EASTERN SIBERIA.

Evening Star, Issue 16822, 26 August 1918, Page 3

EASTERN SIBERIA.

FIGHTING NORTH OF VLADIVOSTOCK. ALLIES SLOW TO ARRIVE TO HELP CZECHS AND COSSACKS. LONDON, August 23. General Falk Horvart states that there has been heavy fighting on the Usuri line. The Anglo-French troops engaged suffered slight casualties. The Japanese also participated, but the Cossacks and Czechs bore the brunt of the fighting. The Allies are withdrawing, being outnumbered, but Japanese reinforcements are stemming the ojisetof the Bolshevists. Monitors on Lake Khanka. (north of Vladivostock, and ouo of the sources of the Usuri River) are worrying the Allies' left flank, and the Czechs destined for Manchuria are consequently detained. This object lesson is the result of the allied policy of sending troops in driblets. RUSSIAN GENERAL ARRIVES. BERNE, August 23. The ' Vossische Zeitung' states that General Russky, whose whereabouts has been a mystery for a year, has arrived at Vladivostock, and has offered his services to General Horvart. ATHENS, August 23. It is reported that General Evert accompanied General Russky to Vladivostock. UNITED SIBERIA. WASHINGTON, August 24. The Omsk (Western Siberia) and Vladivostock anti-Bolshevist- Governments have reached an agreement, thus placing Siberia under one central authority. POSITION IN MOSCOW. AMSTERDAM, August 24. The Exchange Telegraph quotes a - Kieff massacre stating that the B"olslievists have released 23,000 ex-officers at Moscow, i in consequence of the population threateni ing to blow up th* Kremlin unless the prisoners were released. rThe arrests were made to prevent a counter-revolution, j THE MURMAN EXPEDITION. STOCKHOLM', August 23. It is reported from Belsingfors that 10,000 Red Guards, under Commander Italija, have enrolled for service with the English on the Murman coast. GERMANS ¥/ANT ARCTIC BASE. LONDON, August 23. The 'Pall Mall Gazette' says the Germans are rapidly pushing the railway in the north of Finland to Petchenga, o.i the Arctic coast, with the object, inter alia, of establishing a submarine base in order to escape the Atlantic, and thus be freed from the dangers of the North Sea, and also to cut the Entente's communications with Russia from Western Europe. AMERICA'S MAN-POWER. SIX MILLION MEN NEEDED. NEW YORK, August 23. Senator Reed, speaking on the Manpower Bill, said the United States would require to send 6,000,000 men to France before the war would be ended. He expected it to last for two years more. _ Half a million men ought to be sent immediately to Russia. U.S. ARMY OVERSEAS. WASHINGTON, August 23. The United States troops overseas now number 1,500,000. [The cable news in this issue accredited to ' The Times' has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial epinion of ' The I Tiroee.']

