New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-29
New Republic in
Russia Is Formed;
Minsk Is Capital

LONDON, Dec 2S.-The establish
meA Of a republic in White Russia has
been announced, according to Petro-
grad advices to-day. A Rada, or legis-
lative body, for the territory has been
assembled at Minsk, at which place a
decree will be issued proclaiming the
independence of the new state.
Reports of fighting and other mill
tary activities in interior Russia con-
tinue numerous. but they are so con-
Trajectory that it is impossible 10 get
at the truth OF the situation. For in
stance, both the BOlsheviki and the
Jkrainians claim a complete victory at
Bielgorod, where il is stated that the
detachment Of General Korniloffs
forces numbered 5000 men, with 200
guns.
Several other combats, including one
at Kupiansk, are reported without any
certainty as regards the victors or in
dication of important results. The
MaXimalists claim that the Cossacks
have become demoralized and are re-
fusing to fight Bolshevik troops.
The "Morning Posts" Petrograd cor
respondent quotes from the newspa-
pers there the report Of the Finance
Commissioner on the financial condi-
tion of Russia. in which IL is stated
that all sources of the states income
have been absolutely cut off. 1t shows
the railroads entirely occupied with
moving troops and members of the
Red Guard, who travel free, there being
therefore no receipts from passenger
only resource of the state IS the print
ing of paper money and that the gov
eminent is hopelessly bankrupt.
A field headquarters cOmmunlque is
sued after a long interval mentions
only the Western and Southwestern
fronts, ignoring the Northern front.
But il indicates that there IS still a
Russian front in existence along aboL:
two-thirds the length OF the Russian
lines.
The semi-of.icial Russian news agency
reports a general meeting of represen-
tatives Of the Petrograd garrison TO
examine the international situation.
Leon TrotZky. the Bolshevik Foreign
Minister. is quoted as declaring to the
assemblage in an address that as peace
had not yet been concluded the front
OuRnI 10 DC TidlULdlEtu lukdSb anu NAS
Petrograd garrison ought TO participate
in holding it.
The representatives of the garrison.
says the agency dispatch, voted IN
favor of sending attachments TO
points where they were needed.
As armistice is reported to have been
reached between the Bolsheviki forces
and the troops of General Kaledine at
Rostov. with neutral zone between
the opposing lines.
According TO the latest news from,
the Don provinces, the increasing in
huence of the democratic element
which resulted in the resignation OF
Kaledine, is said to allay suspicious
of reactionary influence in the govern
ing body, and is not unlikely to result
in the creation Of a new Cossack gov
eminent, embracing nonCossack ele-
ments, such as the workers, miners
and peasants, as well as the Cossacks
The railway world of Russia still ad-
heres to the Bolsheviki. The congress
of railway men. meeting to regulate
all railway matters, has elected Nico-
lai Lenine, the Bolshevik Premier, as
it's honorary representative. The Coun-
ell of Commissioners in an edict has
introduced novel system of paying
railway employees, based on the cost of
living.