The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-02-23
REFUSAL MEANS DEATH
"Must Be Made to Fulfil
Duties by the Most Mer-
ciless Measures"
OLD ARMY Is USELESS
Petr0grad Declared in State Of
Siege-Railways Are Or
dcrcd Destroyed.

JErRoGnAp, Feb. 22.-So complete 10
The Generalization OF the Russian army
that little or no resistance Is being made
to the advance of~the German forces
upon Petrograd. although proclamations
and appeals OF various kinds are being
issued to the people to defend the
country.
According to the best Information
available here the advancing German
army consists of what would ordinarily
be deemed trivial force. not more
than one division OF cavalry and one OF
infantry. perhaps $1,000 men in all.
This force however. Is moving eastward
at its leisure, collecting as il passes
immense stores of arms, munitions, food
and other supplies
The Russian commander on the north
front reports the enemy advancing in
detachments of from one hundred to
two hundred men, taken from different
regiments. showing that they are vo.-
unteers and not regular units.
In tho navy conditions are even
worse. There Is no discipline and the
men have decided they will not fight.
The naval authorities at Reval report
that in order to save the Russian navy
from the Germans the ships must be re-
moved ~ KroNstadt, but this Is not
possible because they have not been in
Use for long time. 1t is also proposed
70 destroy these ships and those at
HeisinSfors or to attempt to intern the
latter there on the ground that Finland
has been recognized as an independent
nation.
Red Guard Forces Sent.
retirement OF the northern army ia
complicated by the fact that the NTH
army Is barring the road. encumberinE
1t in disorderiy retreat. To save tn.
situation, the Bolshcviki Is sending RED
Guard deta achnents from units which are
NOT entirely disorganized
Pending the German reply TO Trot,
Ay's peace offer, the commander Of tn.
western front has ordered the retiring
armies to avoid fighting with the enemy
and to destroy their ammunition.
proclamation ordering resistance to
me German advance. calling on all Rus
slams TO defend the Fatherland and de-
claring Petrograd in a state Of siege was
issued last night from the Smolny Insti-
tute. the Ro!sheviki headquarters. the
Associated Press correspondent learns
Text Of Proclamation.
The proclamation was issued al the
order of tho Peoples Comnissa ries and
( Is signed By Premier Lcnne and Ensign
kr!lcnko. commander in chief OF the
Russian armies. IL SAYS.
We agreed 20 sign peace terms AZ Tn.
! cost OF enormous concessions in order
10 save the country from final exhaus-
tion and the ruin OF the revolution. Oncc
more tho German WORKING class. in this
threatening hour. has showed Itself In
sufficiently determined to stay the strong
criminal hand OF it's own milltarism. w"
had no other choice but to accept the
conditions OF German imperialism until
revolution changes or cancels them.
| Tile German Government is not hast.
enng to reply to us, evidently aiming to
seize as many important positions In our
territory as possible. Tho enemy has
occupied pvimsk. Werder and I.utsk, AMI
is continuing to strangle by hunger the
most important centres of the revolu-
| ton.
We even now are convinced firmly
that the German working classes viii!
rise against the attempts OF the ruling
classes to stitie the revolution. but We
cannot predict with certainty when this
! will occur. Tho German imperialists
! may hesitate at nothing for the purpose
OF destroying the authority OF the couU-
ellis and taking the land from the peas.
ants.
DisIOyal Ordered Destroyed.
THE CommissarIes call on all lo,si
| Councils and army organizations t. use
all efforts to rcrrcate the array. Per
vcrted elements of hooligans. mnrauders
! and towards should be expeIled from.
the ranks and, in tho event of resistance.
| wiped Off the face OF the earth.
| THE bour-eoisir, who under Kcren-
! sky and the car evaded the burden q,
war and proitcd from it's misfortunes
must 30 made 10 fulfill their duties
nv the most decisive and m.rciIess
measures
| "Ger,nan mili,ar;sm wishes TO spotbe.
tho working classes and tn. l'<rain,no
masses to give back the land 10 IN,
landowners. factories and workshops to
he bankers and power TO a monarchy"