ON THE EAST FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1918, Page 3

ON THE EAST FRONT.

GERMAN INTENTIONS

TO IRRUPT RUSSIA

LONDON, May 5

Recent arrivals from Russia believe the Germans chief aim in the north is the monarchial restoration, while maintaining a separato Republican Government in Ukrania and perpetuating, the breach between tho different parts of the country. The scheme, oven if successful in Petrograd, or smallor Russia, is unlikely to be decisive oyer the rest of the country, for Petrograd has ceased to he the country’s brain centre. Notwithstanding the .Bolshevik’s failures, they have effectively sown the • doctrine of Government by the people.

A JAPANESE ARREST. t TOKIO, May sth. Bolsheviks arrested a Japanese colonel at Urkutsk on a charge of espionage.

LETTER FROM TROTSKY. (Received this day at 1.20 a.m.,) , NEW YORK; May-6. Herman Bernstein, the “ New York Herald’s” Stockholm correspondent, lias obtained an original letter from Trotsky to Lenin during the separate peace negotiations at" Brest Litovsk. Trotsky said it was impossible to sign a peace. “My plan,” he said, “is to announce the termination of the war without signing peace. The Germans will then be unable to attack. In any case it would bo difficult for Germany to attack us, becanso of her internal condition.”

IN SEBASTAPOL. (Received This Day, at 12.55. a.m.) LONDON, May G. Hie Germans, are occupying Sebastn. pol, and found the greater part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and merchantmen in the harbour. Several Turkish warships, including the Goeben, have arrived at SebnStnnol.

LENIN PLOTTING

STOCKHOLM, May 5

It is reported that Lenin and Trotsky have come in contact with a number of officials of the Czar’s regime. Travellers from Moscow say that Lenin is preparing a counter revolution with the connivance of the Czarists. Lenin is hoping to subdue the parties responsible for the first revolution.

Indications point to the Russian situation generally tending towards reorganisation through military means.

A RUSSIAN PROTEST.

WASHINGTON, May 6

The State Department received from the Russian Soviet Government, a protest against the alleged encouragement, given by the American Consul at Vladivostock to a movement to establish an independent Siberian Government.

, AUSTRIAN WARNING

(Reuter’s Telegram.)

(Received This Dnv at 10.15. a.m.) ZURICH, May 6.

The “Arbeiter Zeitung,’’ of Vienna, condemns "the German-Austrian proceedings in Ukraine. It foresees perilous complications. It. says the Ukrainians are bound to regard the Austro-Gcr-mans- as a military regime, whose object is solely to requisition foodstuffs. Thus the Russopliilo sentiment will he strengthened.

UKRAINE PLOT

AMSTERDAM, May sth

In tile Reichstng, Von Payer referring to the Ukraine, stated ' that General Von Euchorn’s drastic action was due to the discovery that a Ukrainian committee including several ministers plotted the assassination of all .the German officers in the Ukraine.

UKRAINE! DEBATE. (Reuter’s Telegram.)

(Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, May 6. In the Reichstag, during the Ukraine debate, a Socialist declared the people did not. stand behind the Skyropadsk’s. The new Government had no more power than the old. Frzeberger declared the shape taken by the eastern questions would decide the entire future in the shaping of Europe. He advocated a political department of the German Government to ; bc tho whole deciding factor.

GERMANY’S AIM. , FOOD IN UKRAINE,

(Received This !)'w at. 11.25. n.m-* AMSTERDAM, May G. In the Reichstag, Von Payer admitted the Germans had entered Ukraine, not merely for the. purpose of restoring order, but because they wanted foodstuffs as speedily as possible. Ho said the Rada was powerless to make the population deliver grain. Its communicative theories, moreover, wore not reciprocated by the peasants, hence trouble led to the overthrow of the Government. The new Government, which was being formed by Hetman and Scoropaiki, whom the peasants had elected, had agreed to the formation of German field tribunals. The new Government refused to recognise the theories that levied ownership on the soil. It agreed with the necessity of concluding a long term economic agreement with the Central Powers, and negotiate for reimbursement for German military assistance.