davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Men From u. S. Lead
Finnish Red Guards
Commander Is a Finn Who
Fled to America Seven
teen Years Ago

LONDON, March 15.-Men from
America arc playing an active part in
the Finnish Red Guards, according to
late adviccs from Stockholm. The
commander in chief of the Red Guards
IS said to be a man named Wesley, who,
with his father, fed from Finland to
America seventeen years ago to avoid
Imprisonment for circulating seditious
literature. He was employed for sew
eral years as an engineer in an Amcri-
can autom obile plant
One of the Red Guard commanders.
named Lektimaki, lived for q number
of years in America.
The Swedish delegation. which at
tempted to mediate in Finland, re-
turned to Sweden on Wednesday. the
Exchange Telegraph correspondent at
Copenhagen reports. Mayor Lind
hagen, Of Stockholm, who was chair
man Of the delegation, was arrested by
the Germans on the Aland Islands and
imprisoned until an officer of the
Swedish warship denaded his release.
Mayor Lindhagen reported that the
Aland Islands were now completely
under German military Dictatorship.
The Vasa spondent of the
"Aftonbladet" sends report that a
train with 400 of the Red Guards on
board was blown up near Rautus, and
that many Of the troops were killed.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Action OF Souiets.
Clears Way for
Decision bv Japan

The action of the AllRussian Con-
gress of Sovcts in accepting the Ger
man peace clears the way for an
nouncement of Allied intentions as re-
CARDS Japanese Intervention in Siberia
and gives Germany vast opportunities es
for political and economic penetration
Of the former Russian empire. The
decision OF the Congress is the cullni-
nation Of the peace steps begun by
the Bolsh silk government last De-
cember.
The first peace conference at Brest-
Litovsk was abortive. Germany on Feb
ruary 10 rejecting the declarations OF
Foreign Minister Trotzky and resum-
ing hostilities against Russia. The
Germans then made peace with the
Ukraine and prepared to aid the gov
ernment there in putting down the Boil
shcviki. On February Is the German
advance into Russia was renewed, and
the Dvina River crossed at Dvinsk.
Meeting with little opposition, the
German advance soon meOaced Petro-
grad and the Bolshevik government
decided to accept Gcrmanys peace
terms. Foreign Minister Trotzky re-
fused to go to Brest-Litovsk and Pre-
mier LeNinc sent Zinovieff, a close fol-
lower of his. and the alleged recipient
of German funds
The pacifst policy of Premier Lenine
brought a break in the Bolshcvik ranks
and Trotzky resigned several days ago.
This cleavage apparently had no effect
on Lenine's mastery of the Congress OF
Soviets.
BY the peace terms Russia must give
up Poland. Courland. Livonia, Esthonia
and the Ukraine. In Asia Minor the
Russians are compelled to retire from
Armenia and to cede to the Turks the
Russian districts Of Batoum, Kars and
Erivan.
Russia must renounce all claims to
the occupied territories in Europe, Ger
many and Austria Hungary to decide
the fate of these regions in agreement
with their populations. The Russian
army must be demobilzed and Russian
warships are to be disarmed
More important to the Central Pow
ers is the r>opening of navigation in
the Black and Baltic Seas and the
signing by Russia under compulsion of
a new commercial treaty, with guar
antecs of a most favored nation treat
ment, at least until 1925. The Bols he
wiki also promised to put an end to all
propaganda and agitation within The
Central Empires and in occupied terri
tories under their control.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Baltic Conquests
Stir New Dispute
In Crown Council

WASHINGTON, March Is. Serious
differences between the German civil
government and the military leaders
over the plan of the General Staff to
annex the Russian Baltic provinces
are reported in an official dispatch,
based on German newspaper reports,
received here to-day from France.
The dispatch says:
"a crown council, at which were
present Emperor William, Marshal
Hindenburg, Count Hertling and many
been held to deliberate upon various
questions relative to the conclusion
of peace with Russia, to the offer made
the Emperor OF the ducal crown Of
Courland, and finally to the affairs Of
Rumania and Finland. 1t appears,
Judging from the report of the Ber-
lin correspondent Of the 'Muenchcner
Neucste Nachrichten.' that serious diff
ferences Of views have arisen once
moro between the majority Of the
Reichstag and the government on one
side and Great Headquarters on the
other.
These divergent views concern
dynastic questions and the attaching
provinces Of Livonia, Esthona, Cour-
land and Lithuania, as we'll as the
question of the ratification of the from
tiers Of Poland. AS usual the General
Staff, supported by the Right, desires
the Immediate solution OF all these
problems, and naturally in manner
favorabl lc to Germany. The civil gov
ernmcnt. which considers the present
situation far from stable, prefers to
temporize.
"The Icipsigcr Nachrichtcn,' organ
OF the Grown Prince, writes that to-
day Great Headquarters alone would
make decisions that are Of so great
Importance, and that Count Hcrtling
lacks, in truth, political Judgment. The
same paper says that Germany should
annex all the rich industrial territory
OF West Poland; then it announces
that the German government will
shortly receive news Of resolution
taken by the National Counci! Of Lith-
unnia, which, like that Of / .,rland
deaircs to see it's countrysr-L ,'4sd e,
the empire IN personal ~lion."
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Drastic Measures Demand
ed if She Yields in
Shipping Issue
Vienna Papers
Assail America
Proposed Seizure Of Yes.
sells Called Violence
Against Neutral

