New-York tribune., 1918-03-22
Ambassador Appeals to the
People to Fight for
Liberty
Seizure of Odessa
Increases Panic
Experienced Officers Wei
coined in Bolshevik
Volunteer Army
IBy The Associated Tress

MOSCOW, March 19,-Russia event
ually will become a German province
and Russians will lose their liberty if
they submit to the peace forced by
the Central Powers, David X. Francis,
the American Ambassador, declared in
q statement to the Russian people, is
sued from the American Embassy at
Vologda.
The Ambassador pledged American
help to any government in Russia that
would resist the German penetration.
He urged them to forget their political
differences, and said that he would not
leave Russia until compelled by force.
The Ambassadors statement said:
"The friendship between Russia ana
the United States, which has existed
for a century or more, should be aug
mcnted rather than impaired by Russia
becoming a republic, and Amerlcans
are sincerely desirous that Russians
be permitted to continue free and in
dependent and not become subjects of
Germany.
Will Become German Province
81 have not seen an authentic copy
of the peace treaty, but | am suffi-
ccntly acquainted with it's provisions
to know that if the Russian people
would be robbed Of vast areas of it's
territory, but her neople eventually
would become subjects of Germany.
Russia eventually would become Writ
ually German province and her peo-
pie would lose the liberties for which
their ancestors struggled for genera
tions
"My government still considers Amer
ica an allay of the Russian people, who
surely will not reject the proffered as
sistance we would be prompt to render
to any government in Russia that will
offer sincere and organized resistance
to the German invasion.
"1f the Russian people will be brave
and patriotic, will lay aside temporarily
their political difference and be reso-
lutte, firm and united, they would be
able to drive the enemy from the bor-
ders and procure. therefore, at the end
of 1918 an enduring peace for them
selves and the world"
Panic in Russia Increases
The uneasiness caused by the seizure
of Odessa and the gaining by the Cen
trail Powers of control of the Black Sea
have intensified the panic in North Rus
eral belief that in short time the
Germans will advance on Moscow and
Petrograd. The Transcaucasian Con-
stituent Assembly, meeting at hs,
has refused to ratify the peace treaty
with Germany and has urged an i'm
mediate war on Germany.
The German explanation that they
are not fighting Russia when they as
sist independent Ukraina to defeat
Bolshevik forces is hooted by the Rus
sian press generally, which contends
f,O
Ukrainia is only fimsy pretext to
dismember Russia.
Leon Trotzky has arrived in Moscow
from Petrograd and announces he will
remain here to assume the duties of
Minister of War; if there is a war.
but otherwise he will decline the post
The commander of the Moscow de-
fences to-day reviewed four regiments
OF volunteers, who declared uneuuivo-
caily for war. Many experienced army
ohcers have now joined the Bolshcvik
gardless of their politics.
indications point to the adoption of
rigid discipline among the new forces
and the restoration of trained officers
TO the commands. The Bolshevik lead
crs insist that the new organizations
must be purely voluntary.
Petrograd Exodus Continues
reports from Northern Russia saw
that the Corelia district, in which Kola.
the only lce-free port on the Arctic
shore, is located, has asked Finland to
annex it. This is regarded as part of
the German plan to help the Finnish
government forces isolate Russia from
the Baltic and Arctic
The evacuation of Petrograd con-
Ilnues ana the government bureaus
are being transferred to Moscow. Nizh.
ni-Novgorod and Perm as rapidlv "a
the disabled railways permit. The
trains are under heavy guard and have
to force their way along railway lines
crowded with soldiers returning from
the front and refugees fleeing before
the German odvo,oo