The Washington herald., 1918-03-03
Final Fight Against Advanc-
ing Huns IndicatesDe
ateBattle for Petrograd
U: S. WARSHIP DEPARTS
FROM RUSS SEAPORT
Action by China and Japan
Yet to Be Authorita-
lively Confirmed.

Amsterdam. March The Bol-
sheviE. according to Tokyo sd-
vices. seized a pier loaded with
supplies valued at $50! !0o0. 900 and
then proceeded to take a threat
enins attitude toward the allied
ships lying in Wadivossok Harbor
and against allied nationals and
property in the city. An American
warship which has been lying IN
the harbor for a month was said
to have suddenly departed.
Intensive organization BY the
BolsheyiEi Of a defense of Petro-
grad continues. the workers aid
ing the plan of resistance with
unabated enthusiasm.
Fight % Last.
These movements are generally in
terpreted rs indicating q last despsr-
ate defense on the part Of the Bol-
sheyists to resist Surrender Of the
Capital to the Anal ditch
The fact that the sustained German
drive has been halted Is understood 70
mean that the luI viii end when the
Brest-Litovsk negotiations have been
ended either by signing the Hun peses
pact or Submitting to Pruszian AFRO
gsnce. ----
roDaosrvw nlsht-soms diSpGtches
say Monday noon-ths time limit CIV
en- the Russians by Berlin Tor signing
the German conditions expires. Re
, ports that the new parleys at Brest-
LItovsk have been broken OF by the
Germans failed to be confirmed BY
word from Berlin today.
A new menace to Petrogrsd arises
from the German advance towsrSs
Bologolie on the Moscow Petrogrsd
railroad, the chief distribution pOint
| for the Capital sF
Await Defense NSra-
Rumors and reports p0uring 10 from
various sources early in the day TO the
effect that both Japan and China have
begun to act in the Russian crisis
failed to be borne out by direct or inoi-
rect word from the two sources which
alone could authenticslly confirm o.
/ deny them-the governments at Tokyo
and Pekin.
The last authoritative word from the
japanese capital up TO late this even
ing was that the question OF interSen-
ing in Siberia was being seriously con-
] sidered in conjunction with the other
powers fighting the central alliance.
Stories Of the dispatch OF japanese
troops into Siberia and OF Chinese
forces into Manchuria were therefore
treated with extreme reserve in Of
fetal and diplomatic quarters at this
neutral point of observatiOn
Nevertheless. the latest develop
ments at vladiyostok. the great Rus
sian Asiatic port. where Japsn's mili-
/ tary power would be first felt IL in
deed it were to be used at this juno
| ture, were taken here as fully war
ranting the general expectation OF
prompt action by the Aixado's armed
forces
Conferences Reported
Important conferences were report
/! ed in Toxic dispatches TO be under
way between the japanese Emperor.
his ministers and army and navy
chiefs.
Meanwhile the German advance in
Southern Russia is being pushed en-
ergetically. though In the direction of
Petrograd no important progress was
registered. Kiev, the Ukrainian eapi-
tai recently captured by Bolshevikf
forces. has been occupied by the ins
vaders. ''Ukrainian and saxon troops
have liberated Kiev." was the way
the German war Office gave the news
to the world
In the direction Of Mohilev. the for
mer Russian army headuuarters. the
German center has reached Gomel. 80
miles to the north.
Below Petrograd the situation 10
still more or less stationary. The
Germans are fortifying Pskof. ~
miles 70 the southwest. and are hold
ing Luga, 20 miles south OF the cspi-
tai Advance forces had been In this
town four days ago. but IL now seems
to be held strongly by invading
troops 4-
vienns reported today the surren-
der Of 1000 Russians TO the Austzisus.
and the seizure OF vast stores Of sup
/ salAas an the Irlrrof..a