LONDON, March 15.-The notice
served on Holland by Great Britain and
the United States regarding the taking
over Of Dutch ships in allied ports has
thrown the German press into tower
ing rage. the Copenhagen correspond
ent of the Exchange Telegraph Com
pany cables. The newspapers demand
that Germany take the most drastic
counter measures if Holland gives way
to the Allies
Extracts from Vienna newspapers re-
garding the Allies intimation that
Dutch shipping in allied ports would
be taken over contain violent abuse
of the Entente and of the United
States. The "Neuc Freie Presse" rep
resents the proposed action as making
Dutch neutrality thing Of dcrision
and an undisguised outrage. 1t is par
ticularly bitter against the United
States, which it declares to be pri-
marily responsible for this "unprece-
dented act of violence against neu-
fra DpOnlr -
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Railroad Shopmen
In Austria Strike
Refuse to Obey Military Or
ders to Return-Unrest
Spreading

COPENHAGEN, March 15.-The men
in the workshops of the Austrian rail-
ways have struck and refused to obey
the orders of the military to return to
work, the Berlin "Lokal-Anzeiger"
states.
The strike, it is added, is spreading
10 other factories.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-An off,
cial dispatch from Zurich says that
tumultuous scenes occurred last w Wednes-
day in the Austrian Chamber on the
discussion of the food situation They
were provoked by the Austrian Tcutons,
who accused the Czechs of wanting to
starve Austria. When a Czech orator
declared that Prague had no flour, no
potatoes, no wine, no milk and no eggs
the Austrians cried, "We have not any
eithcr!" and the -Germanist men,
Der Wolff said. you are the allies of
England"
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
SO Dutch Ships in New York
Harbor Liable to Seizure

Reports that the government con-
tcmplated taking over Danish and
other Scandinavian steamships in
American ports were circulated in local
maritime circles yesterday, but lacked
official verlfcation 1t was learned that
only two liners of any size would come
under the alleged ruling. They are the
passenger vessels Hellig Olaf and
United States.
A survey of the Dutch ships which
may be taken over by the government
shows that there is fleet of thirty
eight such vessels, with a total Of
100000 tons. in New York Harbor. The
largest of the Dutch ships is the Ryn-
dam, Of the Holland-Amcrica Line, reg
lstered ut l2,527 tons gross. Next in
size is the Westcrdyk, of the same line.
registered at 8 .261 tons
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Germany Seeks
New Solution OF
Polish Problem

AMSTERDAM, March ID. - Active
negotiations are on foot for q recon-
ciliation between Germany and Poland.
and new solution Of the Polish situa-
tion viii be announced soon. according
to the "Kurjer Polsky," of Warsaw.
Germany has replied to Lithuania's $
repeated requests for recognition of
her independence by making her rec
ognition dependent upon Lithuanian
agreement to certain military, customs,
railway and currency conventions, ac-
cording to the "Vorwarts," Of Berlin.
These conditions Lithuania. ir the
hope of bringing about an alienation
of her condition, is ready to accept
'Vorwarts" says such procedure is
in no wise reconsilable with the decla-
ration made by the Imperial Chancellor
last November 20.
Addressing the Reichstag on Novem-
her 90. Count Won Hertling expressed
the wish that Poland, Courland and
Lithuania could have the right Of
choosing their own governments and
could obtain that political form which
corresponded to their conditions and
culture. In his speech to the Reichs-
tag on February 26 he said that Ger
many's chief object in Lthuania was
to create organs of self determination
and elf-administration.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Taft Wants Bigger Armv

