SOVIET RUSSIA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17343, 3 January 1922, Page 8

SOVIET RUSSIA.

THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM. GOLD FOE AMERICA. fßy Cable—Press Association —Copyright.) (Australian and Cable Association.) (Received January 2nd, 7.5 p-rn.) COPENHAGEN, December 31. A message received via Helsingfors states that the Soviet Commissaries held a financial conference in Moscow and decided that extraordinary steps were essential to rehabilitate Russia's financial position. The time is rapidly approaching when the cost of printing roubles will exceed their ex.hange value. ■ TV.e Soviet's gold reserve, consisting of gold commandeered from the banks after the revolution in 1917, has now dwindled to 20,000,000 roub'es. LONDON, December 30. M. Krassin, Russian Trade Commissioner in England, has signed an agreement under which the Soviet Government will shin ten million dollars in gold to New York for the purchase of food and seed for tlhe famine area. THE RED ARMY. STATEMENT BY TROTSKY. (Received January 2nd, 7.5 p.m.) MOSCOW, January 1. Trotsky informed the Soviet Congress that the Red Army had been reduced from 5,300,000 last year to 1,370,000. Forty-three per cent, of the officers were workers of the peasant type who had had no military education. "They aro : th<3 best revolutionary material," said Trotsky ''Without them the Red Army would be impossible. Everyone in Russia wants peace. No one desires expansion, but should Russia be attacked, we will prove in 1922 that it is easier for Russia to expand than for her enemies to encroach on our territory."

ACCIDENT OR DESIGN ? (Received January 2nd, 7.5 p.m,l STOCKHOLM, January 1. The Russian ice-breaker Vinga sank the Esthonian ship Sarema, in the Gulf of Finland, 23 persons being ■ drowned. Replying to the Esthonian Government's Note, the Soviet Government blames the master of the latter ship for navigating without lights, but it is rumoured tlhat the Sarema was looted and then sunk. TROTSKY AND JUDAISM. AN AMAZING STORY. . (R-eeeiyed January'fgnd, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 2. The Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Express" describes a dramatic ceremonial in the Ekaterinoslav Synagogue when the Rabbi at the request of Trotsky's father expend Trotsky from, Judaism, calling dowir curses of eternal' damnation upon him. Trotsky's aged and half-blind father wat led to the altar by his sons and son-in-law. He solemnly charged his son with being an enemy of Judaism and a curse to humanity, declaring that every Russian and' the pntire world were his witnesses. Trotskv's mother fainted during .the proceedings, but revived later and joined her relatives in disowning Trotsky.