THE RUSSIAN SITUATION,

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15917, 2 June 1917, Page 10

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION,

, THE REVOLUTION. , ARRANGED BY GERMANS. ESPIONAGE STILL HAMPANT. , ' Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received Juno Ist, noon.) LONDON, May 81. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent-says that Russia is still waiting tho _ hour which must eoon striko marking tho crisis. Tho ten weeks of jubilation for the conquest of .political freedom have given placo to forebodings. ! There'has been practically no war uows in Russia for a month past. The Workmen's and Soldiers' Council, in a manifesto, _ protests against tho prevalence of drinking. Ii ascribes it/to tho machinations of the old regime. • Nobody -now doubts that the revolu-

tion was originated entirely by German agents, who were working on both sides, influencing tho Government and the people in the interests of Germany. They are still active in tho interior, persuading the peasants to commit outrages with a view to destroying the next harvest. German emissaries nosing as Russian patriots havo done possibly irreparable harm to the Russian Army and Navy. 31. KERENSKY'S INFLUENCE. TROOPS READY TO ADVANCE. PETROGRAD, May 31. Advices from tho Russian front stato that M. Kerensky's tour was a triumphal progress. Ho was received with enthusiasm. Tho troops declaro their readiness to advance. GERMAN PREPARATIONS. THE lEVGUE, May 31. Germany recently sent largo forces of troops, naval guns and naval gunners to the Russian front. There are some indications that Germany's hope of prolonging tho Russian inactivity is dwindling. AUSTRIAN REPORTS. SEPARATE PEACE IMMINENT. ROME, May 31. Austrian prisoners declare that Austria regarded a separate peaco with Russia as imminent. PEASANTirDEMANDS. A SOCIALIST PROGRAMME. (Received Juno Ist, 6.35 p.m.) PETROGRAD. May 31. The Peasants' Congress carried resolutions urging the Government to favour monopolisation of trade in corn and tho development of agriculture by supplying implements. Other resolutions demanded tho improvement of transport facilities, prohibition of tho importation of luxuries, limitation of capitalists' profits, and an incrcaso in soldiers' allowances. LOAN OF £200,000,000. (Received -Tunc Ist, 6.30 p.m.) PETROGRAD, May 31. Tho Provisional Government has approved of .the raising of a loan of 2,000,000,000 roubles (over £2CO,OCOOOO), by the issue of paper money. THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM. PENALTY FOR DRUNKENNESS. (Received Juno Ist, 6.30 p.m.) PETROGRAD, May 31. Tho Government ha 6 decreed that public drunkenness will be punishable by oighton months' imprisonment,' and violence or robbery by drunkards by six or eight" years' penal servitude. f FUTURE OF FINLAND. DEMAND FOR AUTONOMY. The Government i 9 discussing Finnish demands, including a demand for tho establishment of an autonomous State, guaranteed by 1 the nations. IN MESOPOTAMIA. TURKISH ATTACKS REPULSED. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (United Service.) (Received Juno Ist, 7.25 p.in.) LONDON, Juno 1. A wireless Russian official message states: —' 'Wo frustrated Turkish attempts north-wtst of Kabkit and south, of Bnnce.