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Show STATEMENT MADE BY LEON TROTZKY IS MISLEADING WASHINGTON", Dec. I.'. Stale department depart-ment officials made It plain today that Ihe statement of Ieon Trotzky, Bolshevikl Bolshe-vikl foreign minister, that the services of American railroad engineers had been offered of-fered lo improve the transportation situation situa-tion on the Trans-Siberian railroad was not to be taken as Indicating any change in this government's attitude toward the Bolshevikl. The offer to send American railroad men to Russul- to rehabilitate that country's coun-try's badly disorganized transportation system was made while former Premier Kerensky was in power and many of the railroad men arrived before he was overthrown. over-thrown. In line with this government's policy to await more definite developments develop-ments in Russia before altering its attitude atti-tude toward that country, the railroad commission to Russia has continued its work. Three hundred more engineers reached Vladivistok this week and are expected to begin work immediately. Officials still are keeping close watch on the Russian situation, but there has been no indication that recognition of the Bolsheviki regime ia contemplated. Germans Getting Supplies. PETROGRAD, Friday, Dec. 14. The Germans already have begun to obtain fats and other sorely needed supplies from Russia, according to information reaching reach-ing Petrograd today. It was announced that credit institutions here had been advised ad-vised that trade had been ree timed wit h "the Germans at Minsk and other points near the northwestern front. New shops have been opened and t lie Germans are i exchanging metals and chemicals for I vegetables and fats, and especially soap. The' price of soap is la rubles a pound. |