RUSSIAN CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 January 1918, Page 5

RUSSIAN CRISIS.

RUSSIA'S NEW ARMY.

COMMANDER'S STEANGE

APPEAL,

LONDON, January 18,

Ensign Krylenko has issued a manifesto in reply to the German peace condition, stating that peace is endangered. "The Germans," he says, "definitely demand annexations and occupations, and in the event of a separate peace their condiitons may cause us to become the victims of the German Bourgooise. The Eepublic is surrounded by enemies <Jn all sides. American and French financiers are lending money to equip Kaledin whom the Germans are prepared to use as an ally to stifle the Eevolution. These conditions raise for the Russian peasants and workmen the whole question of defending the Eevolution, and a holy war against the Eussian, German, French and British Bourgeoisie. "If victorious they will replace the lost authority, drenching our land with blood, and inflicting terror and torture, putting into the shade the torments inflicted by the Czar's satellites The prospects of a holy Eevolutionfcry war on the front as well as behind the lines is a terrible but unavoidable fate. we must organise a force for well-armed resistance. The old army is tired and exhausted and unfit. A people's army must be created of workmen with the Ecd Guards as a nucleus.

"I appeal to all holding liberty dear Our comrades in Italy, Spain, France, Austria, and Switzerland await the call to battle against the Bourgeoisie, and to show the world the inexhaustible strength of the revolutionary proletariat and the poor peasants. There must be no compulsion. Those not feeling strong enough had better not join. We want an army of fighters, and everybody with a revolutionary heart in his breast should enrol."

BREAKING ARMISTICE PLEDGES. MOVING,TROOPS TO THE WEST. ' Received 10.20V' ' WASHINGTON, Jan 29. , The United States General Staff has,' announced that Germany is breaking the Russian ■ armistice pledges .by transporting troops from the east to the west owing to the German fear of the effect of the Russian propaganda.

BOLSHEVIKS TO FIGHT UKRAINIANS

NEGOTIATIONS STOPPED. ~

PETROGRAD, January 28

The Government announces that that it will not further negotiate with the Ukrainian Eada. The only possible course is a'relentless struggle with the Rada until the Ukrainian Soviets are completely victorious. -'*' : ' Papers . state that, the, Ukrainians and Bolsheviks are both" mobilising. A general engagement is expected in a few days near Kieff.

HEAVY FIGHTING AT LUCK LONDON, January 27. Vienna telegrams report that heayv fighting has been proceeding for several days between the Ukrainian and Bolshevik troops at Luck, which the Ukrainians are endeavouring to capture.

The commander of the Austrian troops in the district refused the B'olsheviks 'request for assistance.

POLICY OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE,

PETROGRAD, Jan. 28. The Maximalist and Left Social Re

volutlonaries' General Committees have adopted a formula refusing to sig/i peace, and refusing to wage war. The Bolahovlks intend to adopt a policy of paasive resistance towards Ger- '"''■-» y .

EPIDEMICS RAMPANT

WORSE THAN THE PLAGUE.

OWING TO WANT OF PROPER

FOOD,

Recoivcd 31.10. PETROGRAD, January 29. Epidemics as the result of mal-nut-ntion are decimating the population. Spotted typhus, more dangerous than the plague, is rampant

The Folsheviks, having abolished the Health Bureaux, there has been n 0 registration of diseases. Few doctors remain. Ignorant doorkeepers and cooks, arc commanding the hospitals. Food is frightfully adulterated with an excessive quantity of straw chaff the bread made from which is only a quarter of a pound, and regularly distributed.

In. Finland bread is made of moss and sawdust, mixed with a small quantity of flour.