The sun., 1917-12-13
BATTLE FOUGHT
WITH C0SSACKS
Heavy Casualties in Clash
With Bolshevik Forces
at Mohilev.
DEMOBILIZING Is BEGUN
Some Armies May Still Re-
sumo War Unless Germany
Gives "Honorable Peace"
DEMOBILIZING Is BEGUN

LONDON, Dec. 12ARussian adylces to.
day indicate that the battle fought at
Mohilev. Russian General Headquarters.
between troops newly arrived there and
the Bolshevik forces. was q struggle Of
considerable proportions and that there
were sanguinary losses. Reports Of the
lighting are said to have reached Petro.
grad Monday. The attackers consisted
Of shock battalions and Cossachs.
Another severe struggle between the
revolutionaries and the forces Of the
radical Government took place at Tama-
novka, according to q Reuter- despatch.
Here sailors. Red Guards. local infantry
tai opposed the anti Bolshevik forces. A
Petrograd newspaper says the fighting
lasted all day and all night. with heavy
casualties.
OF the main advance Of tho Cossack
forces from the Don region. little news
is permitted TO come through, Advices
here direct from the Cossack leaders,
however. indicate that the number OF
the anti Bolshevik forces is sufficient to
wrest control Of at least part OF Rus
sia from the radicals and at the same
time to resume fighting on part OF the
front,
Instructions for Parley.
The Petrograd newspaper. DyeIe
Narodd, publishes what it alleges to be
the instructions of the German General
Stan to the German representatives en-
trusted with conducting the truce nego.
tations on the Russian front. The in
structions. as thus given. lay weight on
the fact that the men who engage in
the parley must be Of a serious tempera-
ment. capable Of controlling their
facial muscles in the most ridiculous
situation.
II the Russian negotiators should de-
mand that the German Emperor should
issue an order for his own arrest and
that the German people should organize
! a social revolution the Germans repre-
sensatives, according to the instructions,
must say gravely:
This matter will certainly receive
consideration"
The instructions. according to the
newspapers version. continue:
1T may happen that at the first meet
ing the Russian delegates will attempt
to kiss the negotiators. They must be
prepared for that and IL the commander
in chief. Ensign Krylenko. rushes to-
ward them with open arms they must
in turn press him to their hearts and
| say repeatedly. 'Tavarish' tcomrade).
The fatherland demands this sacrifice Of
| the negotiators.
''They should also have at their
tongues end the following favorite Rus
sian phrases: Universal democratic
peace Peace without annexations and
contributions
The negotiators were told that they
need not trouble to note the Russian
positions and compute tho number OF
| guns, as this will be attended to by
staff officers especially designated"
| II Leon Trotzky. the Bolshevik For
! eign Minister, was present the negotia-
| tors were ito conduct themselves as II
/ Talleyrand or some other wise chap"
Demobili.ation begun.
The semi -official German News Agency
says rehabilitation of the Russian forces
already has begun and that peace nego-
tations, restricted to the Russian front,
have been authorized.
The news agency's despatch says that
General Oherbatchor has been appoint
ed commander In chief. with the assist
ance Of the allies" (Teutonic? y, and that
he has been authorized to open peace
negotiations with Germany.
According to Petrograd representa-
tives OF all the Russian fronts started
last night for Brest-Litovsk to resume
the armist!ce negotiations with the Ger
mans. Lieut.-Col Fokkeh. the General
Stan member OF the armistice commit
tee, informed the Associated Press that
the delegation would consist OF thirteen
members. including Gen. Skalok. one
representative eadh from the northern
western. southwestern. Rumanan- Rus.
sian and Rumanian armies, NJ. Althater
the naval representative. and Ave politi-
cal delegates.
Lieut.-Col. Fokkeh believes that the
Germans will make considerable con
cessions and will even consent to leave
Moon Sound, The Germans have
eliminated the demand that Russian
troops leave Macedonia and France. be.
cause the Russian delegates said these
armies were not under their control.
The Russian delegate at Brest
Iitovsk telegraphed to Petrograd to-da,
that the German commander there hat