PEACE RUMOURS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 21 November 1916, Page 7

PEACE RUMOURS.

RUSSIA'S UNALTERABLE RESOLVE PETROGRAD, Nov 19. Amid great enthusiasm in the Duma, the War Minister detailed the enormous increase in Russia's output of munitions since the beginning of 1915, especially in light guns, rifles and shells. In certain cases the increase was fortyfold. He declared: We must and shall conquer. No power on earth is capable of conquering Russia. Not only is the army waging war, but the whole of the Russian people—men, women, girls and boys—are engaged, in making munitions. The enemy's alleged shattering blows .have come to naught. He is caught and cannot escape." The Minister of Marine, surrounded by cheering members, declared that ;the war would be waged till the end. M. ' Roditcheff added that the Duma desired nothing else. It was only assembled to further that object. The Czar, in a telegram to the Council of State, thanked them for their unanimous decision to sacrifice everything for the sake of final victory.. PARIS, Nov 18. The Russian Premier telegraphed to the Ambassador at Paris, denying the absurd rumours of secret Russ-German negotiations, with a view to a separate peace. "Russia," ne said, "intends to fight the common enemy unfalteringly alongside the Allies till final victory is obtained. No hostile intrigue can weaken Russia's irrevocable decision." The Times' Petrograd correspondent says that M. Ma'rlakov, in the Dufna, declared that it was anomalous that though everything was favourable at the front, and in the munition factories, and though the military exhaustion of Germany was evident, Russians were nevertheless confronted with a new peril, consisting of a change of spirit in Russia. Certain other currents had set in, some daring to speak of peace; others exhibiting despair. M. Rozianko, the re-elected President, expressed his belief that the same harmony and absence of party barriers and spirit of mutual concession would animate the proceedings. The correspondent adds: The Premier's circular note contradicting the rumours of a separate peace arc regarded as a reply to M. Marlakov's speech.