UKRAINIANS AND COSSACKS COMBINE AGAINST BOLSHEVIKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 303, 20 December 1917, Page 5

UKRAINIANS AND COSSACKS COMBINE AGAINST BOLSHEVIKS.

COMPLICATED CIVIL WARFARE IN PROGRESS. (Received 11.40 a.m.) 'LONDON, December 19. The "Dally Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent says that civil war is becoming increasingly complicated. The Ukrainians have concluded a treaty •with the Don Cossacks to which the Terek and Kuban Cossacks also adhere.' Fighting is expected at Kieff, and has already begun at Odessa. The Black Sea fleet is bewildered, not knowing whether to take orders from the Petrograd Government or from Kicff, Irom Bolsheviks or the Ukrainians. The Bolshevik newspaper "Pravda" announced that the Cossacks hoW Rostoff. and are advancing on Voroneeh. The Russian Ambassadors at London and Tokyo have been ordered to return to Petrograd to answer charges of spreading false news regarding the armistice. If they disobey their property in Russia will be confiscated. The banks already refuse to pay out large amounts. The anarchists are becoming more active, nnd it is feared that they will surpass the Leninists in expropriation of goods of the bourgeoisie and the middle and upper classes.—(-V. and N.Z. Cable.) PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AI BREST LITOVSK. BOLSHEVIK ULTIMATUM TO' THE UKRAINIANS. PETROGRAD, December 19. The German and Austrian Foreign Secretaries, Baron Kuhlmann and Count Czernin, telegraph that they will arrive at Brest Litovsk to-morrow. They invite M: Trotzky to join them in order to initiate general peace,(Router.) ' The German Press, in welcoming the armistice on the Russian front, adjures the Government to manifest no puerile spirit of sentimentality during the negotiations, but to exact from the Russians all that is necessary for the greatness and prosperity of the German Empire. They urge that the Government should insist on keeping with a high hand the Baltic provinces, and dictate conditions making impossible a repetition of a famine euch as the Central Empires have undergone in the last three years. One clause in the armistice between Russia and Germany provides for the early military withdrawal of the Russian troops from Persia, according to the principle of the freedom and independence of a neutral Persia. The Maximalist newspaper "Provda" announcee that the Bolsnevik commissioners have sent the Ukraine Parliament a 4R.hours' ultimatum, declaring that unless Parliament renounces all further attempts to support Kaledih the Bols&eviks will declare war on the Ukraine.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

SEPARATE PEACE DEMANDED IN HUNGARY. (Received 11.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 19. The United Press .Association's Stockholm correspondent interviewed Weltner (leader of the' Hungarian Socialists)j who said that more than 100,000 people took part in a demonstration at Budapest on August 24 and demandivl a general peace. He rejected a separate peace proposal as likely to jeopardise democracy. ROME, December 19. ; It is officially denied that the Pope intends to issue a Christmas- peace message. He opposes a separate peace, believing that such would prolong instead of shortening the war.— (A. and N.Z.) THE CONVOY SYSTENI. LOSSES GREATLY DIMINISHED. (Received 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, December 19. Sir Leo Chiozza Money said that the general result of the convoy system was a great diminution in losses. Only two per cent of Homeward cargoes were lost in November. I He added that five British steamers were damaged in the Halifax disaster, and about two-thirds of the crews killed. (Reuter.) BRITAIN'S FOOD QUEUES. CENTRES Or POSSIBLE MISCHIEF. (Received 11.30 a.in.) LONDON, December 19. Lord Rhondda (Food Controller), in a speech at Islingt 1: "Every food queue is a centn. issibie mischief. They must and yriij ..e stopped. The Ministry will support local food committees initiating ■ schemes for more equitable distribution. The Controller will consider a. scheme compelling customers to register at one.chop for butter and margarine. ' Compulsory rationing will probably be necessary, but there is, no fear of starvation. Prices of potatoes, meat, bread, margarine, and cheese have been reduced in the last half year, the, cost of living having fallen 10 per cent, i The Ministry's measuree preclude the possibility of profiteering,- to which increased prices were only slightly due. | The committees can prosecute and drive out profiteers from the' business. I believe the country is willing for most drastic regulations so long ac the sacrifices are equal."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) HOLLAND'S TRADE WITH BRITAIN. ° (Received N lO a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 19. The Government has made a further protest to Germany concerning obstacles to navigation between Holland and England.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) INDEPENDENT SIBERIA. (Received 11.45 a.m.) b NEW YORK, December 19. The United Press Association's Tokyo correspondent states that Americans from Pctrograd assert that Siberia is planning the formation of a self-govern-ing independent nation, extending from Vladivostok to Omsk, with its capital at Irkutsk.—(A. and N.Z.) AUSTRALIA'S CASUALTIES. (Received .10.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Casualties to the Australian forces to date total 219,398, including 40,260 dead, 110,067 wounded, and 63,861 aick.

