The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-02-01
Germans Threaten Quick Attack
When the Russian Delegates
Reject Peace Terms.
DEMAND BALTIC PROVINCES
ProIetariat of Austria-Hunoary on
Eve of a Revolt-Turks Lose Two
Big Cruisers-Secretary Bak-
er's Management Holly
Criticized by Senator
Chamberlain.
BY EDWARD w. PlCkARD.

Encouraged by the growing strength
Of the Fatherland party, the pan-Ger-
mans have thrown aside the mask they
have worn in their dealings with the
Russians and shown their true face.
At the last meeting of the delegates
at Brest-Litovsk before adjournment
to January %, General Hoffman told
the bolsheviki frankly that Germany
must have Courland and all the Baltic
provinces, and that II Russia did not
consent the German armies would
move at once and within week would
occupy Reval. When asked about the
territory south OF Brest-Litovsk, Hoff-
man replied that Germany would set
tie that only with the Tkrainians. The
request Of the Russians for recess
that they might consult on the Ger
man terms was grudgingly granted
with the assertion that no further post
pOnements would he allowed.
The Russian delegates thereupon
voted unanimously to reject the Ger
man terms and departed for Petrograd
to submit the question Of peace or war
to the congress of soldiers and work
mems delegates, with which the final
decision rests.
That the Germans are able TO carry
out their threats against Russia there
can be little doubt. The bolsheviki
leaders realize their helplessness and
have issued ito all' an official wall
telling how they have been deceived
and how monstrous are the demands
of the Germans. In Petrograd and
Moscow the bolsheviki are struggling
TO maintain their power, putting in Jail
large numbers Of their opponents on
charges Of plotting counter-revolu-
ton, and taking any other coercive
steps that promise TO help them. If
they can prevent it, they do not intend
that their principles of "self-definition'
and personal liberty shall apply at
home. They promptly dissolved the
constituent assembly because they
could not control its deliberations.
SO loud has become the popular out
cry against the rule of the bolsheviki
and so great the disorder in Russia
that German parliamentary leaders are
seriously questioning whether 1t is
wise for the central powers to nego-
tate further with a government that
may be swept away any day.
The Ukrainians. according to late
dispatches, are proceeding amicably In
their negotiations with Germany and
Austria and are about ready to sign
separate peace.
Japan, which holds itself RESPONSE
BILE for the preservation Of peace in
the far East, Is ready to take radical
steps to put an end to the increasing
disorders In Siberia, according to Pre-
mier Tarauchi who addressed the open
ing session Of the japanese diet. He
reiterated his country's absolute 10y
atty and fidelity TO the allies and its
determination not to sheathe the sword
until an honorable pence Is secured
In Finland there is growing dsord-
er and the socialist red guards and
government militia have fought sew
eral considerable battles, notably Mt
Viborg and Davidstad. The red guards
are aided by Russian soldiers while
the peasants are supporting the gov
eminent forces.
-
The Acknowledgements government
has been treading on thin ice for two
weeks. A great peace-demand wave
swept over the nation and more than
q million workers went on strike. the
var Industries being absolutely para