The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-21
RUSSIAN ARMY TO
DEFEND PETR0GRAD
(Continlted from page ID

scene in The executive council when
they heard Lenine's report on the de-
cision 10 announce Russia's willing
mess to sign the peace pact. II the
Germans spurn the offer. they SAID,
there is certain TO be terrible bat
tile.
IF General Hoffman continues the
war. he will restore the mobiles and
landlords and bankers" the Prvada
declared. I'VE will fight to the last
bullet and the last man.
The Bolsheviki sent an ulnmatum
to the Don Cossacks, ordering them
to surrender. A desperate rifle bat
tie followed. The Cossacks retreatsd
to RostofY, on the Don river about
twenty-five miles from its mouth,
where they are being oesieged.
End Of Peace Conference.
| 1.-THE following dispatch nied last
Saturday, relates the scenes at the
| breaking off of peace negotiations at
| BrestLitovsk-the first detailed &C
count OF that dramatic occurrence.l
| by Joseph Shaplen. United Press
Staff CORES pondent.]
PETROGRAD, Feb 16.-(Delayed)
The central powers delegates re-
fused the proposal of Foreign Minis
i, ter Trotsky to send German officer
to Kief, 10 prove that the Ukraine
rada governing BODY did not exist.
The following day the tenth plen-
airy session of the peace conference
was called.
Foreign Minister Kuehlmann, flush
ed with his diplomatic victory over
the Ukraine, arose to present Gem
eral Ludendorff's ultimatum, directed
at the Bolsheviki.
Trotsky, anticipating him, took the
floor and read the declaration break
ing off the negotiations. There was
dead silence. 4
When Trotsky had concluded.
Kuehlmann and General Hoffman sat
apparently stunned. Kuehlmann I'm
ally limited 1t was Impossible to quit
the war cart without the proper
ticket"
"You evidently are suggesting that
your guns are proper substitute for
proper judicial formula" said Trot-
sky.
Hoffman nodded affirmatively.
II don't believe the peoples or
Austria and Germany will permit you
to do that" continued the Russian
minister.
None of the central powers repre-
sentatives replied.
Kuehlmann finally muttered that 1t
was necessary to settle the diplo-
matte details and suggested another
session.
Trotsky refused, saying:
I'VE must return to Petrograd; we
have no more to say. If you have
anything to say, the radio is still
working"
The Russian delegates departed
to shake hands.
Not an Easy Victory.
| [By ]. w. T. Mason, written for the
United Press.l
NEW York. Feb. 21.-Geimany's
military advance upon Petrograd Is
stimulating the Russians to a resist.
ance that may have important conse-
quences for the future of events in
| the east.
Won Hindenburg expected an easy
parade into Petrograd and 1t Is OBJ
vfous that his plans have been disar-
ranged by the spontaneous demand
among the Russians for proper de-
| tense OF their capital. Instead Of a
! sabTe-rattEng, heel clanking march
in the true spirit of German ruth.
| lessness, Won Hindenburg has check
| ed all attempts at speed records and
is sending detachments ahead of his
army TO try to argue the Russians in
to nontresistance.
This policy, so contrary to the Won
Hindenburg miitaristfc ideal, reveals
the fact that the Germans know they
cannot afford a heavy casualty list
along the eastern front A determ-
| ined show OF Russian resistance at
this time, involving the killing or
| wounding Of a large number Of Ger
mans, would undoubtedly cause re-
newal Of unrest within Germany.
Even II Won Hindenbmrg we're to
reach Petrograd. a. series of heavy
battles would exact from him great
| er price than he knows he ought to
pay for the ctty's capture.
| 1t Is impos sfble to determine in ad-
vance how serious and how prolons-
ed will be the resistance OF the Rus
| sian army. But new facts are coming
to light concerning events in Petro-
grad that suggest the existence of
| strong offensive spirit The will
| ingness" Of the Bolsheyih ministry
to sign a German peace was carried
| by vote OF only five to four. This
represents a serious division of opin-
| ion on SO important a matter and
| means the Germans are far from
having the game in their hands The
adoption of a new fighting policy
might easily result In Petrograd, II
Russias new revolutionary army i'm
poses no more than a temporary
check on Won Hindenburgs new Of
fensive.
Taking Many Prisoners.
BERLIN (vfa London) Feb, 21.-
Pressing eastward from Dvinsk,
Pinsk and Rovno "a froat of more
than 400 miles), we have cleared the
country of the enemy and taken
prisoner a general, several divisional