RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

FIGHTING IN FINLAND. GERMAN ADVANCE CONTINUED. Copenhagen, "March 18. The Red Guards compelled the White Guards to retire north of JJjorneborg. < icisnral Mannerheim has now begun a general offensive on the whole front. Fighting is proceeding at ISriansk, where the eenmy was compelled to retire. The Germans have occupied Bochmatsh and Konstop. The Austro-Gennans arc moving towards Kharl;o!f, the evacuation oi' which has ■been ordered.

THE CERMAN INDEMNITY. _ NINE BILLION GOLD ROUBLES. Petrograd, .March 18. M. Martoff, liead of the Mensheviki, addressing the Moscow Soviet Congress, alleged that the treaty with Germany provided an indemnity of nine 'oillion, not three billion, gold roubles, and asserted that the treaty .declared Petrograd to be a free city. The Social Revolutionaries, after opposing the ratification, reserved the right to hinder the fulfilment of the treaty. London, March ISThe Supreme War Council has issued a statement condemning: the German politi» cal crimes against Russia.

TO TAKE CHARGE OF PETROGRAD. GERMANS EXPECTED SOON. Received March 20, 5.5 p.m. London, March 19. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent states that the days of German commission control are expected in two or three days. Their presence must produce a marked change in the internal situation. * All intelligent Russians realise that Allied assistance to Russia at the present stage of the war is imperative. All patriots wor.ld heartily support intervention clearly representing a disinterested and combined movement of all the governments for Russia's liberation, and | not implying domination or permanent [ occupation, the country having traditionally unique elements of strength and j great power of resilience.

KEEPING OUT THE JAPS. GERMANS STILL ADVANCING. Petrograd, March 19. There are persistent reports that the Bolsheviks are seeking to come to an agreement with the United States to prevent Japanese intervention in Siberia. Russian officials who are opposed to the ratification of the German peace treaty are organising resistance against the Germans in the Odessa region. The Germans have occupied Bachmatuch, IConotop, and Veroshba, in the Ukraine region. The Germans are reported to be continuing towards Karsk and Charkeff.

A BITTER CLASS WAR. PROLETARIAT SETTING ITS TEETH. London, March ISMr. Philip Price writes that a tour of the Russian provinces shows that the revolution, instead of fizzling out, is only beginning to take deep root The proletariat everywhere is setting its teeth for a bitter class war, ami is determined that the Central Powers' cynical attack will ultimately cost them dearly NEW ARMY OF YOUNG MEN. OPPONENTS OF REVOLUTION ARMING. Moscow, March 18. The main question interesting the Commissaries is the establishment of a new army of half a million young men. Copenhagen, March 18. It is reported that opponents of the Revolution are arming in Petrograd with a view of ousting the remaining Bolsheviki. The latter scent danger, and are fortifying the Ftnolny public squares and buildings with machine-guns. HUN LOOTERS. New York. March 18. The New York Herald's Petrograd correspondent says the city has been practically evacuated, and is governed by a labor commune. The Germans at Minsk and Mosileff seized the last cows and horses from the peasants, and are also requisitioning all provisions. NICOLAIEFF OCCUPIED. London, March 18A German official report states: We have occupied NicolaiefF, in the Ukraine. BLACK SEA FLEET AT SEBASTOFOL. Petrograd, March 18It appears that the Russian fleet at Odessa withdrew to Sebastopol prior to the German occupation of Nicolaielf, where the .Soviets were immediately suppressed. The Germans seized the naval dockyards at NicolaiefF. A German offensive is proceeding towards Kherson.

THE VOTING TO RATIFY PEACEMoscow, March 18. The final voting at the Convention is 701 in favor of ratification of the peace treaty and 261 against, and 110 abstained from voting. Those who abstained from voting are Oppositionists, who declared that they would not submit to the Bolsheviks' decision, and would continue to resist and organise and arm the people. Every speaker recognised that the peace 'was only transitory,