RUSSIA COMES BACK.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15918, 4 June 1917, Page 7

RUSSIA COMES BACK.

HOSTILITIES OPENED ON RIGA FRONT. GERMAN COMMANDERS APPEAL FOR REINFORCEMENTS. ACTIVITIES ON WHOLE WESTERN FRONT. GERMANY'S MAN POWER FAILING. LOSSES AVERAGE A DIVISION DAILY. CHANGES IN BRITISH WAR CABINET. (3rd YEAR—3OBth DAY.)

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

SERIOUS MUNITION STRIKES. 120 FACTORIES AFFECTED. (By Cable—Preas Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 1. Strikes have been decided on in 120 of the largest munition works at Petr rograd. STRIKES ON OIL FIELDS. TIFLIS, June 1. Alarming conditions prevail at Baku owing to strikes on the oil fields. Baku is a port on the Caspian Sea, and is the Russian petroleum centre. CHARGED WITH TREASON. EX-WAR MINISTER INDICTED. (Beater's Telegrams.) , PETROGRAD, June I. Tho Minister of Justice has completed the indictments against. General Sukhomlinoff, who was Minister of War in 1914, charging him with responsibility for the shortage of munitions, and with the communication of information to Austrian and German spies. BULGARIAN PEACE OFFER". "INSOLENT AND STUPID." (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PETROGRAD, June 1. Maxim Gorky, the famous Russian Socialist writer, has received a letter from M. llizoff, Bulgarian Minister at Berlin, proposing an armistice on tho Eastern Front, pending negotiations for a separate peace between Germany and Russia. Ho says that Germany does not contemplate an offensive against Russia if tho latter remains .quiescent. I M. Rizoff offers to meet M. Gorky in Sweden. M. Gorky, in publishing tho letter, describes it as insolent and stupid. Ho declares that ho has no intention of replying.

MISSION TO RUSSIA. ALL VIEWS REPRESENTED. . BRITISH SOCIALISTS' MESSAGE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON Juno 1. It is understood that the Government's motive in facilitating the journey to Russia of representatives of the different political opinions in Britain is to comply with tho desire of the Russian Government and people to loam the views of all Eectitms of British thought. It is tiuo that certain small factions which are not enthusiastic towards the war are represented, but the Government is convinced that Britain entered the war on behalf of tho small nations, democracy, freedom and justice. The Government courts the fullest investigation, and gladly allows all sections of the community to expound their views. Messrs G. H. Roberts, Ramsay Macdonald and F. W. Jowett, LabourSocialist delegates, will inform Russia how Britain was driven into the war, and will elucidate Germany's present endeavour to distort her own objects in forcing war upon the world.

MISLEADING STATEMENTS. CONDEMNED BY SOLDIERS. PETROGRAD. June 1. A conference of soldiere' delegates from the front deprecated tho exaggerated and misleading statements regarding fraternisations and desertions, adding that tho former were not serious and the latter did not apply to tho troops at the front. The conference urged that sovero punishment should be meted out to deserters. RESTORING DISCIPLINE. THE SITUATION IMPROVING. (Renter's Telegrams.) LONDON, June 1. It is impossible to generalise tho Russian situation, but the Government continues its efforts to restore discipline to tho Army, although its authority is still qijestioned in somo districts, and the workers still chow signs of dissatisfaction. Tho Premier has directed tho Government Commissioners in all provincial

towns ,to send back deserters to their regiments. The Government Commissioner at Kronstadt has resigned owing to the executive of the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' delegates claiming sole authority over tho workers. REACTIO~N~SETS IN. DISCIPLINE BEING RESTORED. GOVERNMENT'S DIFFICULT TASK. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Recoived Juno 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, June 2. The correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" at Petrograd states that there has been a strong reaction in favour of orderliness following the recent disorder, thus enabling the Government to adopt a firmer tone.

The Government will probably succeed in restoring civil and military discipline. he sayis, but it remains to bo seen whether it can successfully handle the seriouß financial and economic problems which beset tho country. THE RIGA FRONT. RENEWAL OF HOSTILITIES. RUSSIAN FORCES ACTIVE. (Recoived June*3rd, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, Juno 2. The Russian artillery on tho Riga front has shown vigorous activity, and has inflicted important damage on tho enemy's organisations, including several explosions of artillery dumps and fortifications. There has been unprecedented air activity on both sides.

