Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-27
BOLSHEv|K RULE
NEARS COLLAPSE
No Authority, Drunkenness,
Idleness and Food Scarcity
Are Causes Alleged.


London. Dec. 26-There have been
occasional assertions in recent Petrograd
dispatches that the influence and power
of the Bolsheviki was waning, but never
with such unanimity as in special des-
patches dated at the Russian capital
Sunday and printed to-day. Nearly all
make the point in one form or other
detection from the workmen's and SOL
diers' organization Is growing constantly.
Among the causes alleged are general
lack of authority. the increase in drunk
enness, the reluctance of the population
to work and the scarcity of foodstuffs.
The main desire Of the soldiers Is said
to be Off peace.
The correspondents cite instances Of
Bolshevik troops refusing to march, de-
cining to attack the Ukrainians and per-
hitting the Cossacks to disarm them
without resistance. Fighting, It is said,
is the last thing they are willing or
intend to do. A hostile spirit is re-
ported to survive among the Baltic sailors
and the Red Guard. but the former are
not numerous enough to conquer the
Ukrainians and the Red Guard is
largely unframed. 1t Is reported, there
, fore, that war against the Ukraine prob
ably will not materialize on any serious
scale.
The Bolshevik leaders. the Petrograd
correspondent Of the Morning Post says,
appear to be becoming conscious Of hope
less failure, while the correspondent Of
the Daily News writes:
There Is n tremendous and growing
opposition to the Bolsheviki among all
classes. Men who formerly supported
them are turning against them. and Ger
man hirelings' is n common term Of de-
nunciation. There is much talk Of meet
ing the present reign Of terror with
counter measures and bomb throwing is
freely suggested as the only method of
exerting pressure on the Bolshevki. This
is not merely idle talk, as those who
say 1t are those who already have thrown
| bombs"
Reports of civil war activities, how
ever. continue to be received. The Boil
| shevik government declares definitely
that its troops have captured Kharkov,
| Nicoliaev and are threatening the Ukrain-
! ian hold on Odessa. The Cossacks report
the strengthening of their hold on the
Donets basin. None Of the reports, how
ever. are more precise than recent
accounts of a similar nature. In the
meantime nothing more IL heard of the
| ellOTtS at RECOMMENDATION between the Boil
shevilN and the Ukranes
Interest in the converting of the con-
stituent assembly is said to have re-
awakened remarkably and demands for
its convocation are being made. 1t is re-
! ported, by even the more ignorant classes
| and also by the troops Of the Petrograd
garrison.
1t appears that the Bolshevik commits
sioners are trying, although vainly. to
| shift some of the discontinued military
units from the capital. A Reuter- des-
patch from Petrograd says that the
Praobranjensky regiment has declared its
disbelief in the intention Of the Boil
shevik government to open the constitu-
ent assembly and they refused to relin-
quish their guard Of the Tauride palace
until the assembly meets. The Semenov-
sky guard regiment has resolved not to
| arrest members Of the constituent
assembly. no matter what orders II re-
ceives.
1t is reported, however, that the Boil
sheviki intend to control admission to
the assembly by issuing tickets This
is sharply opposed by the social revolu-
tionists who are credited with the deter
mination to convene the assembly in any
case.
In consequence Of the postponement of
the peace negotiations at Brest- Litovsk
| because the Germans were not ready to
| reply to the Russian terms, the Russian
delegates are reported to be returning to
Petrograd, where apparently they are ex-
pected to await the arrival Of the delega
ton from the enemy powers which is to
participate in a conference for discussion
of the political aspects of an eventual
peace conference.
Various explanations are offered in
TDatrD tal,a
German concentrations Of troops in the
southwest. One suggestion is that part
of these forces will be sent to Asia Minor.
1t is predicted large force will be re-
tained in the southwest to assure possess
sion of the valuable Russian harvest
Reuter- despatch from Petrograd re-
ports the arrest and Imprisonment in the
fortress OF st. Peter and st. Paul Of NJ.
lVyshnegradsky and NJ Putilof. managing
directors of the International Commercial
bank and the Russo-Asatic bank, in con-
sequence of the mention of their names in
an intercepted letter wherein General
Alexieff. former commander-in chief, beg.
ged Professor Paul Milukoff, the constitu.
tional democratic leader. to interest him
self in obtaining 1000 rubles to assist
starving families Of imprisoned officers
Referring to the arrest Of Col. Kol.
pashnikoff. attached to the American Red
Cross mission to Roumania, the Petrograd
correspondent of the Post says it has been
suggested that the letter alleged to have
been sent to the colonel by Colonel Ander.
son, head Of the mission, stating that the
American ambassador. David r. Francis
was ready to advance 100000 rubles to the
account of the Red Cross, was a forgery
Such things are not uncommon now. he
added.
The same correspondent telegraphs
that the British ambassador. Sir
George Buchanan. published on SUNDAY
statement refuting the charge of in.
reference in the Internal AFFAIRS o,
Russia, and adding that as there arc
now three Independent republics In
Russia 1t is difficult to avoid the an.
pearance OF having relations with more
than one.
1t is reported from Brest -LItovsk b,
way of Petrograd that Finland ha.
appealed to Germany to recognize its
Independence and that the Germans ex.
press their Willingness to do SO. Leor
Trotsky, the Bolshevik foreign minis
ter, Is said to have shown his Irritation
because the Films applied directly te
the Germans instead of through the
Bolshevik commissaries. A Stockholm
despatch to the Post records the ar
rival there of Finnish delegation t
ask Sweden's recognition of the indie
pendence OF the Firms. According I.
the same correspondent. anarchic condi
, tions prevail in parts Of Finland. TIL,
Swedish consul at Helsingfors has sen
an urgent appeal to his government t