Republican farmer., 1918-02-22

Inc NoVa1a Nledomsty, the dispatch
adds, says the Germans have occu-
pied Molodecsno, an important rail-
road junction northwest of Minsk.
According. to the Pravda the Aus
trians have begun an advance on the
Ukrainian front
Just two hours after the arrnistioe
ended German troops entered Dyinsk.
1t was 2 O'Clock on the afternoon Of
Feb. IS that German patrols unex-.
pectedly appeared around the city and
seized the railroad stations and other
central points. Only small skirmishes
with fleeing soldiers took place. The
Red guard offered no resistance, while
the artillery and infantry were de-
mobilizing and unprepared to fight.
Attempts TO evacuate the city were
unsuccessful Much heavy artillery
and large quantities of ammunition
fell into the handssof the Germans.
The civilian population had no oppor-
tunity to escape.
The commissaries of the local work
mems and soldiers council tried to
escape disguised as soldiers, but they
were seized by the Germans.
The decision of the Soldiers and
Workmen's delegates to accept the
German peace terms was reached by
a majority of only one vote after a
heated debate lasting throughout Mon
day night. Great secrecy was observ-
ed in regard to the meeting, which
was adjourned several times to permit
the Bolsheveki and the Social Revo-
lutionists to hold party caucuses.
There were divisions in both parties
on the subject.
Premier Lenine, Foreign Minister
Trotzky, Ensign Kry1enko, comman-
der-i in-chief, and many other leaders
addressed the council. Military men
explained the impossibility of offer
ing effective resistance, but no deci-
sion was reached until messages had
been received showing that the Ger
mans had captured Dvinsk with ease
and were advancing all along the
front.
This news reached the council early
Tuesday morning, and Influenced the
delegates to decide for peace. Before
the capture of Dvinsk Premier Lenine
said he was opposed to peace, but
finally urged that peace must be OBJ
tanned at any price in order to in
sure the reconstruction of Russia. Pe
said the Germans were advancing en
a solid front from the north to the
south.
The announcement of Russia's de-
cision to accept the German terms
was sent by wireless at o'clock Tues
day morning. At first the German
wireless station showed a disposition
to refuse to take the message, but
finally, four hours later, acknowledged
it..
BoIsheVik leaders held repeated con-
ferences throughout Tuesday, and late
in the afternoon received the German
reply, refusing to accept the wireless
message as official and requesting that
a delegation be sent to Dvinsk to con-
fer with regard to peace.
The Russian press is divided as to
the wisdom of the councils action.
The Pravda says the soldiers and
workmens delegates have again
shown willingness to make peace and
carry out their pledges, and that
whether Germany accepts the offer or
does not, the Bolsheviki have won a
moral victory. The Nova jim says
the Bolsheviki have brought the af-
fair % an ignominious end and have
proved themselves to be adventures
who are willing to keep themselves in
power at any price.
Boshevik leaders declare that if the
German advance. continues they will
defend Petrograd with the Red
Guard and harasss the German ad-
vance by guerilla warfare. No plans
have been made for evacuation of this
city.
The Bolsheviki say this is a now
war, not the old war, and that they
will present a united front against the
Germans. They believe the proletariat
of Russia will be able to continue the
struggle.