RUSSIAN OUTLOOK.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16212, 15 May 1918, Page 7

RUSSIAN OUTLOOK.

MAY FIGHT. AGAIN'

(Bv Cable.—Pre s« Association.— Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

WASHINGTON, May 13. M. Thomas Masarik, a Bohemian loader of education, who has arrived from Russia, statos that » Russia is preparing to strijke against the Germans in the closing days of the war. Hie Czechs and Slovacs are orc-inismg an army. ("The Times.") CHRISTIANIA, Mav 13. The Finnish M. Enckell, has arrived at Helsingfors from Petrograd. He statos that M. Lenin is establishing a regular army and is trying to build up the finances on a broader basis. The Petrograd Labour Commune denies the reports of the threatened occupation of Petrograd and Moscow.

(.Router's Telegrams.)

MOSCOW, May 13. M. Lenin has telegraphed to tho food organisations demanding immediate help, in view of tho catastrophic position at Petrograd. M. Lenin says that a counter-revolu-tion is raising its head, turning tho discontent of the starv ing masses againstthe Soviet authority.

ECHO OF DEATH BATTALION

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received May 14tli, 9 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, May 13

Mine. Marie Leontiva Botclikneva, leader of the Battalion of Death, lias arrived at a Pacific port from Russia. Slio crossed Siberia disguised as a peasant, and took refuge on a British warship in Vladivostock Jiarbour. She says alio is going to France to fight the Germans, expecting to die on tho battlefield.

Tho battalion of Russian, women, known as tlio Legion of Death, was actively engaged in July, 11)17, on tho Vilna front, iivo women being killed or wounded in the first battle, according to Press correspondents 1 reports. It was reported that in a subsequent engagement only 53 women in the entire battalion escaped unhurt. Tho Legion of Death left Petrograd for tho front in July, uudor the command of Mme. Botchkneva, -who was herself injured by shell-shock. The women soldiers were garbed in trousers, puttees, rind tunics a trifle longer than tho usual army coats. They wore tho regulation army Caps over bobbed hair, and carried packs only a trifle lighter than those of the regular 1? us.sian •oldie;*. The girls wore of Russia's best blood, of tho strong stock of some of the city's intellectual, financial, and social leaders. Most of them were students at universities. _ Some were wealthy. .Thoy wero recruited from the higher educational institutions, with a few peasants and servants. Some married women, but nono with children, were admitted.

THE ROMANOFFS

(Received May 14th. 8.30 p.m.)

AMSTERDAM, May 13. The Germans have confiscated all property belonging to the Romanoffs in the Crimea, including tho Empress* Dowager's castle at DuelberJ nearSebastopol, leaving tho Empress only her private apartments. German guards stand before.the castle.

German newspapers stato that tho Dowager-Empress of Russia .and tho Grand Dukes Nicholas and Alexander are now in German hands.

German newspapers are complaining regarding the large number of divisions required to maintain peace in tho Ukraine.

IN SIBERIA

COSSACKS ADVANCING

(Router's Telegram*.}

LONDON, May 13. Renter's Harbin correspondent states that General Semenoff has issued a communique that ho has restored the bridge on the Onon River, which ho crossed, and occupied Adrianovsk. He continues to meet with popular sympathy. General Somenoff has issued a proclamation assuring Trans-Baikalia that his movements are not counter-revolu-tionary, but are intended to restore lawful freedom.

Many Russian soldiers from Siberia have joined General Semenoff. They state that the situation i n Russia is becoming favourable for such movements, owing to general discontent with Bolshevik desootism.