THE GERMAN NAVY. AN AMERICAN OPINION. NEW YORK, August 23. | The Paris correspondent of the ' New York Times' interviewo'd Mi* Franklin Roosevelt (Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy) regarding th© possibility of a naval battle. Mr Roosevelt said: Opinion is divided whether the Gernmus will bring out their fleet as a final desperate and forlorn hope or conserve their battle fleet intact as a pawn, in th© peace negotiations. The Allies .are more than ready if Germany brings out her fleet. The Gorman fleet is not much stronger than it was in 1914, because Germany has devoted all her_ industrial energies to providing munitions for the army and building submarines rather than strengthening the navy. The submarines aro no longer a menace, but only an accidental danger to ocean traffic. The Allies' effective devices have forced the U boats to operate far out at eea instead of near harbors, and have thus decreased their efficiency. A CANADIAN STATESMAN. PAYS TRIBUTE TO AMERICA. OTTAWA, August 24. Sir R. L. Borden, who is returning from the Imperial Cabinet meetings, states that the arrival of the United States troops freed the allied commanders from the necessity of remaining on the defensive. The victory of the last few weeks would have been'impossible unless the American reserves were available. The most effective and harmonious co-operation existed between the United States, Britain, and France. The Canadians had captured 10,000 prisoners in the recent advance, and 150 cannon. The future of the world's peace depended on the co-operation of the United States and Britain. Together they could ensure equality of opportunity for the smaller nationalities and the backward races, thus giving much hope for the futuro League of Nations. The mastery of the air was rapidly passing to the Allies. ALLIES' ASK RAIDS ON GERMAN TOWNS. COPENHAGEN. August 24. Berlin reports that no ouo was killed in the Frankfort air raid, but the material damage is heavy. Five people were killed at Cologne, and a number of private buildings were destroyed. SWEDEN AND THE ALLIES. NEW YORK, August 23. Sweden has signed an agreement with the Allies whereby she will bo supplied with commodities in return for ceasing to supply Germany except with moderate quantities of iron ore. BRITISH PRISONERS RELEASED FROM GERMANY. ROTTERDAM, August 24. Two hundred and fourteen wounded British from Germany have departed tor England. GERMAN CABINET CHANGES AMSTERDAM, August 23. It is reported that Cabinet changes are imminent, in Germany, and that Dr Solf is likely to be Chancellor. THE KAISERIN ILL. AMSTERDAM, August 25. The Kaiserin is seriously ill with a nervous breakdown, alleged to be the result of visiting the wounded. M. VENEZELOS NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATH. ATHENS, August 25. While M. Voney-elos was visiting the Salonika front ha narrowly escaped death by shellfire there. GERMAN PEACE KITE, DR SOLFS WAIL ANALYSED BY LORD ROBERT CECIL. LONDON, August 23. Lord Robert Cecil, Foreign Under-Secre-tary, in a statement on Dr Solfs (German Colonial Secretary) speech, says : " Dr Solfs remarkable utterances represent a considerable change, mainly directed to American opinion. It reflects the trend of German opinion. Dr Solf has begun to realise that the Pan-German doctrine is disastrous, and refers to such principles as being held only by a small group without political or Government influence. He claims that the Government strongly combated them. Nevertheless, the Pan-Ger-mans or Junkers have a great influence in Germany. Only a few weeks ago they exhibited their power by securing Herr Von Kuhlmann's dismissal, because of his view that there was no likelihood of Germany being able to secure a military decision in her favor. " Dr Solfs statement regarding Belgium undoubtedly represents a step towards decency. He says that Belgium would not be any nation's vassal; hut Count Von Hertling recently said the same thing, with serious qualifications, notably that there would bo close commercial connection with Germany. Hence Dr Soil's statement is extremely unsatisfactory, especially as Dr Solf reminded his hearers of Count Von Hertling's promises. If Dr Solf wishes to indicate Germany's willingness to liberate and restore Belgium, let him say so plainly. • " Dr Solfs assertion that Germany, by the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, inaugurated a number of small States, which Germany, at their request, will protect temporarily, shows a change in the people. Germany hitherto regarded the Brest Treaty as the firstfruits of victory. " Dr Solf vaguely claims that her colonies shall revert to Germany, and he particularly reprehends the suggestion that Germany has not given a good account of her stewardship of the colored races. I believe that Germany's treatment of the colored peoples has been brutal and repugnant. The Government intend soon to publish a record of Germany's colonial misrule. When Mr Balfour said the German colonies would not be restored, he reflected the consensus of opinion of the world acquainted with Germany's colonial record. Dr Solf waß wrong in saying that we claimed the right to annex them. Mr Balfour had said that their fate would be decided at the Peace Conference. .What Mr Balfour ruled out was the suggestion that they should be returned to Germany. " Dr Solfs reference to the carnage, ovils, and miseries of war is only too true, but it represents an entire change in German feeling, even since last April, when Marshal Von Hindenburg's extravagant war aims were in the ascendant. Dr Solf claims to be the upholder of the League of Nations. I tell Dr Solf that It would be criminal not to achieve an international system which is better than the present system, but we see no hope thereof unless the Entente Powers are victorious, and j Germany acknowledges that her whole system is a profound error." AMERICA ANDPEAGE TERMS WASHINGTON, August 4. Senator lodge, speaking to the Foreign Relations Committee, eald .that Constar.itirople must be made a free port, and Palestine must never- be restored to the Turks. No peace discussion with Germany wa.= possible until she was beaten. Peace must be dictated by the Allies. The German propaganda, poisonous aad insidious. must be resisted, and the world must be