Companies from the Petrograd garrison liavo left for the front, carrying banners inscribed, "We aro going to fight, not to fraternise. Trust in Kerensky." ACTIVITY IN GALICIA. , (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) (Received June 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2. A wireless German official message states: — "There have been active artillery duels in tho regions of Smorgon, Baranowitschi, Brody, Z9oczow, and tho Taruapol Railway." MR HENDERSON ARRIVES. (Beuier's Telegrams.) PETROGRAD, Juno 2Mr Arthur Henderson has arrived at Petrograd.

MINISTER RESIGNS. | (Received June 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) j PETROGRAD, June 2. The Minister of Commerce (M. Konavaloff) has resigned owing to a ' difference with the Minister of Labour ! (M. Skoboloff) regarding tho economic and financial measures neccssary in the present crisis. "A GRAVE CHANGE'' REPORTED. GERMANS DEMAND REINFORCEMENTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) (Received June 3rd, 11.3-5 n.m.) ROME, June 2. The "Messagero" says: "All German commanders on tho Russian front report a grave change in the situation, i "They demand immediate reinforcements." GRAND DUKE ARRESTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) ' (Received June 3rd, 11.25 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, Juno 3. It is reported that the Grand Duke Nicholas has been arrested, owing to Royali&t riots at Tiflis.

EXTREMISTS SEIZE KRONSTAOT REVOLT AGAINST GOVERNMENT. (Australian and N.Z. • Cable (Received Juno 3rd, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. The Committeo of Soldiers' and "Workers* Delegates at Kronstadt has assumed tho administration of the affairs of the city, declaring that it does not recognise the Provisional Government and will removo all Government representatives. The Committee's dealings witlx Petrograd will henceforth be carried on l\v means of an intermediary between Petrograd and tho Committee. The Minister of Justice, on behalf of tho Government, has asked the Committee to reconsider its decision and enter into pourparlers. A correspondent says that the Kronstadt affair is due apparently to ihe local Committee's ignorance of the relations existing between the Government and the Petrograd Committee of Soldiers' and "Workmen's Delegates. The president of tho latter body is going to Kronstadt to investigate matters.

M. KERENSKY'S SPEECHES. QUALIFIED BY EXTREMISTS. RUSSIA'S WAR AIMS EXPOUNDED. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received June 3rd, 5.5 p-m.) LONDON, June 2. The correspondent of the "Morning Post" at Petrograd states that tho official organ of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Council, commenting on M. Kerensky's exhortations to the army to prepare to advance, says that it is untrue that Russia io organising in preparation for an advance, but she was making an advance possible. "Wo must do this," the journal adds, "in order to prevent the Germans transferring troops to France. "It is also necessary to enable Russia to speak with Germany at the peace negotiations as an equal, and not as a vanquished Russia. "We must have an active foreign policy, making the objec:s and character of tho war clear. The army's capacity for active work will be restorable only if tho Government's foreign programme is fulfilled."

BLACK SEA FLEET. SUCCESSFUL BOMBARDMENTS. ENEMY DEPOTS DESTROYED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Router'o Telegrams.) (Received Juno 4th, 1.30 a.m.)f LONDON, June 3. A Russian official message states: — "Tlie Black Sea Fleet, while cruising off the Anatolian coast on May 29th, destroyed munition depots, barracks, and factories, and other establishments at Shkeirogly, Samsun, Ovenic, nnd Ordeh. "The Fleet also destroyed 1-17 sailing ships laden with supplies. Two schoonera were brought to Trcbizond." - IN MESOPOTAMIA. KURDS ATTACK RUSIANS, \ BATTLE IN PROGRESS. (Received June- 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. A wireless Russian official message states: — "Near Rcvansir, north-westward of Kerrcanshah, 1000 Kurdish horsemen attacked us. "A battle is progressing." IN MACEDONIA. BULGARIAN SUCCESS CLAIMED. (Reuters Telegrams.) (Received June 3rd, 55 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2. A wireless German official message states: — "The Bulgarians captured an outpost position near Alcockmar, on the western bank of the Yardar."