WASHINGTON, March Is. Amend
ment of the draft law to authorize the
Presldent to increase the army to
100000 men or more was advocated
by former President Taft in speech
graphic Society.
I'VE must make ample provision to
strengthen our allies" he said "We
can raise as fine an army and as large
an army as there is on European soiI
and If we can transport it as ranidiy
as we may we can have it all in Eurone
within two or three years. Our object
then will be attained and the world
will again be free" "0' ~
Gated itself INV
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Berlin, to Set Up
A Vassal Gar,
Declares Balfosar
Conquerors Plan Russian
Autocracy Worse Than the
Old One, He Asserts

LONDON, March 15.-Germany is
likely to try to establish in Russia a
new autocracy worse than the old, Ar
thur j. Balfour, Foreign Secretary. said
IN the House of Commons yesterday in
his speech on the question of Japanese
intervention in Siberia.
After contrasting the Russian revo-
luton with the French and pointing
out the difficulties of reconstruction in
Russia, he continues:
There will be classes, some from
patriotic, others from selfish motives
ready to welcome anything promising
a semblance of stability and order in
the government. When that time comes
can imagine Germany trying to re
establish possibly the old form of au.
tocratic government.
Would Lean on Germany
I'VE should then have Russia shorr
of some of its fairest provinces and
with a kind of autocracy far worse
than the old autocracy, because i:
would lean upon a foreign power fo,
continued existence. If that came tc
pass all our dreams of Russian devel.
opment and Russian liberty would be
gone and Russia would become a mere
outpost of the Central Powers.
THAT is the real difficulty of dealine
with the problems raised in this debate
Mr.. Lees-Smith's speech is a strong at.
tack on what he conceives as the pov.
ernment's policy with regard to Japan
and Siberia. 1t is entirely oblivious of
the facts l have just brought before
the House and is based on a profound
misunderstanding of what any human
being ever thought, contrived or de-
sired with regard to Allied interven-
fairs" O.
H. B: Lees;smith. Liberal, in ques-
tioning Mr.. Balfour as to the Rr;t;sh
attitude, had declared that if .1anan
entered 81 Russian territory and occupied
1t at the mandate of the alliance. il fol.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Brest-Litousk in Ruins,
Deserted by Inhabitants

PETROGRAD, Jan. 80 (by mail.--
Little but ruins remains of Brcst-
Litovsk, formerly one of Russia's most
strongly fortified towns. (Thc peace
treaty ratified by the AllRussian Con-
gress at Moscow was drawn up at
Brcst-Litovsk).
Before retiring the Russian troops
blew up the town. The only buildings
left are church. q moving picture tho
atre and a club for army officers.
Otherwise the desolation is complete.
All civilians have long since deserted
the ruined town, the only occupants
Of whose wrecked houses are few
German soldiers stationed there.
Fort No. 10 is an especially interest
ing spectacle. German officers say thar
the Russians showed great ingenuity
in blowing up this stronghold. Huge
blocks Of cement fill the excavations
caused by the explosion, and it Will
take months to clear away the debris.
Thus far the Germans have made no
attempt at reconstruction,
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
No Big rench Ships
Were Sunk Last Week
Four Small Vessels Destroyed
Italians Lost Only Two

PARIS. March t3.-For the week end
ed March 8, says an official communi-
cation, SS7 merchantmen entered and
l,031 left French ports.
There were no French vessels OF
more than 1000 tons sunk by mines or
submarines during this period Four
vessels of less tonnage, however, We're
sunk. No fishing vessels met with
disaster.
During the week four unsuccessful
attacks were made on French merchant
men.
ROME, March 13.--For the week end
ed March 9 430 merchantmen entered
and 39l left Italian ports, according to
the official announcement made to- day
concerning shipping casualties.
The Italians lost by submarine or
mine two steamers Of more than 1900
tons each. and one vessel under that
tonnage. Two small sailing vessels
also were lost One steamer was at
tackled, but without result.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16

lowed with almost absolute certainty
that this territory would not be re-
turned. :,
~ cannot let this debate end" SAID
Mr.. Balfour IN conclusion, "wthou.
repudiating to the full Mr.. Lees-Smlthss !
suggestion that Japan would be moved
by selfish and dishonorable motives IN
any course which may be dicussed IN
Japan, either among her statesmen OF
with the Allies.
"The decisions the Allies may have
to take will not be without difficulty
but the principle upon which those de-
cisions may be arrived at will ba
neither ungenerous. unfair nor hostile
to Russia and the Russian revolution
Our object is to see Russia strong, m
tact, secure and free, and if these OBJ
jects can be obtained then, and then
only, will the Russian revolution or'ne
forth all the fruits its best friends de-
sire to see"
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Expect Wilson to
State Liberal View

