RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 February 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

AFFAIRS IN POLAND

PETROGRAD? Feb 2,

Twenty-six thousand Polish Legionaries, commanded by Polish generals, occupied Rogatcheff. The “Provisional Soviet demanded its evacuation, and the submission of the Polish staff, intimating that the fate of a number of leading hostages depended thereon. STOCKHOLM, Feb 2.

Mannheim continues his successful march southwards in Finland, disarming the Red Guards. He occupied Twooerfors, Kristinestadt, and Tavastehus. There is great enthusiasm in the north of Finland, where all men 1 between 13 and 60 are joining’ the Government troops. Only Tornea. Kerns, and Uleaborg remain in the hands s of the Red Guards. In North Finland there has been fighting around Viborg Helsingfors remains in the Red Guards’ hands. Newspapers have stopped publishing. Officials are striking. Members of the Landtag and bank directors have been arrested and the City Council dissolved. Government troops occupy Ttaumo, Lovisa and Borga in South Finland.

BOLSHEVIKS CAPTURE ODESSA

NEW YORK, Feb 2,

Petrograd advices state that the Bolsheviks have captured Orenburg and Odessa.

PETROGRAD, Feb 2,

A Maximalist agency confirms the capture of Kieff. ’ Three TTkranian regiments, with" artillery, joined the Soviets, the : whole garrison refusing to fight.

TROTSKY BLAMES ENGLAND AND

AMERICA

NEW YORK, Feb I

The United Press correspondent at Petrograd interviewed Trotsky, who said: I believe Lloyd George and President Wilson should have joined the Russo-German negotiations if they really desired peace. They thus have smashed the main weapon by which Germany maintains her internal discipline. The Entente’s refusal enabled the Kaiser to show the workmen that the Allies want Germany. „ Trotsky added that general negotiations would have created a world-wide peace sentiment The attempt to renew the war would have resulted in the overthrow of all Governments. That was why the Entente refused to join. They still hoped to crush the Central Powers, but did not desire to sacrifice Imperialism, inasmuch as the belligerents refused to join the negotiations. President Wilson and Lloyd George’s formulas were merely scraps of paper, enabling the German Imperialists to satisfy their appetite at Russia’s expense. “We therefore believe that the Entente silently approved the German demands at Brest Litovsk. We are conducting negotiations, hoping that the ’Allies will still join.” *