RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

GERMANS ADVANCE 50 MILES. RUSSIANS MERELY DISARMED. BOLSHEVIKS AT THEIR WITS END. Received Feb. 24, 5.5 p.mPetrograd, Feb. 23. The enemy has advanced 50 miles on the whole front. Aeroplanes are distributing leaflets advising calmness on Hie part of the inhabitant-, and stating that the Germans are bringing restoration of order and food. The advance is not resisted anywhere. Korly-scven. thousand troops seized twenty-seven trains and fled back to Moscow. The (iermans are not taking prisoners, but are merely disarming them. The Bolpheviks are their wits' end. The majority of civilians are praying for' the (lermans to reach (he city before the anarchists kick over the traces. The British consulate is erowdi'd. All, especially the women and children, are warned to leave immediately. NAVAL DISORGANISATION COMPLETE. DESTRUCTION OF WARSHIPS POSSIBLE. KVACUATION OF 'FINLAND ORDERED Received Feb. 24, 5.5 p.m. Pctrograd, Feb. 23. , Tlie disorganisation in the navy is irremediable. The majority of the crews oppose active defence, and some demand their immediate discharge. The situation at Reval is tragic. The authorities desire to remove the warships to KronPtadt, but the ice prevents, and a similar position prevails at Helsingfors. The authorities are considering whether they ought to destroy the- warships if it is impossible to intern them in Finland as neutral territory. The Council of the Commissaries has ordered the evacuation of Finland. THE RED AND WHITE GUARDS. A DECISIVE BATTLE EXPECTED. i FOR MASTERY OF FINLAND. FRIGHTFUL DEVASTATION Times Service. Received Feb. 24, 5.5" p.m. PetrogrsKi, Feb. 22. The Red Guards are' gradually concentrating at Mammerforß. They are pressed on all sides by the Whit? Guards, who are seizing an important junction with a view to cutting it off from Helsingfors. A decisive battle is expected near Vilpall for the, mastery of middle Finland. Russian aviators arc dropping ieafllets inciting the population, Petrograd is greatly agitated at the report that a German officer, instructed from Berlin, is assisting the White Guards. This is regarded 38 treachery. The Commissaries have ordered the retiring troops to destroy everything, thus once more frightful devastation is being committed over the already ruined country. The Germans can easily occupy Petrograd. A report from Haparanda states that four vessels have arrived from Germany, bringing provisions and German volunteers, also Finnish cavalry which formerly served in Germany, 100,000 rifles, and a large quantity of field and ma,-. chine guns. A strong offensive is expected towards Viborg and Matnmerfors. The Red Guards at Viborg are receiving further large reinforcements, also guns and armored cars. NORTHERN POSITON CRITICAL. It is reported that the Russian position on the northern front is critical, owing- to the disorderly retirement Mocking the roads- With a view to relieving the situation, the Commissaries are despatching the Red Guards from the detachments not yet entirely disorganised. The enemy lias occupied the entire first line of the northern front on the Dvina, and is moving towards Volmnr, endeavoring to cut off Reval. The Russian commander on ths> west front has ordered the retiring armies not to fight nor destroy ammunition pending Germany's formal reply to Trotsky. A MESSAGE OF SUBMISSION. , . TREATED WITH CONTEMPT. Received Feb. 24, 5-5 p.mAmsterdam, Feb.' 23. A Russian courier lias delivered to Berlin a message of submission, signed by Trotsky and Lenin and dated Wednesday. The courier ' returned emptyhanded, Germany intimating that a period may elapse before the reply would be ready, because Dr. von Kuhlmann had gone to Bucharest and was unable to give his attention to trie matter- Meantime the invasion proceeds. FLIGHT OF BOLSHEVIK STAFF. Times ServiceReceived Feb. 24, 5-5 p.m. [ Petrograd, Feb. 23. The Bolsheviks' north-western headquarters staff have fled to Smolny, abandoning touch with the armies. MOBILISING FOR GUERILLA .WARFARE. Aus. and NZ. Cable Assoc, and RenterReceived Feb. 24, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 23. Wireless Russian official: General Krylenko has ordered a revolutionary mobilisation for guerilla warfare in every street, village, and town, if the Germans refuse to conclude peace. A USELESS ORDER, Petrograd, Feb. 22. The Bolsheviks Wive issued a proclamation ordering the Russians to resist the Senium, advance.