The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-22
DEFEND UNTO
DEATH IS CRY
OF BOLSHEV|KI
Russian Government Issues
Frantic Call to Arms.
Order Upper Classes To Dig
Trenches About PetrOgrad.
AUSTRIANS Join INVASION
Central Powers Move Into Rus
Sia in Southern Portion.
Slavs Evacuate as Fast as Ger
mans Advance in North.

Petrograd, Feb. eff the Ger
mans refuse peace to Russia, a strug-
gle to the death or victory for us is
inevitable says an official statement
issued today. THE peoples terrorism
must be opposed to the advancing
enemy it is declared.
Today's German statement showed
the ka:ser's forces pressing forward
on a front of nearly 500 miles. Hap
sal, at the northern extremity, is on
Boil sound, about fifty miles below
Reval. Its capture means the Ger
nuns now dominate all the Gulf of
Riga 1(ovog-advolwnsk, where the
Germans effected a juncture with the
Ckrainians, probably is Novograd-
Volhynski, on the Slutch river. fifty
cipal city of Volhynia. In this 6is-
trict the Germans were last reported
at Rovne, sixty miles west of Novo-
-Voihynski.
(By the Associated Press)
Petrograd, Feb ga procIama-
ton ordering resistance to the Ger
man advance, calling on all Russians
to defend the fatherland and declar-
ing Petrograd in a state of siege was
issued tonight from the Smolny insti-
tute, the BolSheviki headquarters. The
proclamation was issued at the order
! of the peoples commissaries and is
| signed by Premier Lenine and Ensign
! Krylenko. the Bolshevikf comma nder-
in-chief.
London, Feb. 22.-"Defense to the
death" against Germany is ordered in
the proclamation of the Russian COM
miSSionerS Reuters Petrograd cor
respondent telegraphs. The commits
sioners appeal to the soldiers to de-
stroy railways and provisions and
compel the bourgeoise to dig trenches
under penalty of death.
Austrians Capture Two Cities.
! Petrograd, Feb. 22.-Russian forces
are ovacuating Pskoff and PoIotsk, II
! is reported.
! The capture of Minsk gravely en-
dangers Homel and Mohileff, where
! huge supplies of ammunition and
foodstuffs are stored. The Austria ms
were reported to have taken Lutsk
and Dubno.
j Pskoff is $50 miles southwest of the
capital on the Riga a-Petrograd railway.
: 1t is about the halfway point and is
more than 100 miles beyond Volmar,
before which the Germans were re-
ported in yesterdays Berlin official
statement.
Polotsk is sixty miles northwest of
Vitebsk, capital of the province where
: the Russian armies were reported to
be concentrating under General
BonchbrCyevitch.
Minsk is 125 miles southwest of
Vitebsk Mohileff is fifty miles south
! of Vitebsk and 100 miles east of
Minsk.
Homel is 125 miles southwest of
Vitebsk.
Lusk and Dubno are cities in Vol
hynia, both a short distance west of
Rovno which the Germans claim al
ready to have captured.
Must Fight or Perish.
! London, Feb. 22.-The Bolsheviki
government again has changed its tao
tics and ordered that opposition be
given to the German army now sweep
ing eastward into the heart of Great
: Russia All Russians are summoned
to the defense of heir country in a
proclamation signed by Premier Le-
nine and Ensign Krylenko, command
er in chief of the Bolshevik armies
Petrograd has been declared in 4 state
of siege.
AS the German army advances the
German navy is aiding in the cam
paign against Esthonia and Petrograd
by inveSting Reval, the second in i'm
portance of the naval bases on the
southern coast of the Gulf of Finland
German troops have been landed there
and forty five German warships are
nearing the harbor.
The Russian navy, however. prcba
bly, will offer little resistance. 1t i.
reported as being completely disor