RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16218, 22 May 1918, Page 7

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

(By Cable.—frees Aasdciation.—Copyright*) (Australian and Cablo Association.) LONDON, May 20. Tho "Morning Post's" Zurich correspondent states that there is much rejoicing in Germany and Austria at tho capture of tho Dowuger-Kmpress of Russia and throe Grand Dukes. Tho "Neuo lueio Press" says tho Central Powers will not ill-treat though all, especially tho Couimander-in-Chiol, the Grand Duke Nicholas, merited punishment. . Tho newspapers state that until the arrival of tho Germans tho Hussion Imperial family were allowed only ordinary t-oldiors' rations, and hail neither meat nor sugar. Tho Grand Duchess Olgn nnct to do housework, and wash clothc-s, and was compelled to sell some of her clothes in order to pay a bookseller's hill. Tho fall of Sobastopol is a severe blow for the Bolsheviks, who have been fighting in bodies two thousand and live thousand strong, with plenty of artillery and machine-guns. A* battle often lasted two or three days, and tho fighting made great demands upon the armies of tho Central Powers, which had to cover a vast distance. The Bolsheviks always evaded defeat bv fiight. There is Gerr. t n disappointment regarding tho foou supply from Ukraine. This is duo to the largo sums of money which the small farmers amassed in the early part of the war, owing to the extortionate prices secured for corn. hen the Bolshevik regime commenced tho farmers hid their money and lived on hidden stores of grain. Thus far they have not even tilled the soil. A telegram from Tobolsk states that the ex-Czarevitch Alexis is seriously ill, there being little Lojkj of his recovery. A Russian wireless message states tnnt the Germans in tlio Roval region violated the boundary fixed on March o.li, and advanced eastwards, despite r m\ os^s L -, - 1 t' lo Russian commander. lhe foreign Commissary requested' S», TVlt^' I i awal of the troops. The hito Gards. at Helsingfors executed the Russian Meet Commissary, Jemtchmin, on the pretext that ho whs conducting a revolutionary campaign among German marines. " +1,1 ? or i uan , commander replied to t nt P W I°- tho Russian Admiral Jomtc,lu .]'n outlawed himself bv + i ln S n mutiny, and consequently affair? 0 ' 0 " Was osclus '>% a Gcrmai. fl,« r PE ™GRAD, May 21. on tho Gul^fV'' i aV °i occu P iod "Hiorko, on tho Gulf of 1' inland, south of Viborc! Tim "at 4.- »i> May 20. , The S o TOfe™?es 1 \1 B kl5 y . 2 ° - A MoZS® C ' "' iUl thi killed r statos 3 tl ' at 2000 were parts of R,ff • I lro " nded - Various CR^utor's Tolograma.) (Received May 21st, 8.20 p m ) PETROGR2D, May 20 pi., , 80^ 7 te,c e ram states that', a Bolshevik Commission, presided over j n - Ensign Krylenko, has ordered the trial of the \ ex-Czar on charges including thoso of causing a coup d'etat, changing the electoral law of the Duma, and Illegally disbursing publio funds. An escort of Lettish rifles has been sent to Tobolsk to bring the ex-Czar to Mos. •cow. It is officially announced that tho anarchist movement in Moscow has been completely suppressed. Eighty anarchist organisations have been dissolved ■and over 500 members arrested. Order was re-established after a severe gunfire, causing serious damago. M. Lenin, in a speech, epitomised his foreign policy, saying: "Until a evolution has broken out in Western Europe, we must manoeuvre, retreat and wait." The Soviets have proclaimed Russian Turkestan a republic. It is reported from .Manchuria that General Semenoff's Cossacks have joined forces -with Chinese detachments. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received May 21st, 8 p.m.) MOSCOW, May 20. Food disorders have occurred in Pavlosky. Peasants and workmen burned the Soviet's building, several members of the Soviet being burned to death. A detachment of the Rod Ouard frrod on the mob, 30 being killed or wounded. (Reutor'a TotegTama.i ( (Received May 21st, 8 p.m.) BERNE, May 20. The Germans in the occupied districts of Poland have demanded delivery of 100,000 cattle and 30,000 pigs, comprising one-fifth of tho entire stock of the country. POSITION INTJKRAINIA. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuters Telegrams.) LONDON, May 20. A Russian wireless message says:— "Skoropadski has been' declared an imposter. In various places in the Ukraine his decrees have been disregarded. "The" Peasants'. Assembly at Kieff, numbering 20,000,. was closed by the Germans. The population became exasperated and the District Assemblies I decided to burn all bread and other I provisions. "Tho landowners have been declared outcasts. Skoropadski has jio troops, except a bodyguard of a hundred men. The oountry is groaning under hunger, misery, ami slavery. "Everybody is endeavouring to free Great Russia, and guerilla bands are forming. Tho members of the Rada are regarded as traitors. Almost tho whole of the population is armed, and nttempts to disarm are resisted to the death. Towns and villages are aflame. "Tho Germans everywhere are appointing their own officials and exporting to Germany all provisions they- can seize." THE CAUCASUS AND PEACE. (Retiter's Telegrams.) (Received May 21st, 8.20 p.m.) PETROGRAD, May 20. | A telcgrairf from Tiflis, dated Mai 12th,-states that tho peace pourparlers between tho Caucasus Diet and the Ottoman Government have been broken off, owing to the monstrous demand! of the Turks, who immediately began an cnergetic offensive on the whole front, and occupied tho town of Van, massacring tho Armenian population.