The Mankato free press., 1918-03-01
Germans Held In Check At
Vitebsk, Is Report
J EFFECT HAS NEWS
s Many In Big Domain to
sTo Arms In Country's
Defense
JOSEPH SHAPLEN


The Germans have been decisively
beaten back by the Russians at vite-
bsk. This news is wonderfully en-
couraging to the Russian patriots, who
are flying to arms for the defense of
the revolution. Vitebsk is the capital
of the province of that name 1t lies
eighteen miles from Orsha, and 300
miles south of Petrograd. Orsha is
railroad center on the Dneiper river,
300 miles south of Vitebsk, and north
of Mohileff
From Borisloff, eighty miles south
of Orsha, and thirty eight miles north
east of Minsk, the Germans have ad-
vanced to Orsha. Here the Russians
sailed forth and beat back the Ger
mans distance of eighteen miles.
The Russian blew up the bridge
across the Berevina river. This is a
spot made memorable by the Napo-
leon invasion in 1872
At Rovno in Volhynia, the Germans
have organized prisoners and gotten
them into the ranks.
Germans Advance Must Continue.
The German commanders have been
holding communication with the Ger
man delegates at Brest-Litovsk.
These delegates have told the German
commanders that the advance of the
Germans in Russia must continue.
The Germans seem to be deter
mined to occupy Petrograd. 1t seems
to be their intention to cut off Petro-
grad from the south.
Ten detachments of Russians have
been dispatched to the battle-ground
of Pskov to help their comrades there.
Moscow has sent 10000 Russian
troops. to Bologue, a small town to the
northeast of Vitebsk.
A cnstant stream of patriots is call
ing at the recruiting quarters here
and being enrolled into the fight for
the saving of the Russian revolution.
1t is estimated that as many as 200,-
600 of the proletariat have already
rushed to arms.
A wire message was received today
from the staff at Luga, 100 miles from
Potrorrad, to the effect that the gar
rison had thus far been able to hold
the Germans back.
Another Russian Victory.
The assault on the Germans on
Pskoff, 162 miles southeast of Petro-
grad, ended in Russian victory
The Russians are not only resist
ing the Germans advance and re-
tarding it all they can, but they are
removing thei- property farther into
the interior. hey are determined that
the Ger1as,-s, in theil' advance, shall
get nothing that WI y Of any use to
them in the wy v, # they do get
military poseaz:--.c { vast tracts of
territory.
The Russian c3ani.s,r' today
admitted that Real, the capital of
Esthonia, 200 miles frc-o Pet. ograd.
had been captured by the Germans
after a battle. When the G ,rmans
had approached within four miles of
the place, they sent word that they
came as guests. They said tl;s was
due to the fact that Esthonia had
been regarded as a sort of an inde-
pendent province. The Russians re-
fused to accept such proffers and the
battle ensued.
London, February 27-It is 'tncer-
tain whether the Germans or the
Russians now hold Pskov. Reports
: "ree that TIE town frequently chang
u hards. BoIi5off was captured by
n Germans. Orsha ard Smolensk
are heIng evacuated. The Cossacks
Ie'rt;iea at Postov, the bolsheviki
capturing General Nazareff. III, l.
sheviki are attacking Novo Tcherask.
With s resisting stroagly
London, February 27-The Rms
sian revolution win defend itself
against Germany, says a Russian Of
hclai statement, which announces
that Germany refuses an armistice.
Berlin, February 27-The Germans
captured two Russian regiments re-
treating north of Dorpat.
London, Eng, February 27.-That
the final fate of Russia, regardless of
whether she is or is not occupied by
foreign troops, will be decided at the
general peace conference when the
time comes. This statement was
made in the house of commons today
by Arthur j. Balfour secretary Of
state for foreign affairs.
London. Eng, February 27.-Mon-
tame, the Japanese foreign minister.
is reported to have stated to the
Japanese house of representatives,
that if peace should be actually es-
tablished between Russia and Ger
r'any, along the lines laid down. by
Germany, and accepted by the boil
sheviki, Japan will be compelled to
take most drastic measures.
Thirty Vessels Were Sunk.