RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

COMMENTS ON GERMAN TERMS. PERSIA AND INDIA AFFECTED. London, Feb. 20. Germany's terms are interpreted to mean a desire to make the Baltic a German lake, to establish a chain of Imil'cr States between Russia and Germany, and to secure a footing on the Black Sea across the Ukraine. The last-mention-ed would have an important bearing on the eastern situation, making Germany independent of Turkey and Bulgaria, because she would then have a new line of communication from Berlin via Odessa and Trebizond, bringing Germany deep into .Persia and close to India. The Manchester Guardian says the. strange thing about Germany's terms is the demand made for the Russian fleet. Presumablv the Germans feared the Rus■iinns would destroy it and they hope to get it later. LENIN'S FLIMSY APOLOGY. PEACE UNDER COMPULSION. . Petrograd, Feb. 2(1. Lenin, in an article in the newspaper Pravada, explains that the acceptance of peace is essential to secure the continuance of the Bolshevik regime. The refusal to sign was only possible to those who were intoxicated by revolutionary phrases. He adds: "The army is demoralised and refuses to fight. I have always tried to persuade members of our party to clear their minds of revolutionary cant. One of the greatest present evils is phrase-making." Lenin claims that he warned Russia that the refusal of this peace would result in worse peace terms. He says that all the bourgeoisie in Russia are jubilant at the approach of the Germans. The Bolsheviks have been compelled to submit to a distressing peace, but this will not stop revolutions in Germany and Europe. PETROGRAD'IN A FERMENT. AT APPROACH OF GERMANS. ANGLO-AMERICANS DEPART; I SPECULATION AS TO ENEMY ! INTENTIONS. United Service. Received Feb. 27, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 28. Petrograd has been thrown into a ferment in view of the apparent German, intention to occupy the city. The Soviet has ordered the enrolment of all workmen between the ages of 18 and 50 into the Red Army, for a holy warSinolny has been changed into a military camp, and workmen are assembling en masse. Anglo-Americans at the Embassies have left. Thc absence of newspapers brought thousands into the streets to learn the news, but there was no panic. Speculation is rife whether the Germans are sending Germanised Russian bands to Petrograd as saviours of society, with the Duke of Hesse, brother of the ex-Czarina, leading, with a view to founding a new dynasty. AN APPEAL TO THE ALLIES. THE CRUCIAL QUESTION. WHICH SIDE WILL RUSSIA TAKE? Received Feb. 27, 2.30 p.m. Paris, Feb- 20. M. Efremoff, the Minister for Justice in Kerensky's Cabinet, lias addressed a moving appeal to the Allies. He says that the Russians lost five million killed during the war, and there has been a dearth of medicines, clothing, and every hind of industrial machinery since 1914. The distress among the Russian people cannot be imagined. The crucial question is whether Germany shall organise Russia against the Allies, or will the Allies organise Russia against Germany. HASTY MOBILISATIONS. WORKERS JOIN GARRISON. - Times Service, Received Feb. 27, 11 Ah p.m. Petrograd, Feb. 28. The workers have joined the garrison at Narva and. have combined with the Red Guards, forming a. total of 10,000. A portion has been despatched to Reval. Similar mobilisations are proceeding elsewhere, the Soviets acting as centres for t'lie rapid distribution of arms and supplies. THE GERMAN REPORT. DETAILS OF ADVANCE. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and ReuterReceived Feb. 27, 9 p.m. London, Feb. 20. Wireless German official: Four days after crossing the Moon Sound, the troops marcihing to Reval captured the fortress. After tlie battle flags were hung in many towns in Livonia when we entered. Many inhabitants were arrested on the capture of Pskov. General Linsingen stormed a ••' carried Kolenkowitz and the railw: tation, and covered upwards of 300 1 .iometres ia a few days. Co-operating with the, Ukrainians we cleared the greater part of the country of looting gangs. We recently took prisoner oti the Eastern front three divisional staff officers, 180 officers snd 3076 aens