TOO LATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1918, Page 5

TOO LATE.

ENROLLING VOLUNTEERS Reuter Service. Received Feb. 25, 8 p.m. Petrograd, Feb. 24. Tiie enrolment of volunteers to defend the capital is proceeding rapidly, and it is anticipated that 50,000 will 'be undei arms in a few days. Besides the soldiers, who desire to iight, special Socialist regiments ure forming from the Esthonian, Lettish and Mussulman rc.*inienis. In I'etrograd many women wish to take up anus against the Germans ant luc supporters of Kaledill. The same thing is happening at Kiell', Moscow and THE AALAND ISLANQS. SWKDLSII TROOPS keep order. Router Service. Received Feb. 2>">, 10.'80 p.m. Stockholm, Feb. 24. An agreement lias been reached as to the evacuation of the Aaland Islands by Russian and Finnish t.roops. A Swedish force has gone to maintain order. A PAfiDEMONIUM OF DECREES. POSITION* OROWING WORSE. Received Feb. 25, S p.m. Petrograd, Feb. 25. Many non-Bolsheviks and Socialists favor guerilla warfare, believing that the proletariat of the Central Powers will yet rise. The Commissaries, however, plead tlmt they must, like defeated strikers, accept the enemy's terms, in order to rescue the country and the revolution from ruin end exhaustion. The Commissaries are issuing a-pande-monium of decrees, proclamations and exhortations, first stating that the Germans intend to restore the landlords, bankers and the monarchy, and calling on all workers to enrol in the Red Army, and expel from the ranks ami wipe oil' the face ol the Earth all hooligans and cowards; then, an hour later, announcing their readiness to accept the German terms. The perplexed peasant and soldiers are hurrying back to their villages faster than ever, meaning that a new iiational loree must necessarily be raised from the unemployeds, whose increasing numbers, owing to the Bolsheviks' policy in dosing mills and factories, is becoming a serious danger. THE GERM AM ADVANCE. MOTOR-CAR DASHES. BOOTY SECURED INTACT. HOOLIGANS RUN AMOK. ,' Received Feb. 25, 10.30 p.m. London, Feb. 25. The Morning Post states that the Germans are moving on Petrograd at the rate of fifty miles a day, by motor-car dashes, capturing everything and'spreading a panic eastwards. Specialist troopers are acting us advance guards. Supported by aeroplanes, small bodies of specialists dasli Tight through the. prin- i cipal towns, often without attracting notice, and then cut the railways and stop the roads beyond, thus preventing the withdrawal of any war material. Other Germans then follow and secure all the booty intact. Their main difliculty is to destroy the hooligan crowds of criminals or wandering soldiers who seize the opportunity, with cries of "Kill the Bourgeoisie," to run amok in the townships, pillaging, killing men, violating women, and carrying oil' girls. The hooligans, who are all armed, cause fires, so the Germans shoot them on sight. Owing to the hooligans, many of the towns welcome the arrival of the Germans. Meanwhile the Ltniu Government has proclaimed a holy war, and calls on men from the age of 17 to 35 to defend the country, but practically nil the artillery lias now been captured, and there are enough German prisoners with officers at Petrograd to deal with the extremists when Germany gives the word. The Germans at present are not seeking to reach Petrograd, which is merely a spectacular move. They are driving at lightning speed to resell the railways about Bologdi, midway between Petrograd and Moscow. GERMAN CANDIDATE FOR RUSSIAN THRONE. The Grand Duke of Hesse has been appointed commander-in-chief of the Riga section of the German front, because his sister, the ex-Empress Alexandra, as guardian of the Cssarevitcli, is the favor- 1 ite German candidate for the Russian throne. It is certain that Nicholas will ' not accept the throne from the Germans. DIPLOMATS LEAVE PETRuGIIAD. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter Received Feb. 2li, 1.00 a.m. Petrograd, Feb. 24. I The Japanese and American Embas- ' iies, the Chinese, Siamese and Brazilian ' missions left on Saturday, and are going ' to Piatka. If necessary, they will reside in Siberia or Vladivostok. I Many centres report the formation of ' •evolutionary detachments, composed of i soldiers and civilians. i