Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-16
NICHOLAS IS
To HAVE
ESCAPE
FROM PRISON
Former Emperor of Russia
Reported By the Bolsheviki
to Have Effected His Es-
cape From Tobolsk, Siberia.
eRy Review Leased wire)

(tAN RcNlcN L-c4SCO WIZ
Nicholas Romanon. former emperor
OF Russia deposed last March by s~e
revolutionistS and for several months
in confinement at Tobolsk. Siberia. IL
reported to have made his escape.
The report. unlike previous rumors
To this effect. came through the koi-
sheviki headquarters in fetrosrad.
but few hours later il was officially
denied BY B0lshsviki leaders that
Nicholas had escaped.
Previous reports of the escape OF
Nicholas had him making. his way out
of Siberia through Hardin. Manch0>
ria. The route to Harhin Is long
one. however. and he would have @eoo
miles TO travel before reaching the
Paeieac coast from Tobolsk. although
that place itself is some l5ee miles
east OF Moscow. There remains the
possibility that Siberia itself might be
q safe asylum for him for the time
beirg. as that vast province was re
ported last month to have declared
its independence and to have named
Nicholas as Is emperor.
Eject unknown
The effect Of the escape upon Boil
sheviki plans for the future course
Of Russia could scarcely De even sur
missed. 50 enigmStic in many Ways
has been the recent course os the
Lenine TrO,xky government in Pe;ro-
grad, which now appears to be set
ting the upper hand in many parts OF
the country outside northern centers.
overcoming the opposition Of the more
conservative elements Some English
correspondents in Petrograd. indeed.
have ltaterly come to take the view
that the RolSheViki leaders were plan
ming esentvSlly to put monSrchial
form of government in force aster
they had established their sway by
drastic measures. coupled with their
hold ON the proletariat through the
popularity Of their hand reform aud
peace measures.
Peace Negotiations
The Russo-German' peace nsgosia-
tons are reported proceeding satis-
factorily. A German official announce
ment says the conditions aud draft
OF a treaty have been formulated.
the discussion having been put over
IRON Friday to Saturday. however. as
the Russian delesateS desired to OBJ
tain supplementary Instructions from
their government Whether the word
treaty" refers TO a formal peace
treaty or merely to the armis,ice
agreement that has been pending is
ont clear from the German announce
ment.
italian Front
The Italian frontier remains the
cnly major field OF military operations
in which there is more than local
activity on the part OF the infantry.
The Italian line. although almost
ceaSeleSsly asSailed in the mountain
regions. still is intact and holding
well except for a small recession hero
and there forced n, the cost oi eN-
tremely heavy casualties on the part
Of the Austro-German invaders. Ber~
lin claims the taking cf more than
5000 prisoners in the dghting OF the
last few DAYS and the reP0lse OF ltal-
ian co0ntersttacSs on positions won
oy the Tentons.
The Franco-Relgian front is mac
tive except for local fighting. mostly
due to German thruSts here and thsre
delivered with the seeming intention
of keeping the AnglO-Erench COM
mand guessing as to the enemy In
tenticnS. In Palestine the British
have scored 4 further advance north
east OF Jerusalem.
In making known the sinking OF
two more Norwegian steamers. the
NOrSegian government announces that
5000 Norwegian sailors have been lost
during the war.
Two Sirship Of the non-riSged type
have been lost BY the British. one
was sunk BY Seaplane in the North
ss while on patrol duty. and the other
was compelled to descend In Dutch
territory because OF engine trouble.
The British admiralty also announces
the sinking OF British destroyer
through a collision. all but two on
board being saved.