The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-27
Germans Hurled Back at One
Point by Determined Stand
of Patriotic
Troops.
BRIDGE Is BLOWN UP
Ten Detaohments Of Revolutionary
Troops Sent to Pskoff and
10000 Leave
Moscow.
IBy Joseph Shaplen, United Press
Staff Correspondent.l

By Joseph Shaplen, Umteo Press
Staff Correspondent
PBTROGRAD, Feb. 26-(delayed)
The Germans have been hurled back
at vibesk and seventeen miles from
Orsha.
(vitebsk is the capital Of the prov
ince Of that name, 800 miles south OF
Petrograd. Orsha is an important
railway Junction on the Dnieper river
thirty miles south Of Vitebsk and
forty -four miles north of Mohilen.)
After fortifying Borissoff eighty
miles west of Orsha and thirty eight
mites northeas. ri Minsk3, the Ger
mans advanced toward Orsha. Rus
sian forces made a sortie and beat the
Germans back, eighteen miles out
from the city.
Then retiring upon the city, the
Russians blew up a bridge over the
Beresina. where Napoleon sunereo
heavy losses in November, 1912, and
began an orderly evacuation.
Germans seeking to occupy Viteosk
where the first mobilization for the de-
fense of Petrograd occurred, were
thrown back.
Germans are organizing detach-
ments Of Ukrainian prisoners at
Rovno, Tin Volhynia).
The battle for possession Of Pskofi
j I2 miles southwest Of Petrograd)
which continued through the night
ended in Russian victory. The
Russians have succeeded in remov'
ing most of the vast store Of supplies
there (valued at four hundred million
r1Ibles) into the interior
The commissariat has admitted
| nl{ {ny - 10th
uated on an arm Of the gulf Of Riga
200 miles west of Petrograd), was
ca ptured after battle in which sail
ors and red guards contested every
step.
The Germans surrounded the city In
the evening They approached with
in seven versts (4.62 miles, and sent
Representatives forward. These de
| clared that in view of Esthonia's in
dependence they were coming as
guests. The defenders refused to &C
| cept that attitude and the battle en-
sued
| Enthusiasm for the defense of the
revolution grows hourly. There Is
constant stream Of armed men leaV
ing for the front. 100000 protetartats
have enrolled. The staff at Luga
| 600 miles south of Petrograd on the
Riga-Petrograd railway wired they
would be able to halt the Germans Ii
they had reinforcemen These were
sent imm ediately.
! Officers are eagerly joining the gar
t risons which are reinVigorated anC
organizing hurriedly.
! Return Of Discipline.
[By J. W. T. Mason, written for tbs
United Press.l
NEW YORK, Feb. 27.-The increas
ing resistance by the Russians agains1
the German attempt to capture Pet
rograd, whether Immediately success
ful or not is re-establishing respec1
for discipline among the Russian
people.
This is more important even thar
the salvation Of the capital. If Pet
rograd's fall Is necessary as fina
demonstration that discipline alone
is required to save the revolution
then the price will be cheap. Th'
saving of the great stores OF muni
tions near Pskoff, reported today IL
! United Press Petrograd dispatches. L
very important, not so much becaus'
of the value of the munitions, bu
because it demonstrates the presenc
of real military leadership among tn
revolutionary soldiers.
/ Hitherto during the German a6
yances the Russians have made n
effort to save anything. Disorganizs
ton has been complete. The Pshof
incident reveals that the spirit G
panic is vanishing and the Russian
4 are recovering some of their morale
1t requires large organizing abilft
and willingness to respond to OF
ders to remove such extensive wa
fSsontinued m paea6l