The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-28
Soldiers of Bolsheviki Seize
All Private Banks in
Petrograd
AMERICAN BANK rs
INCLUDED IN LIST
Chinese Troops Defeat
Maximalist Force in Bat
tie At Harbin
CBy Associated Prees.l


Petrograd, Thursday. Dec. q, $50
p. m.-The delegates Of the central
powers TO the peace conference at
Brest-Litovsk have agreed 10 ten
day recess in the peace negotiations
which will be resumed Jan. 4, 1T a
place not yet determined
Leon Trotzky, the Bolshcviki for
eign minister is reported TO be draft
ing new note TO the entente allied
embassies. again asking them TO
participate in the peace confer
ence. Trotzky is also said TO bs
| preparing a new message to the peo-
pies Of the world. The Russian dele
gates TO the peace conference will re-
turn TO Petrograd tomorrow or
Saturday.
An armistice is reported to have
been reached between the BolshevilI
forces and the troops of General
kaledines at ROstov, with neutral
zone between the opposing lines.
Petrograd, Thursday. Dec. 27.-SoI-
| diers acting under the orders Of
Finance Commissioner Menshinslxy
| today surrounded and seized all
private banks I'm Petrograd, includ-
ing the branch of the National CITY
hank OF New York. The manager.
b. X. Stevens was arrested and de-
tained for a short time.
Many bank directors were arrest
ed. Several surrendered the keys 10
the bank vaults, but Stevens refused
]. b. Wright. counsellor of the AM
erican embassy, called upon Mr.
Stevens during the afternoon.
The National city Bank OF New
York was granted license last
January TO commerce business IN
Russia, with, particular reference 20
the financing OF railroad cOustrut-
tlon. The license given II was the
first granted to a foreign bank 70 do
business in Russia since 1879.
At the time for the opening OF tile
banks detachments OF the Red guard
gathered i'm the streets and barred
the entrances. Later the banks were
entered, under the. leadership of NJ
MenshinBky. Orders were given
that work cease and that the banks
surrender their papers and the keys
to their vaults. In most instances
no resistance was offered. Mr..
Stevens declared his bank had no
vaults but only small safes. After
his arrest he was permitted to re-
turn 10 the bank, which was placed
under guard. The bank directors
who were arrested were accused OF
sabotage" Telephone service
throughout the city was stopped for
an hour.
In explaining the seizure OF the
banks N. Menshinsky said:
I'VE let IL be known long ago that
private banks should send reports
weekly to the state bank. This was
done but the reports were incorrect.
II was then decided to occupy the
banks, revive their activity and then
see that they resume business. The
keys are in the hands of Commis-
sloner Cbolensky. OF the state bank.
as are the books and documents
which have been seized"
It Is reported that a special com
mittee will investigate the closed
banks, spending a week In the pr0c-
ess and that the institutions viii not
be permitted 10 resume business IN
the meantime. The city Is facing q
serious financial shortage, especially
in currency OF small denomlnauons
which has been unavailable Tor sew
eral days.
Toxic, Dec. 2s.-In fight betwoan
Chinese and Russian maXimallss
troops at Harbin, Manchurias
Wednesday morning. the Russians
surrendered and were disarmed ana
made prisoners. according 70 a re-
UOTL WHICH IL GQMNANGAEA A&A&4AA@s ~
ceived here from Harbin.
The ndvices say the Chinese now
occupy the garrison at Hardin.
Chinese Control HarbiH.
Picking. China, Dec. 2s. Ihe
Chinese cOmmandeT-in-c -chief az har~
bin. Manchuria, on Dec. Is. present-
ed At the Bolshevild headquarters
the demand that the two reserve
Russian battalions which were under
its control leave Harbin. The Bolsh-
sylxi authorities agreed, but during
the night issued orders 70 resist
On the morning Of Dec. Is the
elsth regiment opened tre on tne
Chinese, who thereupon replied. klli-
ing the colonel and a number 81
men. The regiment then surrender
ed. The b59th regiment also sur
rendered and gave up Its arms.
Rutfn. the BolsheTlh chief ana
SIavin and Lutski. his assistants
ESCAPED. The Chinese now controt
the situation and the lives Of for
eiRners are being EafeguaTded.
Advices from Toxic, under oate pt
Dee. q, reported that the Russsafs9
al Harbin had surrendered to tae
Chinese and had been diGarmeo-
Killed hy BcmheFss