THE CLOVEN HOOF.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1918, Page 5

THE CLOVEN HOOF.

I MEANING 01? '"NO ANN FA AT lONS.'' GIiRIIANY DICTATING TO RUSSIA. Received Jan. ], 0.15 p.m. London, Dec. 31. The Daily Chronicle says it is now evident what the G?rma.iv< mean by "without annexations.'' Their negotiations show they expect to retain Poland, Lithuania, and Oourlaud, also portions of Esthonia and Livonia, where the Germans have already induced faked Assemblies to declare 'for separation from Russia and independence under the Hapsburg King of Poland and the Hohen/ollern King of Lituania. The Central Powers will only evacuate these when Russian demoeratisation is completed. The cynicism of the proposals is almost too much for the Bolsheviks, but Russia has been brought to a point where the enemy can dictate.

A Ilaparanda telegram states that Ceurland's parliament has declared in favor of C'ourland's early cession to Germany, and that information has been sent, to Berlin asking the Germans to make tire measure known at Brest Litovsk. Russian troops in Esthonia are dispersing and returning home. CIVIL WAR IN SIBERIA. WHOLE DISTRICTS DEMOLISHED. Received -Tan. 1, 0.15 p.m. Petrograd, Dec. 31. The people's commissaries have issued a degree prohibiting bargaining in houses and land. They also intend to nationalise insurance companies. Reports from southern Siberia indicate that the civil war is rapidly growing. There were eight days' continuous fighting at Irkutsk, civilians and Cossacks opposing the Bolslievik regulars. Artillery was used mercilessly, whole district; being demolished. Troops in Ukraine are operating successfully against the Bolsheviks. TREATY CONDITIONS RESTORED. CONCILIATORY SPIRIT SHOWN. Received Jan. 1, 7.15 p.m. London, Dec. 31. A Gorman wireless message from Brest Litovsk gives further details of the agreement reached between Russia and the Central Powers. It .states that the arrangements were conducted in a conciliatory spirit, with a view to a mutual understanding and agreement being reached to restore the treaty conditions which were interrupted bv the war. With respect to all rights of intercourse, all special war legislation shall be repealed, and persons adversely affected shall be restored to their former rights or indemnified. Details regarding yar damages are left for later determination, but arrangements were made for indemnifyirg civilians outside the war districts and the reciprocal return of merchant vessels.

Austro-llungary has signified her agreement with the first two articles of the peace treaty as proposed by Germany. SWEDISH ARMIES. CONCENTRATING ON FINNISH FRONTIER. CHINESE TROOPS TO ENTER RUSSIA. RUSSIAN PERSIAN ARMY RETIRING. Received Jan. 1, 0.15 p.m. London, Dec. 31. The Morning Post's Petrograd correspondent says that Swedish armies are concentrated on the Finnish frontier, and are daily expected to advance into Finland, nominally for the defence of Swedish rights, which the Bolshevik troops violated. Chinese troops have been mobilised on the borders of Turkestan, and are preparing to enter Russian territory. The Russian army in Persia is retiring, the Bolsheviks hoping it will be used against the rear of Kaledin's Cossacks and Ukraine. The Exchange Telegraph's Peking correspondent states that everyone is delighted at the excellent manner in which the Chinese militaries are dealing with the situation at Ifarbin. The Bolsheviks are coming to realise that Harbin doesn't belong to Russia. TROTSKY INTERVIEWED. NEITHER CONQUERED NOR CONQUEROR. PETROGRAD MORE ORDERLY. Received Jan. 1, 0.5 p.orLondon, i£c. 31. Mr. Ransome, the Daily News Petrograd correspondent, interviewed M. Trotsky at the Smolny Institute. He said the German Government, wiser than most, has thrown aside its grandiose plans of conquest and accepts a peace wherein there is neither a conqueror nor conquered.

Mr. Ransome adds that the city is more orderly than it has been for months, owing to Bolshevik Tilt/ people don't like the Bolsheviks-, lint they obey their ordei'3 with startling alacrity Tlie only reason the Assembly has not opened is that 400 delegates are necessary for a quorum and only 391 have been elected. These include 123 Bolsheviks and 204 Social Revolutionaries, lof whom one-half support. Lenin and I Trotsky, Any attempt to turn out the present Government forcibly would only result in anarchy favorable to the Germans ARRIVAL OF AUSTRO-GERMAN COMMISSION. Received Jan. 1, 8,25 p.m. Petrograd, Dec. 31. The second AuatroCferin&n mission has arrived. It comprises representatives of the Fortten, Qosunerce, Industry, and Finance Miolitecfl.