Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-29
,hrlMAT,oN THAT TERRITORY
MUST De GIVEN OVER SHOCKS
RUSSIANS.
If PEACE PLAN FAILS
i TEUToNs HOLD ADVANTAGE
Want Strategic Russian Positions in
Case Allies Refuse to Enter. Into
Peacs Observation-Disclosures Admit
All Sources Of Revenues Are Cut or
& May Maintain Military Front.

London, Dec. 29.-The Petrogr&o
correspondent of the Times describes
the effect upon.the bolsheviki authori-
ties Of the rumored proposal Of the
German and Austrian delegates to the
Brest-Litovsk conference that in a
certain contingency various strategic
points in Russian territory should be
occupied by the central powers.
According to the rumors it has been
proposed by representatives Of Ger
many and Austria, that pending the
resumption Of the negotiations Russia
should mediate between the central
powers and the entente allies with a
view to bringing about a general
peace. Should the attempt fail, the
occupation Of the. several strategic
points by central powers was proposed
so that pressure might be brought to
bear upon the entente. The proposal
says the correspondent, caused cons
sternation at the Smolny institute, the
bolsheviki headquarters.
sE Reply to Russ Complaint,
DR.. Won Kuehlmann, the German
foreign secretary, is reported as hay
ing replied to the Russian complaint
regarding the refusal of passports to
German minority socialists by stating
that he did not see any hindrance to
the peace in preventing communtca-
tioEs between the Russian and German
socialists. Reports Of fighting and other
military activities in interior Russia
oso fTQ.
dictory that it is impossible to get at
the truth OF the situation.
For instance both the bolsheviki and
the Ukrainians claim a complete vic
tory at Bielgor where it Is stated
that the detachment of General Kornt-
lofts 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 max
imalists claim that the Cossacks have
become demoralized and are refusing
to fight bolsheviki troops.
All Revenue Cut Oh.
The Morniny Posts Petrograd cores
pondent quotes from the newspapers
there tho report of the finance COM
missioner on the financial condition OF
Russia, IN which it is stated that all
sources OF the states income have been
cut off. It shows the railroads entirely
occupied with moving troops and
members Of the Red Guard who travel
free, there being therefor no receipts
from passenger traffic. The correspon-
dent says the only resource Of the state
is the printing Of paper money and that
the government L. bankrupt.
A field headquarters communique
issued after a long interval mentions
issued after a long interval mentions
only the western and southwestern
fronts. It ignores the northern front
but Indicates that there is still Rus
sian front in existence along about
two-thirds the length of the Russian
lines.
. To Maintain Front.
The semi-onicial Russian news
agency reports general meeting tof
representatives Of the Petrograd garri-
son to examine the international situa-
/. ton. Leon Trotzky. the bolsheviki
foreign minister, is quoted as declar-
ing to the assemblage that as peace
had not vet been concluded the front
ought to be maintained intact and the
Petrograd garrison ought to participate
In holding 1t. The representatives OF
the garrison. says the agency dispatch
voted In favor OF sending detachments
- x,o;o< :. ~ arc thew 1voro nooded