The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-02
seize R0UMiNIlN GOLD.
TROTzKY ADVISES CONGRESS OF
ACTION.
Peace Negotiations May be Resumed
at t-LdtOvsk--Situation in Fin-
land Not Clear.

London, Jan. 29.-The Bolsheviki
foreign minister, Leon Trotzky, an
nounced to the congress of work
mems and soldiers deputies at Pet
rograd Saturday night the decision
OF the government respecting reprisals
against Roumania. These include the
breaking of diplomatic relations, the
seizure of the Roumanian gold re-
serves in Moscow and the outlawing
of Lieut. Gen. Stcherbatcheff, the
former commander in chief of the
Roumanian front.
Trotzky said that the Roumanian
gold reserve amounted to 100000
600 rubles.
1t is understood that General Stch-
erbatcheff has been cooperating with
the Roumanians in disarming Rus
slams in Roumania and Bessa rabia-
According to reports received from
beriin by way of Amsterdam peace
negotiations will be resumed at Brest-
Litovsk Tuesday. Count Czernin, the
Austro- Hungarian foreign minister
and DR.. Won Kuehlmann, the German
secretary OF foreign affairs, arrived
there Monday and M. Trotzky is ex-
pected at an early date. Later dis
patches, however, denied that the
Russian foreign minister intended to
proceed to Brest Litovsk. Before leay-
ing Vienna. Count Czernin had an
audience with the emperor and he is
quoted as saying that he might be
compelled to return shortly on i'm.
portant business
A Reuter- dispatch from Petrograd
says on the authority of the commits.
s'oner of national affairs that the
commissioners will not negotiate fur
ther with the Ukrainian rada and
that nothing remains but relentless
struggle until victory has been OBJ
tanned by the Ukrainian worknlen's
and soldiers deputies.
Almost three-quarters of the Ger.
mans have been Withdrawn from the
Russian front according to the news
paper Nasty Vedemosty. No heavy
guns or armored cars are left, while
the number of light guns has been
greatly reduced. Young soldiers are
being removed daily and their places
are being taken by old men and semi
anvalids. The German northern front
is strongest. There are no Germans
on the southwestern front.
The Petrograd correspondent of
the London Times, referring to the
civil war in Finland, says that Swed
ems assistance seems to have been
asked by the Finnish senate and adds
that doubtless many Firms or at least
Finnish Swedes. will welcome the in
tervention of Sweden. An evening
paper announces the arrival of Swed-
ISM troops at Tornea and says that q
clash has already occurred between
an advance guard Of Swedes and The
Finnish red guards.
A Stockholm dispatch to The Post
says that the Swedish government on
Friday decided to propose that Nor |
way and Denmark invite Finland to
cooperate with the three Scandina. |
wan countries regarding legislative
questions.
confirming the outbreak Of diseases
at Petrograd The Times correspond.
ent says the population is being deci-
mated thereby. The epidemic is at
trlbuted to the extreme shortage OF
food Various forms of typhus. as
well as smallpox are rampant. More.
over, extremely unsanitary conditions
now prevail in tbs city while all the
organizations concerned with public
health either have been abolished or
nave virtually ceased operation ow-
ing to the revolution. There is no
sanitary commission, there are no
great specialists and there is no regis.
ration Of disease Very few doctors
are in practice
According to Berlin advices receiy-
'd via Amsterdam, the Russo German
commissions at Petrograd have reach ,
I'd n substantial agreement concerning
he exchange of invalids and the dis.
'atch of men homeward has begun to
| restricted extent.