RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16289, 13 August 1918, Page 7

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

A CRITICAL SITUATION.

(±>y Cable.—Press Association.—CopyrightJ (Australian and K.ti. Cablo Association.) COPENHAGEN, August 11. sr. Lenin, after a stormy meeting with the Soviets,, sent an ultimatum to Japan in conuoxiun with intervention in. Siberia.

The Czecho-Slovaks are nearing Moscow from the north-east and southeast, cutting off food supplies. German newspapers admit that tho situation in Russia is critical, and declare that tho Gorman Government must prepare for the immediate overthrow of the Bolshevik Government, with the restoration of Entente influence in Russia.

The "Arbiter ZeitungV' Vienna correspondent says that seventy-four Czecho-Slovak soldiers were shot on July 29th for high treason against an armed forco of tho State.

In view of the threats of tho Loft Social Revolutionaries, Dr. Helfferich orderod tho removal.of the German Embassy at Moscow to Pskov. NEW YORK, August 11, Thoro is no confirmation of the rumour of a declaration of war against Japan by the Bolsheviks. LONDON, August 11. Tho Exchange Telegraph's Tientsin correspondent reports that operations against the Allies are assuming large proportions. Borlin is directing tno movemont, and has already armed prisoners.

THE CZECHO-SLOVAKS.

MEW YORK, August 11. Tho Czecho-Slovaks' Natioual Council has received reports stating that tho Czecho-Slovnks' troops, which recently occupied Vladivostock, are moving westward towards European Russia. Tho Czocho-SlovaKs' army in Russia; numbers more than 100,000 trained and equipped men, who will servo under the same command as the Allied troops in Siberia.

REVOLTS IN UKRAINE,

AMSTERDAM, August 11. Peasants' revolts continue in many districts of Ukraine. There is also looting of German wheat stores.

THE SIBERIAN EXPEDITION

("The Timee.") TOKIO, August 11. The activities of the General Staff indicate extensive military movements. Although it is said that tho expedition will bo limited to a. few thousands, daily reports from Siberia show that the situation calls for tens of thousands. It is clear that the Czechs and Cossacks cannot continue to hold tho wellaccoutred Magyars, Germans, and Bolsheviks. The Japanese Government realises tte situation in Siberia, licnce the preparations for _ real, instead of mock, assistance implied in tho occupation of Vladivostock, which is outside the battlo area.

MONARCHISTS PETITION FOR A KING.

(United Sorrice.) LONDON, August 11. The Finnish- Diet Monarchists Have not secured the neces§ajy majority in order to declare the of a king urgent. They are now petitioning the Regent to nominate a candidate without the, formality of a general election.

M. TCHITCHERIN'S STATEMENT,

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

NEW YORK, August 11. The "New York Times" 'Washington: correspondent says that the United States and Allied Governments will not take special action regarding M. Tchitcherin's statement.

The* State Department at W&shingtoil was officially informed that M. Lenin, id • a speech, declared that a state of warexisted between lluacia and the Allies. When the Allied Consuls' at Moscow asked the Commissary of Foreign Affairs, M. Tchitcherin, for an explanation, the latter said that M.' Leniffl meant that Russia was in a state of do- ' fence regarding the Allies, but desiredl to continue relations with them as with Germany.

THE EX-CZARINA AND HER DAUGHTERS.

(Received August 12th, 7.40 p.m.) ROME, August 11. ,■ The "Osservatore Romano" announces that the Pope is negotiating for the release of the Czarina and the Grand Duchesses, and is undertaking to provide for their financial support.

TO THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT'S COMPLAINTS,

(Received August 12th, 7.40 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, August 11.' The British Minister has handed to the Finnish Minister the Government's reply to the Finnish Government's complaints. The reply denies that the British Government supported any party during the Finnish revolution. •The great Allied military authorities co-operated with the Red Guards. The reply adds: "Britain does not intend to assist any Russian army to enter Finland or support a civil war in Finland. The Allies sent troopß to the Murman coast in order to maintain connexion with Russia and prevent the Germans getting a submarine base there. The Allies have no intention to annex tho Murman coast or aay part of Russia."

BRITISH AND FRENCH CONSUIfi RELEASED.

(Rcnter'a Telegrams.) (Received August 12th, 10.20 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, August 12.

In consequence of the efforts of the Swedish representations at Moscow the British and French Consuls Jiave been released.

MORE DISORDER AND BLOODSHED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received August 12th, 7.40 p.ui.) COPENHAGEN, August 11. A large force of Finnish Red Guards are now occupied in fortifying iho Russian side of the border. The Russian newspaper. "Isvestia" Btates that the Soviet Government has been overthrown in many towns, and replaced by Social Revolutionary Committees. A well-known Bolshevik leader named Olschensky has been killed Kazan. There is much bloodshed among ihe Bolsheviks in the Rjaesan and Novgorod districts, where the Bolshevik organisation has practically broken down.

Other newspapers indicate that Lenin and Trotsky are preparing to flee to Germany.