RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 March 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

ESTHONIA'S INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED.

Received 8.50. LONDON, March 3

Berlin reports state that the Reval Town Council has proclaimed Estonia's independence and neutrality, a Provisional Government has been formed. Esthonian soldiers have been recalled from the Russian army. CAUTION URGED IN JAPAN. Received 11.40. TOKIO, March 3. Motoni, speaking in the Japanese Diet, emphasised that the Allied Ambassadors had left Petrograd because their personal safety was endangered. Diplomatic relations had not been severed. Count Terachi warned the people to consider the subject calmly and they must take the greatest care not to make mistakes. A RUSSIAN PROCLAMATION. Received 11.40. PETROGRAD, March 3. The Germans have begun an encircling movement south of Petrograd, apparently to cut off the capital from Moscow. The former peace delegates have issued a proclamation stating: We have decided to favour the war. The enemy will only enter Petrograd over our bodies. Our slogan is, "Victory or death." JAPANESE AND CHINESE TROOPS ALREADY SENT. Received 8.50. LONDON, March 3. A high Japanese official, in London, states that Japan has long been waiting for a chance of effective military co-operation conformable with the ' Allies' interests. There is a large ! force at Korea and Manchuria ready | to advance at a few hours' notice, and they can be quickly reinforced. The Russo-Japanese alliance has not been abrogated by the Bolsheviks', policy. The Japan is entitled to inter-' vett'e without 'being antagonistic tb Russia.

The Weekly Dispatch Tientsin correspondent reports that Japan and China are already sending troops to Siberia and Manchuria respectively '

POLAND AND UKRAINE,

BERNE,: March 2

One Cracow newspaper states that the Germans killed and wounded many in Warsaw during a demonstration against the, annexation of Cholin to Ukraine.

The text of the suppressed speech of the Polish deputy, Glombinski, in the Austrian Chamber, shows that he declared that Czernin had forced Cholin on the unwilling Ukranians, without previously consulting the Poles. Pie described 'Austria's duplicity as rivalling Prussian brutality. AUSTRO-HUNGARIANS TO INTERVENE. LONDON, March 2. The "Daily Express's" Amsterdam correspondent states that the Austrian Government has announced a change of policy, sanctioning AustroHungarian military intervention in Ukraine. This is due to the demand of Vienna's burgomaster pleading that Vienna was starving, and that their only hope was bread, and peace with Ukraine The correspondent now hears that German troops ar e entering Ukraine to seize food, and the Austrians are therefore going to prevent the Germans securing food which Austria considers hers. GERMAN ADVANCE CONTINUES. PETROGRAD, March 1. The German advance continues, despite peace negotiations. The enemy are throwing large forces on to the Orsha front. The Russians are digging trenches north of Orsha. 4 A battle is imminent. {