New Britain herald., 1917-12-26
German Hirelings" Is Name
Commonly Applied to Men
Who Deposed Kerensky-
Troops Stubborn.
REFUSE TO MARCH
ON .UKRAINIANS

Il EOEtEVSS Oh ST. tCVGE tA4lU Sts x>1AuA
Finland Appeals to Germany to
Recognize Its Independence, Much
to Discomfort Of Trotzky-Reign Of
Terror at Abo Reported.
London, Dec. 26.-There have been
occasional assertions in recent Petro-
grad dispatches that the influence and
power of the Bolsheviki was waning.
but never with such unanimity as in
dispatches dated from the Russian
capital Sunday and printed today.
Nearly all make the point in one form
or another that detection from the
/ workmen's and soldiers organization
Is drawing constantly.
Among the causes alleged are gen.
I eral lack of authority, the increase in
! drunkenness, the reluctance Of the pop
ulation to work and the scarcity of
food. The main desire Of the soldiers
is said to be for peace. .--.~
The correspondents cite Instances of
Bolsheviki troops refusing to march.
declining to attack the Ukrainians
and permitting the Cossacks TO dis
arm them without resistance. Fight
Ing. it. is said, Is the last thing they
are willing or intend to do. A hostile
spirit Is reported to survive among
the Baltic sailors and the Red Guard
but the former are not numerous
enough to conquer the Ukrainians and
the Red Guard is largely unframed. It
ls reported therefore, that war against
the Ukraine probably will not ma
terialixe on any serious scale"
Called stGerxnan Hirelings"
The Bolsheviki leaders, the Petro-
grad correspondent Of the Morning
Post says. appear to be becoming con-
scious OF hopeless failure. while the
correspondent OF the Daily News
writes. ry Z. So ss Y ~ f5 f5 "A
.-rf1ere Is Efehtt ana growing oprc-.
I ation to the Bolsheviki amon&Tr
Glasses. Men who formerly supported
them are turning against them and
.German hirelings' is a common term
Of denunciation. There is much talk
of meeting tn present reign OF terror
With counter measures and bomb
throwinE Ii freely suggested as the
only method of exerting pressure on
the Bolsheviki. This is not merely
ldle talk, as those who say are those
Who already have thrown bombs"
Reports OF civil war activities. how
ever continue to be received. Ihe
Bolsheviki government declares denn-
ltAlv that its troops have captured
Kharkov. Nicoliaev and are threaten
I. inr the Ukrainian hold on ODESSA.
Tossacks report the strengthening OF
their hold on the Donetz basin None
Of the reports, however, Is mare pre-
else than recent reports or q slmliar
nature. In the meantime notnlng
more is heard Of the efforts at recon
Citation between the Bolshevlki ana
the Ukrainians.
Clash Concerning Convention.
Interest In che convening OF the con-
: stttuent assembly IL said to nave re-
awakened and demands for its convo-
cation are being made, 1t Is said, oy
even the more ignorant classes ana
also by the troops OF the Petrograd
garrison.
II appears the Bolsheviki commis-
sioners are trying, although vainly, to
shut some OF the discontented units
from the capital. A despatch from
PetroRrad says the Praomrashensky
regiment has declared its disbelief IN
the intention Of the Bolshevik gov
ernment to open the constituent as
semb1y and they refused to give np
their guard of Tauride palace until
the assembly meets.
i. The Semonsovsky guard regiment
has resolved not to arrest members
OF the assembly. no matter what Or
" ders 1t receives.
II Is reported, however, that the
Rolsheviki intend to control admission
to the assembly by issuing tickets
This Is sharply opposed by the so.
cial revolutionists, who are credited
with the determination to convene the
assembly in any case.
In consequence of the postpone
ment of the peace negotiations be-
cause the Germans were not ready tt
reply to the Russian terms, the Rus
sian delegates are reported to be re-
i turning to Petrograd, where sppar
emily they are expected to await thu
arrival OF the delegation from thu
enemy powers which is to participate
in a conference for discussion of thu
political aspects of an eventual peace
conference.
Various explanations are Offered
here Of the dispatch, for the purpos'
Of concentration, Of troops In tn
southwest. One suggestion Is tha
part Of these for.es viii be sent t.
l Asia Minor. 1t IS predicted q larg
force will be retained In the south
/ west to assure possession Of the valu
i NJ ablo Russian harvest.
4 A Reuter- despatch from Petrogra
I report tho ~-rest and imprisonment
a&s the fortress OF st. Peter and 81
F1,,l of NJ Vyshnegradsky and M
Pufftoff, managing directors Of tn
International Commercial bank AM
a.,