ALLIES AND THE 'REDS'

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 20, 23 January 1920, Page 5

ALLIES AND THE 'REDS'

DEFEBSIVE ATTITUDE, ■PBOTECTOIG BOAS TO HTDIA CHTTRCHTLLS COTJP THAT FAILED. (Bγ Cable.-i Tress -issodaUon—CDpyrtsat.) (Received 8 ajn.J" LONDON, January 22. The Paris correspondent of the London Daily News" puts a new complexion on the visit of Mr. Winston Churchill Secretary of War, to Paris. It appears' that the Premiers were discussing the scheme of the Supreme Economic Council for opening up trade relations with the Russian people at the moment when the officers of Mr. Winston Churchill at the War Office were inspiring the alarmist reports that were issued in London about the state of the Bolshevik peril. Mr. Churchill and Mr. Walter Long (First Lord of the Admiralty) ordered General Wilson and Lord Beatty to accompany them in a dash to Paris in the hope of preventing the Premiers coming to a decision, but they arrived an hoar too late. They found Mr. Lloyd George condemning strongly the inspired reports on the Bolshevik situation, -which he regarded as misleading and unfortunate. The relationships between the Ministers are now strained.—(United Service.)

ROAD TO INDIA. BRITAIN TO SUPPORT BUFFER STATES. I— — _NCE — N Xi J_'_'_iK__fT. (Received 8 a__]f ■ LONDON, January 22. The Paris correspondent of the London "Daily Chronicle" states tluat the representatives of the Republics of Georgia and Azerbijan, in Trans-Caucasia, have been promised that Great Britain will wage defensive warfare on their behalf. Mr. Lloyd George, however, has decided that there can be no further support for the beaten forces of Denikin and Kolchak. France is indifferent to the situation in the Trans-Caspia and Trans-Cau-casia, and is therefore not inclined to commit herself to a military expedition in the Middle East. Poland will be dissuaded from making inroads into Russian territory, while the Allies will pursue a purely defensive pol_y in Poland. Denikin has removed his headquarters to a warship in the Black Sea_ —(A and N__ Cable.) SIBERIA TURNING COLOUR. GOING A DEEPER RED. ANTIS ANTAGONISE PEASANTS. (Received 8.40 a-m.); LONDON, January 22. The British, French, and Japanese diplomatic staffs, who have arrived at Harbin, agree that Siberia is turning "Red" and .that it will be impossible to reconstitute the anti-Bolshevik Government westward of Manchuria. The savagery of General SemenofTs forces has roused the whole of the people east of Lake Baikal to such an extent that the populace would welcome the Bolshevik regime. The Japanese, who for a long time supported Semenoff, share the opinion that the anti-Bolsheviks will be enabled to hold the' Trans-Siberian railway without enormous reinforcements. General Kolchak and his staff are under arrest at Irkutsk, which is now wholly Bolshevik. An unconfirmed report from Chita asserts that the "Reds" destroyed a Polish division. —(A and j__l," Cable.)

JAPANESE BARRIER. STOPPING EASTWARD SPREAD. r (Received 11 a-m.^ TOKYO, January 22. Tt is not expected that large reinforcements will be sent to Siberia, but the Japanese intend to prevent the eastward spread of Bolshevism- Ardent _u_ta__±_ axe in favocr of sending over 10 divisions to clear the whole of the country as far west as Lake Baikal. —(A. and-—_.) BOUND FOR THE BLACK SEA. ALLIED WARSHIPS UNDER ORDERS. • - LONDON, January 22. Advices from Malta on January 16 state that orders have been received hy a number of warships to leave on Janu-: ary 18, apparently for the Black Sea. Every available ship is shipping stores of coal "to its utmost capacity, taking in sufficient for several months. The authorities are reticent, but it is understood that the Allied fleets, with Britain represented by the greater part of the Mediterranean Fleet, are taking the necessary steps in view of the serious situation in South Russia. The Dreadnoughts Marlborough and Benbow and several light endsers are already at Constantinople.—(Renter.) IN SOUTH RUSSIA. BENIKIN HOLDING ON. . LONDON, January 22. The latest news from South Russia states that General Denikin's position is more stable, and that he is holding his line. The Bolsheviks have captured not more than 35,000 volunteers. Allied warships command the Blade Sea. The Bolsheviks are stiU a considerable distance from Odessa. . The reported capture of Krasnovodsk was not correct. The Bolsheviks are held up outside the town, and are under the fire of the volunteer igept in the Caspian Sea.—(Renter.) ATTACKING THE LETTS. COPENHAGEN, January 22A Lettish communique states that the Bolsheviks attacked heavily, their forces including Chinese regiments. Heavy fighting took place, with enormous enemy losses. —(United Service.).