made safe for democracy, but not th*> kind of democracy that was now tyrannising Russia. HAVEN FOR SERB REFUGEES. NEW YORK, August 23. President Wilson has asked Congress to pass an Act admitting -several thousand Serbian refugees from Russia to the TJnited States. Ho said he honed this action would have a good effect an the Balkans. ENEMY ALIENS. LONDON, August 23. The National Party organised a demonstration in Hyde Park on Saturday to do mand the internment of all aliens of enemy blood. Subsequently a petition with 1,000,000 signatures was presented to the Prime Minister. THE BATTLESHIP AUSTRALIA, LONDON, August 23. Sir Joseph Cook thoroughly inspected the battleship Australia, and conversed with the officers and other ratings. Four of the latter who were participants in the Zeebrugge raid, were presented to Sir Joseph Cook, who told them how proud Australia was of them. Sir Joseph Cook also sent a letter of congratulation to each of 11 participants in the exploit He expressed to Admiral Leveson and Captain Bank-house his satisfaction with what he had seen. He particularly congratulated them on the contented spirit of the men. Anxious as many were to see their homes again after such a long absence, they endured isolation and hard' ships with the greatest fortitude. AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION. DELAY IN AMERICA. SENATE COMMITTEE'S DENUNCIATION. WASTEFUL EXPERIMENTS. WASHINGTON, August 22. The Senate Committee, who are investigating the question of aircraft production, scathingly denounce the incompetency, misma.uagemnit, and delays shown in the first year of the war, and recommend a separate department of aviation on the British model. Millions of dollars have been wasted in experimenting in aircraft when good allied models were available. Inexperienced automobile manufacturers were allowed to dominate the aircraft programme, and many defective machines were sent to General Pershing. The committee hope that the production will soon improve. THE LIBERTY MOTORS \ NOT QUITE PERFECT AFTER- ALL. NEW YORK, August 23. Only 4,000 Liberty motors -have so far been delivered to the Allies. The motors arc too heavy and powerful for light righting planes, and are imperfect in some degree. There is not a single American battleplane or heavy bombing plane yet on the American front. Up till August only the Dehivillands type, numbering 600, had been sent to France. An expenditure of millions of dollars has been result-less. It is recorded that unfair preference has been given to certain manufacturers. AMERICAN SHIPPSNG. GREAT INCREASE IN A YEAR. NEW YORK, August 23. According to an announcement by the United States Shipping Board, more* than 1,500,000 deadweight tons of shipping have been added to the American merchant marine by various means since the nation's entry into the war up to August 15. NEW YORK, August 23. For the week ended on August 15 10 ships of 51,700 total deadweight tonnage were completed, seven of which were of steel and three of wood. I An extraordinary heat wave reduced the number of ships launched in the same period. SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. NEW YORK, August 22. A British freighter in American waters escaped from a u bout. A torpedo was fired at close range, but it missed by 20yds. "WHIPPET" TANKS. AN AMERICAN" CONTRACT. NEW YORK, August 23. The ' New York Times's' Detroit correspondent- says that Mr Henry Ford has given the Government a contract to build 1,000 " whippet " tanks. MAORI RESERVISTS ARRESTED. Forty-four Maori reservists were arrested by Sergeant Cowan and four constables at Mercer on Saturday for alleged disobedience of the Military Service Act. No resistance was shown by the party, which includes Tonga Mahuta, a brother of "King" Rata. They were taken to Narrow .Neck (Auckland) Camp. Lanoe- corporal Andrew 'Mitchell, who was killed in action in France on July 22, was 27 years of ag*3, and was tire eldest son of Mr and Mrs Robert of Opoho, North-east Valley. He was born in Melbourne, but was educated in Dunedin at the George Street School, where ho was an apt pupil. His business life of an ironmonger was practically all spent with Messrs Laidlaw and Gray, of thi3 City, in which firm his diligence, courtesy, reliability, and good salesmanship were appreciated both by employers and customers. Ho was a member of the church worshipping in the Choral Hall, and was actively associated in Sunday school, Bible elass, and other Christian work. He was an exemplary son and brother and friend. He leaves four sisters and two brothers and a large acquaintance to mourn the> loss. He was a member of the 24th Reinforcements of infantry when he left New Zealand, but at the time of his death was in the Lewis machine gun and anti-aircraft division. Private R. B. J. Feil, who was killed in action on the western front on the Bth insfc., was a son of the late Mr J. C. Feil and Mrs Feil, of Kensington, Dunedin, and a brother of Mr G. J. J. Feil, of 6 Rata road, Hataitai, Wellington. After boing educated at the Kensington Public School, he obtained a scholarship to the Otago Boys' High School, arid from there served his apprenticeship with Messrs A. and T. Burt, Ltd., of Dunedin. Subsequently he joined the Railway Department, and resigned about two years ago in order to enlist in the 26th Reinforcements. He leaves a wife and two children, who are at present living at Heme Bay, Auckland.