New-York tribune., 1918-02-26
Continue Russian Invasion,
Capturing Naval Base,
Berlin Announces
Railroad Lines to
Petrograd Seized
Country Overrun From
Finland Gulf Far Into
Interior

LONDON, Feb. 25.-German troops
have captured Reval, the naval base
on the Gulf of Finland $50 miles from
Petrogard; Dorpat, city of $4,000
people in Central Livonia and Pskov,
about 100 miles southeast of Petro-
grad, it was officially announced in
Berlin to-day.
These three captures correspond to
the three railroad lines by which the
Germans are advancing on the Russian
capital along the south coast of the
Gulf of Finland, the Riga Reval rail
road and the line from Dvinsk to Pet
rograd
Count Won Hertling's announcement
to the Rcichstag to-day that peace
would soon be concluded, however, may
mean that the Germans will pause be-
fcre they reach Petrograd.
kiev Menace GROWS
Fernau, an important seaport ir
Livonia, 90 miles northeast of Riga,
also has been taken. The German and
Ukrainian forces advancing on Kiev
have reached Zhltomir, IS miles west
of the city.
The announcement of the capture OF
Reval and Pskov were made in the
supplementary BeSlin war statement
this evening The other advances were
told Of in the earlier report.
A battle preceded the capture Of the
town and fortress of Reval. the state
mcnt tonight said. This was over
come, and German troops took posses
sion at 1890 o'clock this morning.
Reval, the capital Of the Province of
Esthonia, is goodly prize. 1t has more
than 1OO,0 600 inhabitants, many of them
Germans, and did business of $780,
100000 year before the war. Dorpat
and Pskov are also considerable places.
Germans Claim Booty
To capture Dorpat Russian Yuriev),
Berlins tated, The 18th Storming Com
pany and the Isl SG3adron, 10th Hussar
Regiment, covered more than 1870 miles
in five and one-half days. In the ad-
vance of their divisions, it was de-
clared, 5000 prisoners and many hun
dred motor cars were captured.
At the occupation of Pernau an
Esthonian battalion deserted and placed
itself under German command This is
the second Esthonian unit to pursue
this course, regiment having pre-
viously gone over to the enemy
In the taking Of Rovno, the Vol
hynian fortress city, earlier in the
week, Berlin announced to-day. the
whole staff of the Russian Especial
army fell into the enemy's hands and
the commander in chief fed.
The Bolshevik army leaders in Petro-
grad gave out on Sunday their first Of
fetal army commun1que. 1t was Just
received here TO-DAY. This curious
document, headed "Socialist Defensive
Front" states it is reported from
Arensburg on Oesel Island. which is in
German hands), that 10000 German
troops refused to attack. 1t further
says that Polish troops are advancing
from Mohilcv, former Russian army
headquarters. south along the Dnieper
River. on Bobruisk, but often large
bodies of them flee.
DOlSneflh COiU tHunlQue
The text of the Boshevk war com
muniqu6 is as follows:
"In the region of Borisoff (forty We
miles northeast of Mnsk) a detach-
ment was sent to destroy bridges
! Borisof and Plotsk arc in the hands
Of the revolutionary forces.
"Hapsal and Venden have been
taken by the Germans. who have
fought battle with a Lettish detach-
ment. The station at Korsovsk and
the town of Ostrov have been occupied
by the Germans. Poles are advanc-
ing from Mohilev toward Bobrusk. but
often the troops take to fight in large
bodies.
According to reports from Arens-
burg. 10000 German troops refused to
attack
A Petrograd dispatch dated Sunday
says the Germans late Saturday were
still! advancing into the provinces they
had decided to occupy. in this connec-
I tioN it is reported they are executing
. Red Guards, treating them as outlaws
but releasing and disarming soldiers
of the regular army.
The "Pravda," the Bolshevik organ,
! declares that the Germans are re-
storing shoulder straps to Russian Of
/ ficers and forcing the Russian soldiers
10 salute them.
/ General Count Mirbach command
ing the armies occupying Esthonia and
! Livonia. has issued a manifesto to the
population declaring that they arc now
under German police power He
orders the release from prison of all
barons of Esthona, declaring they are
under the protection of Germany.
Violation of the proclamation will
/ be punished under German laws
* kidnapping" of barons into Russia is
TO be punished by holding Bolsheviki
as hostages.