SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1917, Page 5

SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF WAR.

EXTREMISTS WANT PEACE. London, March 22. The Morning Post's Petrograd correspondence, dated Monday, states that there is little positive news, beyond the satisfactory .fact that one regiment that remained in barracks is again under proper command. The food supply problem has not improved, despite the attention devoted to _it. Several necessaries are unprocurable, and the position is aggravated by the eowtinued

blizzard. The Duma was the scene of a meeting of a thousand soldiers to choose representatives on the Workmen's and Soldiers' Council, Which seems to com-

inand the genera! situation. A mass meeting was held in the precincts of the Duma at which there were many soldiers. French and Belgian workmen appealed to their Russian comrades not to forgot the war, reminding them that the Germans at Riga were within 4*oo versts'of Petrograd. While many soldiers are beginning to realise what this may mean. the. more violent elements seem to believe that internal politics are of primary importance. The extreme Internationals liave gained a footing, and their aim is to stop the war. Their newspaper hails Russia as a Republic, which any competent observer regards at present as inconceivable. The Socialist and Republican agitation momentarily eclipses the war.

Preparations for the Constituent Assembly are being hastened, ignoring the absence of the 25 millions in the country. in German occupation, the million prisoners of war, and the millions at the lighting front. M. Korniloff has arrived at Petrograd, and it is hoped the.soldiers will now realise the supreme importance of the war. There is some apprehension at the continued loss of time in making munitions, and the loss of discipline of many reserve battalions, who should be preparing to proceed to the front.

MOSCOW'S PART IN REVOLU- j TION. J SIMILAR TO PETROGRAD,, Moscow, March 22. The first details of the revolution at Moscow show that it began with a general strike on the 13th. A temporary committee, equally representing workmen, co-operative societies, and public bodies, was elected. The police disappeared. The troops joined in slowly at first, but Colonel Gruzinoff, President of the Provincial Zemstvos, assumed the leadership of the revolutionary troops, and later toured the garrisons. All had adhered by the 14th and they seized the Kremlin, the arsenal, freed political prisoners, and burned the secret police archives. Colonel Gruzinoff reviewed 30,000 troops on the 17th, and the clergy invoked a blessing on the new Government. Normal life was resumed by the 19th.

THE AFTERMATH. Petrograd, March 22. The Government has ordered the immediate prosecution of M. Soukomlinolf for high treason. A Government manifesto ratifies the constitution of the Grand Duchy of Finland and promises a .general amnesty with the immediate convocation of a Diet with enlarged powers. CALMING THE EXCITEMENT. London, March 22. The Central ■ News' Petrograd correspondent states that on Tuesday evening the munition workers caused matters to take a favorable turn.

A demonstration yesterday demanded the execution of obnoxious partisans of the old regime. M. Keronsky, in a speech, succeeded in calming the excitement.

Mischievous rumors to-day stated that tl\e Germans had broken the Russian line on the Riga-Dvinsk front. General Doitreff, in a reassuring letter to members of the Duma, states that the army is firmly holding its positions and even more firmly holding its faith in a final triumph. The Workmen's and Soldiers' Council has appointed Friday for the burial of comrades who have fallen during the revolution. A general holiday will be observed in Petrograd, and the fortress will fire a salute. All will be buried in one grave.

INDEPENDENCE OF POLAND. London, March 22. Reports from Berlin state that the Finnish Independence Committee proclaimed the independence of Finland at Wassia.

SEVERE FIGHTING AT ZIDA. London, Mardi 22. ■A wireless Russian official message says:—ln the direction of Zida the enemy attacked aC'cr a long bombardment, and occupied positions. A coun-ter-attack partly restored the positions. We drove b.".:k &n attack northwest of Brody. There is intense er.emy aerial and artillery activity !n the direction of jToes&ny (Roumania),