New-York tribune., 1918-02-23


it in disorderly retreat. To save the
situation the Bolsheviki is sending Red
Guard detachments from units which
are not entirely disorganized.
Pending the German reply 10
Trotzky's peace offer. the commander
of the western front has ordered the
retiring armies to avoid lighting with
the enemy and to Destroy their ammu-
milton.
A proclamation ordering resistance
10 the German advance, calling on All
Russians 20 defend the fatherland and
declaring Petrograd in a state of siege
was issued last night from the Smolny
Institute, the Rolshevik headquarters.
The proclamation was issued at the or
der OF the Peoples Commissaries, and
is signed by Premier Leninc and krN-
lenko.
defence to The death" is ordered in
The proclamation Of the Russian Com
missioners The Commissioners appeal
to the soldiers to destroy railways and
provisions and compel the bourgeoisie
10 dig trenches under penalty OF death.
The Commissioners appeal to the
country also intimates that the Ger
mans plan the capture of Petrograd.
The German generals it says. de
sire to establish their own order in
in the gravest danger The duty of
Russian workmen and peasants is de-
sfence TO the death of the republic
against the masses of bourgeoisie and
:imperialists of Germany"
The Socialist Fatherland is IN dan
sger," it continues. "ln order totsave
he country in, its exhaustion from
further trials of-war we resigned our
selves to making immense sacrifices.
Dur delegates on February 20 left
Regitsky for Dvinsk, but up TO the pres
mt no news from them has been re
,eived''
After stating that it is the duty of
vorkmen and peasants TO defend the
,epublic to the death. the appeal con-
-nues:
German militarism wishes to smoth-
~ the working classes and the Ukrain-
an masses, to give back the land to the
landowners. factories and workshops to
he bankers and power to a monarchy.s
Following are the points urged in the
appeal:
"F'irst-All the forces in the coun-
Try in their entirety must place them
,elves at the service Of the defence OF
he revolution.
Second the Councils OF Work
nen's and Soldiers revolutionary or
canizations must ente- into the conpul-
sorry defence OF each position to the
asst drop Of lheir blood.
Third. Organizations on railways
md the Soviets connected Herewith are
obliged with all their strength to check
attempts Of the enemy to profit by the
equipment Ct lines Of communication
n their retreat they must destroy the
always and blow up the stations. All
olling stock and locomotives must be
-ent eastward and into the interior OF
he country without delay.
Fourth. - Corn and provisions If
general are placed on the same footing
as valuable property when in danger OF
aling into the hands of the enemy anc
must then be destroyed without con
tradiction The local Soviets must sc,
hat these decisions are carried out anC
he responsibility falls upon their rep
cesentativcs.
Fifth. -Workmen and peasants Of
Petrograd. kiev and all towns, village:
nd hamlets on The line Of the new
front must raise hattalions to dig
.renches under direction OF the military
Socialists.
Sixth. All members Of the bour
yeose class, the woman as we'll as th(
men. must enter these 0attalions urlc1
surveillance OF the Red Guards and il
stSc Of resistance must bt SUONt1
"Scventh.-All institutions which Of
'er resistance to the action of the rovo
ution OH the defensive and pass TO The
,ide OF the German hourgeoisc. o.
which have a tendency to profit by th'
nvasion Of the impcrialistic masses il
order to overthrow shc authority o
he Soviets. must be closed. Directors
{ and collaborators with these institu
ions who are capable OF work mus
mobilize themselves to dig trenehe
and engage in other defensive works
German Spies to Be Shot.
Eighth.--Forcign agents and spccu
ators are counted a revolutionary agi
ators and German spies must be sho
At sight. The Socialist Fatherland i
n danger. Long live the national so
,ial revolution."
In proclamation issued yes,erda
announcing that they had agreed t
>ign German peace terms the People
Commissaries declared they were firm,
y convinced that the German work
ng classes would not permit the Rus
sian revolution to be crushed by th
miitarists.
The proclamation. which is at
dressed TO Russian workmen and peas
ants. says:
1--WE agreed to sign peace terms
ut the cost Of enormous concessions
n order to save the country from
final exhaustion and the ruin of the
revolution. Once more the German
working class. in this threatening
hour, has showed itsolf insufiiciently
determined 10 stay the strong Grim
NAL hand of its own miitarism We
had no other choice but to accept
the conditions OF German imperial
ISM until a revolution changes OF
cancels them
"The German government is no,
Fastening to reply TO us, evidently
aiming TO seize as many important
positions III our territory as pos
sible. The enemy has occupied
Dvinsk. Werder and Lutsk and is
continuing to strangle by hunger
the most important centres Of the
revolution.
"We even now ale convinced frm-
~ that the German working classes
Will rise against the attempts o.
the ruling classes to stitle the reVo
luton hut I'VE cannot predict witt
certainty wne1 this viii occur The
German imperialists may hesitate
at nothing Cor tho purpose of. de
stroying the authority OF the council:
and taking the land from the peas
ants
"The Commissaries call on al
loyal councils ard army organiza
tions to use all elior Is to rccreat,
the army. Perverted elements o
hoohgans. marauders and coward
should be expelled from the ranks
and, in the event of resista wipct