RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

TURKEY'S OFFER. OF. A SEPARATE PEACE. i Homo, May 13. It is reported that Turkey, through a neutral country, lias offered Russia a .separate peace on the basis of opening the Straits to Russian merchantmen anil the navy and army, and the Turkish evacuation of Armenia. The Russian Provisional Government refused to negotiate. It is bcueved the move was suggested by Germany in the hope of increasing the confusion of Russian public opinion. COALITION PROPOSALS REJECTED. SEPA..ATE PEACE REPUDIATED. " Pe-trograd, May 13. Skebeleff, a leading member of the executive committee of the Workmen's and 'Soldiers' Delegates, roundly declared at a sitting of the "Council that every Russian patriot scornfully repudiated a separate peace. Every soldier who concerted such a peace with the Germaninjured the general cai-.se of Russian democracy. The army must be a powerful ready to fight not merely in the trenches ibut ito take the offensive. The executive resolved,, by 23 votes to 22, not to participate a Coalition Ministry. There were eight abstentions, including the most influential committeemen, for personal reasons. The question has been referred to tlie plenary committee, when it is anticipated the vote will be reversed. General Russky has retired owing to ill health.

MONARCHAL PARTY. ABSOLUTELY 'DISAPPEARED. Copenhagen, May 13. Petrograd letters show that the monarchial party had absolutely disappeared, leavinf not a sing'.e lupporter of their cause. Professor Farbman'writes that Lenin lias renounced 'violent tactic, and dismissed the gvngestion of a separate peace.

RUSSIAN REORGANISATION. AMERICAN HELP REQUIRED. Petrograd, May 13. General Kc.-iloff has resigned the command of the troops at Petrograd. This is. apparently due to friction with the Council of the Workmen's an" Soldiers' Delegates. The War Minister declares that if a definite agreement is reached - with America the reorganisation of the transport system and supply of munitions will be satisfactorily solved in a few weeks. The revictualling of the army at present is most) unsatisfactory, bub will shortly improve. The army has been reorganised, enabling the utilisation of men of talent. NO WHEAT FOR FINLAND. t!opeiihagen, May 13. '■' Finnish papers state that no grain has been received from Russia for two months, and the populace is on the verge of famine.