The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-16
RUSSIA EXPLAINS SURRENDER.
STATEMENT CONFIRMS u,UrIr
DRAWAL FROM WAR.
Dolshcviki Not Satisfied With German
Demands But Can't Fight Brother
WOrlkmen.

'he German report that Russia has
"'hurawn from the war is contained !
IN an Official Russian statement re-
ceived here today.
The statement SAYS Russia declares
the war with Germany, Austria Hun
gary, Turkey and Bulgaria to have
ended, Russian troops simultaneously
receiving an order for complete de-
mobilization on all fronts. For the de-
Iense OF the frontier some detachments
OF younger soldiers will be left.
The peace organizations with the
central powers have been ended, the
statement says. The Russian dele
cation refused to sign a treaty provid-
ing for annexation by Germany. Nev-
ertheless, Russia will not continue the
war with the Germans and Austrians,
"workmen and peasants, like our
selves"
The text of the statement says:
"The peace negotiations are at an
end. The German capitalists, bankers
and landlords, supported by the silent
cooperation Of the English and French
bOurgeoise, submitted to our COM
rades members of the peace delegates
at Brest- LitOvsk, conditions such as
could not be subscribed to by the Rus
sian revolution.
THE governments of Germany and
Austria possess countries and peo-
pies vanquished by force of arms. To
this authority the Russian people
workmen and peasants, could not give
its acquiescence We could not sign
that which would bring with it sad
ness, oppression and suffering to
millions Of workmel and peasants.
But we also can not, will not, and
must not continue a war begun by
czars and capitalists in alliance with
czars and capitalists. We will not and
we must not continue to be at war
with the Germans and Austrians-
workmen and peasants like our
selves.
1--WE are not signing a peace OF
landlords and capitalists. Let the
German and Austrian soldiers know
who are placing them in the field of
battle and let them know for what
they are struggling. Let them know
also that we refuse to fight against
them. Our delegation fully conscious
of it's responsibility before the Rus
sian people and the oppressed work
ers and peasants of other countries
declared on February 10, in the name
of the council Of the peoples commits
saries of the government of the fed
eral Russian republic to the govern
ments Of the peoples involved in the
war with us and Of the neutral coun-
tries, that it refused to sign an an
nexationist treaty. Russia for its
part, declares the present war with
Germany and Austria Hungary, Tur-
key and Bulgaria at an end.
simultaneously. the Russian troops
received an order for complete de-
mobilization on all fronts"
The signatures Of Leon Trotzky
and other members Of the delegation
are appended
In connection with this statement
an order also has been issued that
necessary steps be taken Immediately
for declaring to the troops that the
war with Germany, Austria, Turkey
and Bulgaria is regarded from the
present moment as being at an end
This order bears no signature but
says:
NO military operations must again
take place. The beginning Of a gen
eral rehabilitation on all fronts is
decreed. ! order the issue of instruc-
ton on the front for the withdrawal
of the troops from the first line and
for their concentration in the rear
and further for their despatch to the
interior of Russia, in accordance with
the general plan for rehabilitation.
For the defense of the frontier some
detachments of young soldiers must
be left
Remember that only systematic
rehabilitation can be carried out in
the shortest time and that systematic
cmObiliZatiOn alone can prevent in
reference with the sending of food
supplies to those detachments which
remain for IA certain period on the
front"