AS Mr.. Wilson's diplomacy is ad-
dressed to liberal opinion, it is ex-
pected here that he will address liberal
opinion among the Allies and in Amer
ca on what the German dismember-
ment Of Russia means to democracy ana
civilization. No one is likely TO say
better than he can why liberals must
give up the hope of peace while the
German crime against Russia goes un-
punished.
His speech or letter when he makes
or writes it will not be SO much reply
to Hertling as a statement of war aims
in the light of Germany's latest enor-
nifty. The idea of replying to Hertllng
although it was entertained alter the
German Chancellor's last speech, mas
doubtless been abandoned. Events
have come so fast since that there was wa,
no moment in which q speech couid
safely be made Moreover, Germanys
actions have precluded a reply.
And. further, Czernin has dlsap.
nointed the Administration by himself
falling to reply to Mr. Wilson. The
Presidents speech was addressed to
Austria rather than Germany. and
Austria has cut off the process OF talk
ing peace across the ocean by ignoring
what was said to her:
Japan Now Ready
For Intervention
With regard to Japan, Mr.. Balfour's
sneech is taken here to mean the en-
trance of that power into Siberia, now
that the soviets have agreed to the
German peace. Japan may make
promises to withdraw from Siberia at
the end of the war before sending
troops to VIadivostok. 1t is not re-
rarded as likely that Mr.. Balfour would
have said what he did eff Japan gives
promises with regard to Russian IN
territy or any other question con-
nected with Russia" unless he eX-
pected Japan to do so. Mr.. Balfour is
not the kind of man to suggest the
reasonableness Of expecting engage
ments from an ally unless he expected
such engagements to be made:
There is no sign that the Admins
intervention in Siberia has at all
changed. But in many circles here
the perception of how vitality con-
cerned Japan is in the Russian sltua-
ton has been sharpened, as Germany
has closed Russia's windows looking
upon Europe, one after another. Japan
had treaty of alliance with England
another with Russia and an under
standing with the United States.
The Pacific question seemed to be
settled. Now it is all unsettled. Now
she has either Germany on the Pacific
by the opening of Siberia and Central
Asia commercially to Germany, or in
Siberia new Russian power which
looks eastward upon the Pacific instead
of westward toward Europe.
The whole Eastern balance is de-
stroyed by Germany's advance, and
whether German troops soon go
through Siberia or not, Japan's posi-.
ton in the East, like the position of
every power in Christendom, is tre-
mendously affected by this threat of a
German world empire.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
No Great Stores
A1Uait Conqueroys
In Russia, rs Belief

WASHINGTON, March Is. - Ger
many's military and political victories
in Russia will give her little economic
benefit imm ediately, in the opinion Of
American officials familiar with the
resources cf the Slav territory, though
it is taken for granted that Germany
will make the most of the opportuni-
ties for organization and Will reap
rewards accordingly.
Not more than 100000 bushels
of grain is believed to be available in
Eastern and Southern Russia after the
decentralization of the past year, which
has curtailed production and increased
waste. In October it is possible that
from 30000,O00 to 40,O00,O0O bushels
will be available for the spoilers from
the new crop.
Perhaps more important than grain
will be the vast resources of the ST.
berian dairy farms, which have been
developed by German capital and
which will begin to supply in June the
fats for which Germany admittedly
has been suffering.
Russia always has been a country to
vest, because there are few facilities
for storage After a year of anarchy
in which the question of food CON
stantly has been uppermost in the
minds of populace excited by sudden
power and freedom, officials here say
they believe little stored grain remains
Supporting this belief are reports
that last years crops in Russia were
below normal. Production in the EN-.
pire constantly has been greatest or
the large farms, because the poor
farmers are without the capital anC
machinery to cultivate the ground cf.
fectively. The revolution and its in.
citement against the land barons have
resulted in the division of many fine
estates, so that production inevitably
suffered
Economic Life Paralyzed
Furthermore, returning American:
say that revolutionary doctrines para
lyzed the economic life of an ignorant
people, who in many cases thought the
time had come when they would live
without labor and refused for weeks
to make any exertion.
Meat animals obtained in Russia un-
doubtedly will help Germany to some
extent, but the amount of them will
not be large. Many are in remote sec
tions. The same thing is true of the
found chiefly in the Ural Mountains
in mines which have been neglected OF
late and reached only by transporta-
tion system that has lost much of its
efficiency.
German organization, perhaps thu
kind exemplificd in Belgium, will ge
the most out of the consuered land
officials have no doubt. 1t is evident
however, that the constant pressure OF
the Western front. especially will
American troops fighting, will not ALLOW
low 4@ l..
as has been done in Belgium.
Allies Supplies Unaffected
Germany's capture of whatever grail
is available does not affect the Allie,
supplies, since neither Russia nor Ru
mania has been rationed by the othe
nations.
War Department officials are not con
vinced that the Germans are ready (,
undertake big offensive on the West
ern front, despite notices sent out from
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Advance of Teutons
Ie Ukraine Continues

