb. 27.

Only two cavalry squadrons atid six armoured ears entered Pskoff. Tlie defenders took panic and fled. The Letts recovered soonest, and offered a resistance when they learned that the enemy were so few. There was' some street fighting till German reinforcements arrived. The invaders soon pushed beyond the town.

*iho Peoples’ Commissionaries in Petrograd are torn by dissensions. It is understood that Trotsky has retired.

RUSSIAN REPORT. ON SOVIET’S ADIS. T ADMIRALTY—PER WIRELESS PRESS.} fßeceived This Dav at 10. Jo. a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 27, Russian official.—The German government have formerly refused an armistice, because their desire is not peace, Jiut the strangling of the revolution./All obstinate pitiless resistance to tlie German hordes is thus the task of the revolutionists. Our greatest strength is the wide territories.

The occupation of Reval, Pskoff, and even Petrograd, which is still distant, will not: decide tilie destiny of the (revolution. Should the threat to Petrograd increase, the Soviet will retire to Moscow or elsewhere in Russia, but their chief present, task is to bar the roads to Petrograd by every obstacle. We will prove to the Germans that they must disperse throughout Russia before they can crush the authority of tlie Soviets. They will never have the forces necessary. The more deeply they penetrate, the more surely they will bring on a revolution in Germany.