REORGANISING RUSSIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 167, 15 July 1918, Page 5

REORGANISING RUSSIA.

THE MURMAN LANDING. ASSISTING ANTI-BOLSHEVIKS ' ' ■" 1 TO CHECKMATE GERMANY. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July }4. The landing of a large Allied force on the Murman coast represents the effort to . reorganise Russia and assist the counter - revolutionaries and Czechoslovaks to overthrow the Bolsheviks and checkmate Germany's extensive annexation plans. The ice-free ports of the Murman coast provide the only means by which the European Allies can supply guns, ammunition and war stores to the Russian forces. It is expected that Japanese and American supplies will be sent through Vladivostok, which is now in possession of the Czecho-Slovaks, who , defeated the Bolsheviks and disarmed the Russian warships in the harbour. Fifteen thousand German troops arc in Finland, mostly in the south. It will be difficult for them to reach the Murman coast, as the communications are bad, except the railway, and the terrain is also difficult. Lenin's Government, whose headquarters are at Moscow, is protesting against the Allied landing, bnt is unable to interfere, as the Government controls only sixty thousand troops of poor quality,' indifferently equipped.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) A train! oad of Bolsheviks arrived on the Murman coast. Anti -Bolsheviks captured and disarmed them all and sent them back to Moscow.— (A. arid N.Z.) REVOLUTIONARY ATTITUDE. ACCEPTING ALLIES AID. (Received 11.45 a.m.)' STOCKHOLM, July 14. A Russian Social Revolutionary manifesto cays that they do not fear the Allied .landing, but accept aid in assisting to re-establish the East front. There must be no interference in national affairs. The manifesto urges that the necessity of overthrowing the Bolsheviks, who are carrying' out German demands without protest, becomes daily more urgent. (A. and N.Z. Cable.) \. ' NEW FACTORS INTRODUCED. • LONDON, July 14. The Allied landing on the Murman coast is regarded ac an event of the first importance. Coupled with German news from Russia, it foreshadows the probability that Russia-will eventually be the scene of scattered and prolonged campaigns. Berlin messages state that the Allies have planned attacks from two sidee with a Japanese advance into the Baikal district, where they would link up with General Semenoff, leader of the Cossack forces in Siberia, Berlin regards the British expedition as the most Serious, asserting that it , is intended to advance from the north against the heart of European Russia, and asks whether the feeble Soviet Government is capable of resisting,, with Red Guards, an . advance by disciplined ' troop*. Berlin admits that the Allies have already established connection with the Czecho-Slovaks, who will furnish a valuable rallying-point. Berlin. ■ announces that the Central Powers must intervene with their armies, because the Russian Government is too weak to resist without help. It would be impossible for the Central Powers to permit the Allies to gather a new source of strength in the East.-* ("Times.") An Allied force, at the request of the Russians, is guarding the Murman coast and railway against the Germans. — (United Service.) The Germans, with the aid of the Finns, are making efforts to establish submarine bases on the Murman coast, which will be open all the winter, and also to cut off Russia from the Allies. Further forces are being sent. —(A. and N.Z. Cable.) The news that the Allies are landing an army to protect the Murman coast draws attention to the gravity of events in Russia. There are 35 German and 15 Austrian divisions between Finland and the Black Sea. German divisions are approaching the Murman railway from Finland, and other divisions are moving east in other directions, ■< seriously threatening Allied interests. The enemy forces have nearly reache dthe Volga have gained the rich Don territory, and arc aiming at the Baku oilfields, the possession of which would open the route to Central Ashi and the Indian frontier zone. The obscurity of the Russian news complicates the situation, but it is believed the Bolshevik army has a maximum strength of 60,000, and is not likely to fight.—(United Service.) AVENUE OF AT.T.TT.TI Am, WHY GERMANY WANTS CONTROL. LONDON, July 9. Renter's correspondent at Amsterdam states that the uneasiness felt in Germany regarding the Murman coast is* indicated by an article in the "Norddeutecher Allgemeine Zeitung" declaring that it is not believed that British action on a great scale from the direction of the Arctic Sea has yet been decided. The article says that England has probably kept open this northern door for the purpose of invasion, but Finland, with Germany's assistance, will know how to meet the threatened danger. Telegrams from Helsingfors state that a German expeditionary force numbering 50,000 is concentrated on the FinnishKussian frontier, which German patrols are reported to have crossed on June 27. The communications of the force, through 125 miles of wilderness, are most difficult. The "Times" correspondent at Stockholm states that events are developing rapidly in Finland, and hostilities may commence at any time, both in Murman and East Carelia, The principal objective is the seizure of a base on the Murman railway, from which to operate against Kola. The Finns will march on Petchenga. Well-informed critics state that a clique of nationalists, militarists, and politicians has driven Finland, alongside Germany ; against the country's wishes, hoping to realise the dream of a greater Finland, regardless of the coat of Germany's aid. . ;