New-York tribune., 1918-02-23

Of Finnish neutrality having been made
by the Bolshcvik. The Bolshcviki arc
willing 20 withdraw the Russian Red
Guards from Finland and to stop the
supply of munitions to the revolution
lists.
The marine detachments at Abo,
Finland, and the Aland Islands demand
| their immediate discharge, the dispatch
adds. and the ajority of the crews at
Ilelsingfors oppose any active defence.
The German advance into Russia is
not the march OF a conqucror. for no
where up to the present have they met
any serious opposition. The compara-
lively rapid progress is asclibcd to the
fact that the Germans found q clear
passage.
Invaders Collecting Stores
Special dispatches from Petrograd,
none OF which is dated later than
W Wednesday, indicate that the invaders
are making their own pace in collecting
immense stores Of weapons munitions,
food and other v"luablc property, which
the disorganized Russians armies aban-
doned in their hurried flight. The
strength Of the German advancing
army is not believed TO be great. A
Petrograd dispatch to "Thc Morning
Post" says that there is only one divi
sion of cavalry and one division of in
| tantry.
Germany's ultimate objective. OF
course, can only be speculated upon,
! but. according to the correspondent,
! there is nothing whatever TO prevent
them from reaching Petrograd if they
wish. for the decentralization Of the
Russian soldiers is so complete that
orders to resist the invasion would be
| impossible of execution. Moreover, the
enemy could easily reduce the capital
to famine, which already is closing It's
grip on The people.
The Bolshevik capitulation to a Ger
man peace and news OF the German adj
vance were received in Petrograd in va
rious ways. according to Wednesday,
reports. The correspondent of "The
Times" says that profound disgust and
shame were felt and uttered by serious
and intelligent people and were reflect
ed in the non BolshcNik newspapers. A
report 20 "'The Morning Post says that
the sancr element of the population
calls for closer relations with the Allies
looking % the unification Of Russia ant
the abandonment Of the dreams Of anna
teur statesmen.
May Recall Assembly
Il is reported in this connection that
the non Bolshevil: and non Socialist
parties viii try to reasscmblc the Con
stituent Assembly with the view of ap.
pealing to the Allies
The Petrograd spondcnt Of "Tht
Daily Mail" describes the attitude OF
the people as mostly one Of apathy ant
fatalism. He says that n ma ajority
would welcome the arrival Of the Ger
mans in the hope that they would re
store order, the feeling being that any
thingt II better than the present con
oition.
As to the decision "a surrender to tn,
Germans. accounts differ Some sa,
that Premier Lenine and others tha
Foreign Minister 'rrotzky was respon
sibe for the capitulation. The CORE
spondent of "The Daily News who ha
been in close relations with the Bol
shcviki, says that al the meeting Of th'
Council Of Peoples Commissarics whicI
voted on the question. Trotzky. VIII,
had been in favor Of lighting to tn
last, unexpectedly Went to the othe
side This caused Indignation IN hi
party and he probably will resign.
The change in the Bolshevik policy t.
one of surrender surprised both thei
enemies and friends and threw thei
supporters INTO confusion. The for
eign embassies. according to 9TH
Times knew nothing of the Bol
) shevik capitulntion until Tuesda
night. They believed the Russians in
: tended 10 resist the German advance a
all hazards.
Whatever happens, it is regarded q
probable that the Germans Will stiNs
the peace terms offered at Blest