New-York tribune., 1918-05-01
Irotzky, i'm
Fear of Japan
Asks Big Army
General Conscription De-
creed to Include Work.
men and Peasants
(By The Associated I'ress)


MOSCOW, Tuesday, April 23.-Leon
Trotzky, the Bolshevik Minister of War
and Marine, speaking at meeting Of
the central executives last night, urged
the issuance of a decree for compul-
sorry military service.
Fearing destruction, Russia must
have an army" he said. eve do not
know the hour when we will be openly
challenged by the imperialistic enemy
threatening us in the east"
The Central Executive Committee
adopted resolution to this effect. The
measure provides for the training of
workmen, peasants and unemployed
from eighteen to forty years of age
for eight consecutive eeks for at least
twelve hours weekly. Schoolboys from
sixteen to eighteen will be trained in
similar manner, while other children at
school will be trained in accordance
with the rules of the Department of
Education. Women M. Il volunteer. The
enlistment will be for minimum of
six months, and desertion will be pun
ishable by Imprisonment and loss of
citizenship.
Germany Sends a Protest
Germany has protested to the Boil
shevik Foreign Minister, NJ. Tchitcherin,
against the landing of 5000 Allied
troops at Murmansk, declaring that
permission for such landing was a vio-
lation of the Brest-Litovsk treaty,
which stipulated peace with Finland
and non-interference in it's internal life.
1t was denied in the protest that
Germans had participated in the raid
of the Finnish White Guards upon KEN,
and the presence of Russian troops be-
tween Petrograd and Finland was OBJ
jected to on the ground that they
threatened to cross the frontier. Media
tion of the Russo-F Finnish conflict was
promised ii the government prevented
violations of the treaty.
General Count Won Mirbach, the Ger
man Ambassador to Russia, arrived to-
day with staff of more than seventy
persons, including various commissions
and also u Turkish commission.
Urges Support From U. S.
In connection with his arrival q
prominent Bolshevik leader expressed
surprise to the corresp pondent regard
ing the attitude of the Allies toward
the present Russian government. par
ticularly the Americans, who are the
most sympathetic and the most trusted,
saying that Germany will control Rus
sa economically if permitted undisput-
of American cooperation, which, he de-
clared, would be advantageous to both
sides.
The press is also discussing recogni-
tion and Allied economic support and
expresses the belief that this is prob
able.
The commissary has dccreed the ma
tionalization Of foreign trade and Gre
ated q special board representing SOW
and fix the prices OF all exports and
imports The decree is effective i'm
mediately.
There has been a report here that
the entire Black Sea fleet has been
captured by the Germans.
A fierce battle between the Finnish
White Guards, supported by Germans
and much artillery, and Red Guards,
near Terioki, Finland, is reported.
Petrograd from Byeloostrov, a frontier
station captured by White Guards In
view of the proximity of Petrograd.
defensive measures have been taken
and orders have been issued for tho
disarmament of combatants invading
Russian territory.
The Finnish Bolshevik government
has protested to the American Ambas-
sador, David B. Francis, and the Allied
representatives against the German
support of the White Guards, declaring
that Finnish laborites will continue to
-fght for the cause of freedom, feeling
"a profound hatred and disdain for the
executioners of nations and the labor
movement"
The German advance in Russia con-
tinues uninterruptedly. The German
forces have captured several cities and
are nearing Kursk, capital of the gov
ernment Of the same name. with pop
ulation Of more than fifty thousand.
This city is being evacuated.
Leon Trotzky, in reply to question,
said that the advance would probably
continue until peace with Ukrainia has
been effected.
General Dutoff. the rebel Cossack
chief, has been captured by Soviet
forces.