The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-02-25
Russians in Doubt How Far De-
mobilization Order Is to
Be Applied.
NEW "RED ARMY" EXEMPT?
Trotzky No Longer in Peace
Farley Party - Lenine
Urged Acceptance.

Petrosrad Sunday, Feb. 24.-(5y
the Associated Press.)-Acceptanee by
the bolshevik government of the Ger
man peace terms followed a stormy
argument at a night meeting at the
Smolny institute. Leon Trotzky, the
bolsheVik foreign minister, did not at
tend but Premier lenine urged ac-
ceptanoe Of the terms and the boIshe-
vik delegates, voting practically as a
unit, swung the tide with him. A
boIshevik party conference had previ-
ously voted seventy-tw for peace and
twenty.six against, with twelve alb
staining. The social revolutionary
members fought against acceptance of
the terms and insisted upon the as.
sembIng Immediately of new con-
stituent assembly to pass upon them
in their final form.
The bolshevik newspaper Pravda
says the peace terms are unfortunate
but unavoidable. It says the struggle
is more imperiaIstic than domestic
and that the Russian proIetariat is
not responsible for the harsh terms.
The bourseoise newspapers do not
comment on the situation.
Petrosrad, Sunday, Feb. 24.-M.
Markham, who was secretary of the
Russian delegation at 'Brest -citovsk,
explained to the Associated Press to-
day that the boIshevik government
considers most ambiguous the part of
the German terms concerning the de-
mobilization of the Russian army. A
literal translation of "up to newly
formed battaIions," M. karkhan said,
may either exempt or include the new
"red army
This is disputable," he added. 81
think, of course, that they meant the
red army also must be demobilized, but
on this we will not yield without dis
cussion. We think we are entitled to
an army on at least a peace footing
That would be sufficient to accomplish
our internal purposes"
M. karkhan declared that Russia's
position toward the allies now un-
doubtedly would be that of a neutral,
adding: 1--WE will not support Ger
many. The only support it will get
will be indirect from the resumption of
commercial relations"
New Delegation Chosen.
Leon Trotzky, boshevik foreign
minister, will not go to Brest- Litvosk
to sign the new peace, nor will any
other member OF the Russian delega-
ton which conducted the earlier nego-
tiations there, with the exception of NJ.
karkhan, secretary Of the former dele
cation. The workmen's and soldiers
delegates today chose for the new del |
egation NJ. Sinovieff, president of the |
council of workmen's and |
soldiers delegates; NJ. AleyXieff. acting |
of agriculture, and NJ. |
This delegation, accom- |
panied by naval and military repre- |
will leave tonight for |
3rest- -Litovsk.
"Position HopeIess."-Lenine.
Their knees are on our chest and /
,ur position is hopeless" declared
Iikolai Lenine, the bolshevik premier.
n the course of his long speech to the
central executive committee of the all
Russian council of workmen's and SOL
liers' delegates, in which he insistently
Urged the acceptance of the Austro-
German peace conditions. however OPP
,ressive and unfortunate they might
appear.
"This peace must be accepted as a
espite," he continued. "enabling us to
prepare a decisive resistance to the
,ourgeoise and imperialism. The pro-
etariat Of the whole world will come
o our aid
"Then we shall renew the fight"
NJ. Martoff contended that the pro-
,osed peace meant the end of Russia
% far as her political Importance was
and that the day after the
igning of peace the soldiers and
vorkmen's government would be in
,ondage TO Germany.
Fighting on Streets.
NJ. Zinovieff supporting Lenine, in
listed that the soviet authority was
90 firmly established throughout the
ountry to perish.
1t is announced by the bolsheviki
hat their troops have entered Rostov-
n the-Don and that fighting is pro-
eeding in the streets.