The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-02-08
Germans Threaten Quick Attack
When the Russian Delegates
Reject Peace FERNS.
DEMAND BALTIC PROVINCES
ProIesariat OF Auatriortiunaary on
Eve OF ficycit-Turiss Lose TWO
Big cr;:isers-Sccretary Bak-
er's Management Holly
Criticized by Senator
Chamberlain.
ny EDWARD ". PlcNAPo.

Encouraged By the growing strength
mans have thrown aside the mask they
have worn in their dealings With the
Russians and shown their true face.
at the last meeting of the delegates
at Brest-Litovsl before adjournment
to January %, General Hoffman told
The bolsheviki frankly that Germany
must have Courland and all the Baltic
provinces, and that if Russia did not
consent the German armies would
move at once and within q week would
occupy Reval. When asked about the
territory south of Brest-Litoysk. Hoff-
man replied that Germany would set
tie that only with the Ukrainians. The
request Of the Russians for recess
that they might consult on the Ger
man terms was grudglngly' granted
with the assertion that no further post
ponements would be allowed.
The Russian delegates thereupon
voted unanimously TO reject the Ger
man terms and departed for Petrograd
TO submit the question of peace or war
to the congress of soldiers and work
mems delegates, with which the final
decision rests.
That the Germans are able to carry
out their threats against Russia there
can be little doubt. The bolsleviki
leaders realize their helplessness and
have issued ito all" an official wall
telling how they have been deceived
and how monstrous are the demands
OF the Germans. In Petrograa and
Moscow the bolsheviki are struggling
TO maintain their power, putting in jail
large numbers Of their opponents on
charges. Of plotting 4 conference.-the
ton end taking any Other coercive
steps that promise to help them. If
they can prevent II. they do not intend
that their principles of "self,dcfinition"
ard personal liberty shall apply at
home. They promptly dissolved the
constituent assembly because they
coyld not control its deliberations.
SO loud has become the popular ont
cry against the rule of the holshevil,i
and so great The disorder In Russia
that German parliamentary leaders are
seriously questioning whether it is
wise for ths central powers tn ncgo-
tiate further with government that
may be swept away any day.
The Ukrainians. according TO !afe
dispatches. are proceeding Amicably in
their negotiations with Germany and
Austria and are about ready to sign a
. separate peace. ~ 70
50
japan. which holds itself RESPONSE
hle for the preservation Of peace in
the FAR East. is ready tostase radical
steps to put an end TO the Increasing
disorders in, Siheria, ACCORDING to Pre-
alier Tarauchi who addressed the open
Inc session Of the Japanese diet, He
reiterated his corntry's absolute 10y
atty and fidelity 10 the allies and It's
determination nntto-sheathet sword
Entil m honorable pence is secured.
-rz-
In FINLAND there is growing sNsor,l-
or and the socialist red guards and
government militia have fought sew
eral Observation-Disclosures. notably at
yihorg and Daviastad. The red guards
are aitetl; ly Russian soldiers while
the peasants IRE supporting the gov
eminent forces.
-@-
Tile Austro-Hungarian government
has been treading on chin ice for two
weeks. A great peace-demand wave
swept over the nation and more than
million workers went on strike. the
war industries being absolutely para