LONDON, March 15.-Gcrmany's ad-
vance in the Ukraine under the pre-
tence of putting down disorder con-
tinues. An official statement given out
at Berlin to-day said that in several
engagements "cnemy bands which
threatened the railways" had been dis
persed and the town of Bachmach had
been occupied. This place is about 100
miles northeast Of Kiev.
An Austrian official war statement
says the Rumanians have evacuated the
last stretch of Austro- Hungarian terri
tory they held.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16

Germany. Dispatches to-day giving a
summary of an interview in which Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg was reported
to have declared that since the Allies
appeared unresponsive to Germany's
peace proposals the offensive must go
on evoked little interest.
Whatever Germany's programme,
however, America and the Allies, it
was reiterated to-day, are in the war
to win and their stand against a pre-
mature peace is as strong as 1t has
been at any time in the past.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Caucasus Government
Rejects German Peace

PETROGRAD, March 15.-Thc Cau-
casus government has issued state
ment in which it refuses to ndorse the
Brest-Litovsk peace treaty, which ccdes
Kars, Batoum and Ardahan to Turkey
and declares that peace with Turkey
can only be signed by the Caucasus
government, which has sent it's own
delegation to Trebizond to discuss
Op1cp
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Britain VIII Not
Consider Peace at
EXPENSE Of Russia

LONDON, March 15.-Replying to an
inquiry as to whether there was any
truth IN the rumors that proposals had
been received from Germany for a
peace at the expense of Russia. Lord
Robert Cecil. the Minister of Blockade.
said in the House of Commons to-day:
"As far as I know no such proposals
are being considered or will be consid-
erred -
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Report Heavy Losses
In Turkesfa1 Fight

LONDON, March 15.-Battlcs be-
tween Soviet adherents and natives
have occurred in Turkcstan, according
to an Exchange Telegraph dispatch
from Petrograd under Wednesdays
date. More than 10000 casualties arc
renOrted to have resulted
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Says Truth ON Ships
Would Appall Nation

WASHINGTON, March 15.--Speaking
in the Senate to-day, Senator Jones, of
Washington. declared the American
people would be appalled, if they know
the real shipping situation.
II have no doubt" he said, "that the
enemy knows the situation better than
our own people know it,"
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16

disclosed with which Germany has
gone about making it Impossible for
Russia ever again to become Il great
European power.
Everything that Germany has done
bears the mark of "a permanent mill
taristic purpose, which disregards
treaties, closes Russia to the sea on
the north and south. gives her mineral
lands to Turkey, divides the Slavic En-
pire in fragments and opens the way
to China and Siberia to Germany. For
territorial trading purposes no such
systematic dismemberment was neces-
sary. A great member of the European
family of nations has disappeared; in
its place is a great commercial opnor-
tunity for Germany.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
After 200 Years
Moscov Is Again
Capital of Russia

MOSCOW, March 10 (Dclayed).
Moscow has again become the official
capital of Russia. 1t was Peter the
Great who moved the seat of govern
ment from Moscow to Petrograd. his
name city, which he founded, and after
200 years the government has been
transferred by it's present head, Nikolai
l.enine, back to the historic capital in
the heart of Russia.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Rumanian Cabinet Resigns

WASHINGTON, March 15. - News
confirming the resignation Of the Ru-
nanian Cabinet headed bv NJ Aver
escu, was contained in dispatch to the
Suite Department to-day from Jassy.
A new cabinet. the message said. will
be formed by NJ Mcrghimalon.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-16
Allied Maritime
Council Announces
Plans for Imports

LONDON, March 13.-The Allied
Maritime Transport Council, formed at
the recommendation of the American
mission, headed by Colonel House, for
The purpose Of using most effectively
the tonnage Of Great Britain, the United