Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-26
POWERS ARE
LOSINC;RUSS
PEACE SLOW
Rolsheviki Leaders Failing
in Control Over Masses
in Capital.

Russo-German peace ne
gotiations which were to
have been resumed on
Monday after a postpone
ment to give the Ger
mans time to formulate
their reply to the Russian
terms were again delayed
one day, an Exchange
Telegraph dispatch from
Petrograd reports.
The dispatch also says
the Germans have asked
for a further postpone
ment until Jan. "a
London, Dec. 26.-There have
been occasional assertions in Pet
rOgrad dispatches that the influ-
ence and power of the B0isheviki
was waning. but never with such
unanimity as in special dispatches
dated from the Russian capital
Sunday and printed today.
Nearby all make the point, in
one form or another, that defec-
ton from the workmen's and sol
diers' organization is growing con-
stantly.
Among causes alleged are general
lack of authority, the increase OF
the reluctance of the
population to work, and the scarcity
of foodstuffs The main desire of the
soldiers is said to be for peace.
BolsheYiki Troops Rebellious.,
The correspondents cite instances
of Bolsheviki troops refusing to
march, declining to attack the Ukran-
ians and permitting the Cossacks TO
disaTm them without resistance.
Fighting, ii is said. is the last thing
they are willing or intend to do. A
hostile spirit is reported to survive
among the Baltic sailors and the red
guard, but the former are not numer-
Gus enough to conquer the Ukranians
and the red guard is largely unframed.
1t is reported, therefore, that war
against The Ukraine probably will not
materialize on any serious scale.
Bolshevih leaders, the Petrograd
correspondent of the Morning Post
says, appear to be becoming conscious
of hopeless failure, while the CORE
spondent Of the Daily News writes:
There is a tremendous and growing
opposition to the Bolsheviki among
all classes. Men who formerly sup
ported them are turning against them
and German hirelings" is a common
term of denunciation. There is much
talk of meeting the present reign OF
terror with counter measures ana
bomb throwing IS freely suggested as
the only method Of exeTting pressure
on the Bolsheviki"
Reports of Civil War.
Reports of civil war activities, how.
ever, continue to be received. TIL,
Bolsheviki government declares defin
itely that its troops have captured
Khartov, Nicolaiey, and are threaten
ing the Ukranian hold on Odessa. Tn,
| Cossacks report the strengthening o
their hold on the Donetz basin. Non,
Of the reports, however. is more pre-
else than recent reports Of similal
nature. In the meantime, nothing NOR
is heard of the efforts at reconcilia
ton between the Bolsheviki and tn
Ukranians.
Interest in the converting of the con
stituent assembly is said to have re
awakened remarkably and demand
/ for its conyocation are being made, i
/ is reported, even by the most ignoran
classes and also by the troops of tn
/ Petrograd garrison
I 1t appears that the Bolsheviki com
2 miss.oners are trying, although vain
/ ly, to shift some Of the discontente
military units from the capital
Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd say
/ the Praobrashensky regiment has dc
clared its disbelief in. the intention c
the Bolsheyih government to open tn
constituent assembly and has refuse
to relinquish guard Of the Taurid
palace until the assembly meets. TIL
{ SemenOysky guard regiment has IL
solved not to arrest members OF tn
constituent assembly no matter whs
( orders it receives.
Ii is reported. however. that tn
Bolsheyiki intend to control admissio
/ to the assembly by issuing ticket
/ This is sharply opposed by the soci;
revolutionists. who are credited wit
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