RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 February 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

Germans to occupy petrols, ad. LONDON, February 23. It is reported that Germany will occupy Petrograd until Russia gives guarantees of peace, and also makes a thirty years trade treaty. Foreign embassies are preparing to leave. Petrograd is greatly agitated by a report that German officers, instructed in Berlin, are assisting the White Guards, This is regarded as treachery. The commissaries have ordered the retiring troops to destroy everything. Thus more fightful devastation has been committed in the already ruined country. The Germans, can easily occupy Petrograd. PETROGRAD, February 23. The Bolsheviks arc at their wits end The majority of the civilians are praying that the Germans will reach the city before the anarchists kick over the traces. The British Consulate is crowded. All, especially women and children, have been warned to leave immediately. GUERILLA WARFARE .ORDERED. LONDON, February 23. A Russian wireless message states: Krylenko dias ordered Revolutionary mobilisation for guerilla warfare in every street, village and town if the Germans refuse to conclude peace.

FRANCE ALARMED, LONDON, February 23. The Daily News’ Paris correspondent states that French official circles arc gravely concerned about Russia. They urge speedy Allied action, otherwise Germany will obtain such gigantic power as to menace the independence of Europe. The news from Russia is extremely sombre. The “ Express” Petrograd correspondent reports that the Gormans have already occupied Hapsal, Lenin and Trotsky arc trying to resuscitate the half-demobilised army, but it is a degenerate rabble, and has no fighting spirit left, The B'olsheviks are withdrawing the army from Finland. GERMAN- MAP MAKING. Received 11.5. PARIS, Fell 24. Le Matin states the so-called ethnographical map published in Berne in 1917 by German propagandists shows elimination of the Ukranian and Polish frontiers as defined at Brest Litovsk, which shows the western frontier given to Russia would run the limit of Greater Poland, while Petrograd is shown as belonging to Finland, thus driving Russia back 10 the Muscovite steppes. STOCKHOLM, Feb 24.

White Guards drove back the Rea Guards at many points, and captured Bamoerneborg and Tamefors, and are now advancing towards the important junction on the Helsingfors-Viborg railway.

THE BREST LITOVSK PEACE TERMS. Received 11.30. LONDON, Feb 24. A Russian wireless message states: Replying to the Russian proposals on 19th February, Germany, on the 21st intimated her readinesd ’to conclude peace as follows: —Firstly, Germany and Russia to declare the State of war ended; secondly, regions west of the line indicated at Brest Litovsk to the Russian delegation, formerly belonging to Russia are no longer under Russian territorial protection. In the region of Dvinsk this line must be advanced to the eastern frontier of Courland. Germany, Austria and Hungary will define the further fate of these regions in agreement with their populations; thirdly, Livonia and Esthonia must immediately be cleared of Russian troops and Red Guards, and be occupied by German police till security is guaranteed by their constitutions; fourthly, Russia will conclude peace with the Ukraine and evacuate Ukraine and Finland; fifthly, Russia to do its utmost to secure an orderly return of the eastern Anatolian frontiers to Turkey; 'SSTTiIy, complete demobilisation of the Russian army; seventhly, Russian fleets, including the Entente warships, must be kept in Russian harbours till the general peace or disarmed; eighthly, the Russo-German commercial treaty of 1904 comes into force; free export must be guaranteed, and a new commercial treaty must be negotiated; ninthly, legal political relations be regulated in accordance with "the first German-Russian convention; tenthly. Russia promises to end the propaganda against the quadruplice; eleventhly, conditions must be accepted within forty-eight hours, and Russian plenipotentiaries must sign at Brest Litovsk within three days tfle peace treaty, which must be ratified within a fortnight.