RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

THE RUSSO-GERMAN TREATY. RATIFICATION WITHIN A FORTNIGHT. Reuter Service. Received March C, .">..> p.m. London, March 5. The Russo-German treaty further provides that, starting from the fact that Persia and Afghanistan are free and independent States, the contracting parties undertake to respect their political and economic independence and territorial integrity. The contracting parties mutually renounce indemnification of war costs, namely State expenditure and public and private damages which h:Tve arisen through military measures, incdnding all requisitions undertaken in the enemy country. The final clause provides for ratification within a fortnight. SOVIETS AGAINST PEACE. REJ? ARMY TO BE ORGANISE*). Received March C, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, March o. Judging from their resolutions, many provincal Soviets are against peace. It seems unlikely that the congress of Soviets at Moscow will ratify the treaty. The fortnight granted by the Germans •will probably bo employed in the organisation of the Red Army and the means of defence and evacuation of Petrograd; ADVANCING ON PETROGRAD. ENEMY AIRCRAFT BUSY. Times Service. Received March 0, 0.55 p.m. London, March 5. The Germans are reported to be continuing their advance despite the order for cessation of hostilities. German airmen bombed Petrografl, aiming, it is believed, at the principal railway station. Zeppelins appeared at Gutchina, but were driven oil. EVACUATION OF PETROGRAD BEGUN. Received March (i, 11.50 pin. Washington, March 5. London advices state that the evacuation of Petrograd has begua. SERIOUS DEFENCE IMPOSSIBLE. SOLDIERS SELL REGIMENTAL PROPERTY. THE HORROR OF A FOREIGN YOKE. London, March 5. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent states that the majority of the Social Revolutionaries of the Left and a section of the Bolsheviks still favor a revolutionary war, but serious defence is impossible. The regular army, with few exceptions, is flocking to the interior as, far as possible from the invader of Petrograd. Regiments have sold the regimental property, divided the proceeds, and gone to their homes. The new Red Army is enthusiastic, but raw, and cannot seriously resist the ■ invaders. The capital is uncannily quiet. The peace terms seem to have struck a blow at the national feeling. The Cadet Party has issued a manifesto declaring that the calamities of anarchy, deplorable as they arc, cannot be compared Ui the horror of enslavement of a foreign yoke. It appeals to the country to rally to the defence of the country in association with the allies of Russia. BOLSHEVIKS IN UKRAINE. CALL UPON PEOPLE TO RESIST THE ENEMY. Received March C, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, March 5. The Bolsheviks in the Ukraine have issued a proclamation calling upon the people to resist the enemy and destroy their ammunition before evacuating. Lenin and Trotsky announce that the ratification of the treaty has been fixed for the March 17. This will be dependent on the decision of the Soviets' Congress on the 12th. SHARP FIGHTING. BETWEEN COSSACKS AND BOLSHEVIKS. Received March 0, 5.5 p.m. Shanghai, March 5. There was sharp fighting at Diouria, on the trans-Siberian railway, between the Cossack leader, General Samenoff, and the Bolsheviks. The latter were in large numbers and well armed, and forced General Samenoff to withdraw. The insurance companies at Vladivostok are not assuming further i espouse bility, owing to the Bolsheviks' threats to commandeer the stores. ; THE SIGNING OF PEACE. NEWSPAPER'S OBLIQUE VISION. Petrograd, March 5The newspaper Pravda urges that the signing of peace is justified, because refusal meant overwhelming defeat of the Soviets and the advent of Miliukoffs lor Kerensky's governments- ,