Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-27
B0LSHEV|N LEADERS
Becoming Conscious of
Hopeless Failure Lon
don Hears-Three In
dependent Russian
Republics

London. Dec. 25.-There have been
occasional assertions in recent Petro-
grad dispatches that the influence and
power of the Bolshiviki was waning.
but never with such unanimity as in
special dispatches dated from the
Russian capital Sunday and printed
today. Nearly all make the point in
one form or other that detection from
the Workmen's and soldiers ~organiza-
ton is growing constantly. Among
the causes alleged are general lack of
authority, the increase in drunken
ness, the reluctance of the population
to work and the scarcity of foodstuffs.
The main desire of the soldiers is said
to be for peace.
The correspondents cite incidents Of
Bolslcviki troops refusing to march,
declining to attack the Ukrainians and
permitting the COssacks to disarm
them without resistance. A hostile
spirit is reported to survive among the
Baltic sailors and the Red Guard. but
the former are not numerous enough
to conquer the Tkrainians and the Red
Guar is largely unframed.
Tic Bolsheviki leaders. the Petro-
grad correspondent of the Morning
Post says, appear to be becoming con-
scious Of hopeless failure. While the
correspondent of the Daily News
writes:
There is a tremendous and growing
opposition to the Bolsheviki among all
classes. Men who formerly supported
them are turning against them and
German ~hirelings' is a common term
of denunciation.'
Interest in the converting of the
constituent Assembly is said to have
reaWakened remarkably, and de-
mandS for its cOnvocation are being
made, it is reported, by even the most
ignorant classes.
a Reuter- despatch from Petrograd
says that the P~raobrajensky regiment
refused to r%elinquish their guard of
the Tauride palace until the assembly
meets. The S~emenovsky guard regi-
ment has resolved not to arrest
members Of the Constituent Assembly,.
no matter what orders it resolves.
1t is reported, however, that the
Bolsheviki intend to control admission
to the assembly by issuing tickets. Va
rious explanations are offered in Pet
rograd dispatches of the purpose of
Ni VI tiocPo III
the southwest. one suggestion is that
part of these forces will be retained in
the southwest to assure possession of
the valuable Russian harvest.
A Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd re-
ports the arrest and Imprisonment in the
fortress of st. Peter and St. Paul of NJ.
Nyshegradsky and NJ. Putiloff, manag-
ing directors of the International Com
,1aroiaI Da~l. a-l -. -
Bank, in consequence of the mention of
their names in an intercepted letter
wherein General Alexieff, former COM
mander in chief. begged Prof. Paul Milu-
koff, the Constitutional Democratic lead
err, to interest himself in obtaining 800. Oo)
roubles to assist starving families of i'm
prisoned officers.
referring TO the arrest of Colonel Kol-
pashnikoff, attached to the American led
ross mission to Rumania. the Petrograd
correspondent of the Post says it has
heen suggested that the letter alleged to
nave been sent to kolpashnikoff by Col
onel Anderson. head of the mission. stat
ing that the American ambassador. Da-
via X. Francis. was ready to advance
100000 roubles to the account of the Red
Cross, was a forgery. Such things are not
uncommon now, he adds.
Inc correspondent telegraphs that the
British ambassador, Sir George Buchan-
al. published on Sunday a statement re-
fGting the charge of interference in the
internal affairs of Russia. and adding tina,
as there are now three Independent repub-
lies in Russia it is difficult to avoid the
appearance of having relations with more
than one.
# is reported from Brest-Litovsk bv
way of Petrograd that Finland has m
pealed to Germany to recognize its IN
dependence and that the Germans expr.ss
their willingness to do so. Leon Trot5kv.'
the Bolsheviki foreign minister, is said to
have shown his irritation because the
Firms applied directly to the Germans in
stead of through the Bolsheviki commits.
series. A Stockholm dispatch to the
Morning Post records the arrival there
of a Finnish delegation to ask Sweden.s
recognition Of the independence OF the
Firms.