BOLSHEVIKS IN PERSIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 122, 22 May 1920, Page 7

BOLSHEVIKS IN PERSIA.

AIMING AT TEHERAN;

PERSIAN. TROOPS MAY JOIN

" REDS."

(15y t'ab\e.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

LONDON, May 21

The Bolshevik capture of Enzeli is regarded as a most serious move, in view of the military helplessness of Persia, and the new responsibilities of the British in the Middle East and tho risks as regards India. It is assumed that the Bolsheviks first aimed nt the seizure of General Denikin's volunteer fleet in the Caspian, which was interned at Euzeli, but doubtless their ultimate purpose is tho occupation of Teheran. The' situation is aggravated by the unreliability of Persia's Cossack division, of which 5t)00 are reported to sympathise, openly with Bolshevism. It is feared that the whole division will join the "Reds." The "Daily Mail" estimates that the British troops driven out of Enzeli numbered between 400 and 500. A small number of troops remain at Tabriz, and their fate, like the fate of those captured at Baku, is unknown. The wholo situation involves a serious menace to British prestige throughout the Middle East, and endangers vitally important oil interests in Persia. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law, in reply to a question, stated that the new Anglo-Persian agreement did not involve British obligations towards Persia.—(United Service.) .