Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-03
RUSSIA DRAWS SWORD AGAINST GERMANY
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
OFFICIALLY CLOSED
Petrograd, Jan. 3.-Russia has rejected Ger
manys peace terms
Announcement to this effect was made by

effect was made by
Leon Trotzky, the Boil
sheviki foreign minister
today.
The executive committee Of the
Soviet adopted a resolution to compel
their government to negotiate a gen.
eral peace. The resolution stated that
Germany after promising 10 negotiate
on the basis OF no anneXatiOns, no in
IDENTITIES, tried 20 evade that princi.
pal The Bolsheviki insists upon "a
general democratic peace" and calls
upon the German.Austrian.IIu Hungarian
people TO help them get it.
The resolution says in part:
ITO the people of the Central Pow.
.ers:
An immediate Democratic peace
rests with You. You compelled your
governments to accept the principal
OF 10 anneXations nor indemnities.
Now 20 further"
The address to the German and
Austro-Hungarians accused the Ber.
lin and Vienna governments of trying
TO annex the lands the Teutonic
armies have overrun
Trotzky in speech to the commit.
tee declared that'the "Bolsheviki will
defend the fruits OF liberty achieved
by the revolution
Soldiers committees at the front
nave sent word that they are ready to
resume hostilities against the Ger
mems but ask for food, saying that
there is scarcity OF bread III the
army.
Ship Tell at I .ooC
London. Jan 3. THE number NJ
British merchant ships sunk by Ger.
man submarines since the ruthless
C-Aoat warfare was inauguratcd last
February almost touched the 1000
mark today Counting the q YES.
sells lost during the past week 900
ships OF various sizes have been sent
down These figures do not include
fishing boats. OF the 81 merchant
men lost last week IS We're over 500
tons and three less than that size,
This was an increase Of, nine over
the preceding week
The British admiralty has a ire
mendous task on its hands keeping
British waters free from mines for
the Germans have mine laying sub
marines which are constantly work.
nr. Every day over 900 minesweep-
etS leave various port and seour 2.0N0
square miles OF sea Since the war
began it is estimated that more than
5000 German mines have been pick.
ed up and destroyed.
viii Recognize Bolsheviki.
The Hague. Jan 81 If it is true
that Russia has abandoned her peace
noSoti"ion> with Germany and is
10 continue tie war the
l'olahcEiN government at petrograd
viii be- formally recognized by the
entente powers. Il was reported in
d'nlumalic circles horo today.
Boshevild Seizes Banks.
Washington. Ian 3 Consul sum.
mcra AZ MoScoH today clblcd the
state Department that the Bolsheviki
had sei2cd the banks there and has
threatened to cou1-cate all factories
A general state OF disorder and law
lessncss ptcyailes and martial law
has been declared
Ambassador Quits Russia.
Pcuo"rad Ian sit vas announc.
Cd today at lhc British embassy that
Sir GEORGE Buchanan British ambas
5ador 10 Russia. will leave soon for
London on account OF i'll health He
will be accompanied hy members Of
the British mission 10 Russia.
r rench Attack on Champagne front.
Berlin Ian 3 The French have
broken the lone infantry mll IA the
Champaicnr district by delivering two
attacks both o. which were repulsed
by the German are. he war Office AN
nounced today
Reading To Succeed 3pr'ng.Rtce.
Washington. Jan 8 ThJl Earl
Reading. Lord CHIEF Justice OF Eng.
land, may succeed - Cecil Spring
Rice a. British ambassador to the
United States. was the belief eX.
pressed IN diplomatic circles mere
lbis afternoon
Says T.. 8. Must Give Peace Terms
Boston. Jan 3. Governor Samuel
Mccall in his inaugural address to.
day before the legislature, declared
that America must lay iis peace cards
on the table
"lt Germany pronoses definite
peace terms the United STATES must
throw aside vague generaIfties and
must make q plain definite. man.to-
man statement of the kind Of peace
wr are fighting for. and OF the terms
We will accept to end the war he
asserted