CANADA'S RESOLVE. M jl COMPUiSIONISTS' BIG WHT. ft OTTAWA, December 19. ' In a statement on thegcneral election ) the Prime Minister of Canada (Sir R. L. Borden) says he anticipates a majorit3- ', of ."50 in the new Parliament. He adds that the soldiers' vote may increase the! majority to 60. "The election is in no sense a party victory," said Sir Robert, "Liberals being equally responsible with Conservatives for Canada's magnificent response to the severe sacrifices that .compulsory \ military service entails. There is no t greater trial for a modern democracy. ( The result of the election is a triumphant < refutation of those who contend that ' democracy is unable to rise to the heights i on a great issue. Canada's message will < bring encouragement to every Dominion i within the limits of the British Commonwealth, proclaiming to them, as well as to the enemy, Canada's invincible determination to fight until the wild beastGerman militarism—has been subdued." (A. and N.Z. Cable.) OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. MAJORITY OF OVER 50. The Hon. George E. Foster (Canadian Minister of Trade and Customs) cabled to JJr XV. E. Beddoc (Canadian Trade Commissioner) stating that the Union Government, has been sustained, and that it will have a majority of more than 40. CANADA'S GLORIOUS EXAMPLE i (Received 8.10 a.m.) ; OTTAWA, December 19. Sir R. L. Borden has received from Mr Hughes'a message of heartiest congratulations on his magnificent victory. 1 2 Canada has set Australia a glorious example, which he hopes Australia will follow.— (A. and N.Z. Cable. SUGGESTED TRADE WAR. ; TO PERSUADE THE FOE. jj LONDON, December 19. In the House of Commons, Mr David ■' Davies (Libernlniember for Montgomery- ■ shire) suggested that Britain should propose to the Allies a treniy for the ; exclusion of all commerce, shipping, and! trade with the Central Powers until they 1 abandoned the occupied territories, made . complete reparation for their crimes, and ; accepted the Allies' proposals for the ( right of nations to determine their own form of government, with international arbitration, and limitation of armaments after the war. ■ lord Robert Cecil (Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs) replied that the suggestion would be carefully considered.—(Renter.) BRITISH SUPER 'PLANES. < . i LONDON, December 19. ! Lord Montagu of Beaulieu states that i Britain is now producing aeroplanes i , carrying as many bombs as a Zeppelin. , Machines capable of travelling 160 miles' an hour are also available.—(A. and , N.Z. Cable.) , U.S. SUBMARINES COLLIDE NEW YORK, December 19. Two American submarines' collided in home waters. One was sunk. Nineteen men perished.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) NEUTRAL TORPEDOED. COPENHAGEN, December 19. "J The .. Norwegian . steamer' Maidog has been torpedoed/three of .the crew being drowned.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) CONVOY SURVIVORS. COPENHAGEN, December 19. ' One hundred and fifteen seamen from the sunken convoy have arrived in a Nor- ■ ■wogirnn harbour. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)