RUSSIA

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA

TROTSKY RETURNS FROM CONFERENCE. GERMANS FAVOR ANNEXATIONS. SECRET DESIGN TO SEIZE PROVINCES. ALSO TO STRANGLE RUSSIA Received Jan. 24, 11..10 p.m. Petrogrnd, -fan. 2.1. M. Trotsky lias returned to Petroj.;rad from Brest Litovsk. Ho says the Gcrnmii terms preponderate in favorate of annexation. There was no secret desire to seize Poland, Lithuania and Courland. The Germans hope to make Moon Island a new Gibraltar, with a view to strangling Russia economically and polit.ii-p.lly. He added that the Austrian.-) did not participate actively in the negotiations, inerely assenting to every German proposal. M. Trotsky believes the final decision will shortly "be reached. GERMANY'S CHANGE OF FRONT. A BOLSHEVIK PROTEST Received Jan. 24, 8.10 p.m. l'etrograd, Jan. 23 The secretary of the Russian delegation at Brest Litovsk lias officially protested against the German version of this proceedings, wherein M. Trotsky's protest against Germany's change of'front is not mentioned. General Hoffmann warned the Russian Government that, if the Bolsheviks carry out tlieir intention of giving German officer prisoners the same, regime as the men, Germany would cancel the project for reciprocal improvement, of the war prisoners' conditions in Germany FIGHT WITH UKRAINIANS. BOLSHEVIKS CLAIM TO CAPTURE A TOWN. Received Jan. 24, 8.10 p.m. l'etrograd, June 2:). The Bolsheviks report that their troops defeated the Ukrainian,-; at Joltava, capturing the town. INTRODUCING SOCIALISM. I AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET. A CRITICAL POSITION. Received Jan. 24, S.lO p.m. London, Jan. 23. Dr. Harold Williams the Chronicle's correspondent, writing from Petrograd, % says that the dissolution decree thus justifies Bolshevik action, and says the Assembly was to be the crown of the bourgeois parliamentary republic, but proved an obstacle in the path of the October revolution. It was not national, but only class institutions like the Soviets which were able to overcome the resistance of the propertied classes and lav the foundations of Socialist order. Lenin, speaking at i» Socialist meeting, said the Soviets were kindling the flames of a revolution, and would command all the people to fight. The Soviets weio breaking the pillars of the 'bourgeois order, not with gloved hands, but in » proletarian way. Dr. Williams goes on to say that evidently Socialism is to bo introduced at the bayonet's point. The programme will not be executed without a struggle. Tlia position is extremely critical, ' MURDER OF LEADERS. BOLSHEVIKS 12NABLE TO CONTROL CROWD'S PASSIONS. London, Jan. 23. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent says that Lenin and the Soviet condemn the murders of Shingaveff and Kskoshkln and have issued an order for the arrest of the assassins. It is clear that the murders were not committed by order of the Central Bolshevik Government, which fears the consequences. Talk in the streets on Monday in connection with the murders was menacing towards the Bolsheviks, owing to the popularity of iShingarefl' in Petro" grad and Kolcoshkin in Moscow, The murders indicated that the Bolsheviks leaders are no longer able to control the passions of tha mob, which they have I aroused. The Morning Post's correspondent states that it is rumored that other exMinisters in the fortress of Peter and Pau2 hav# suffered the same fate as Sliingareff and Kokoshkin. The food shortage is approaching the verge of actual famine and money is unprocurable by private persons and public bodies. The proletariat method of raising money for current expenses is by robbery, blackmail and felony.