THE WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 November 1917, Page 6

THE WAR.

• „ THE CRISIS IN RUSSIA THE NEW REVOLUTION. ALLIES NOT SURPRISED. LENIN’S PROCLAMATION. LONDON, November <). The Russian Revolution did not surprise London or Paris. It has been probable ever since Korniloff’s escapade. The National Union of Railway Servants, and the Union of Postal and Telegraph Employees, have been

the leading factors in the movement. They were endeavoring to force Kerensky to grant huge increases' : n wages recently. When he refused they became definitely Maximalist. The Baltic Fleet hlso was in sympathy with Lenin and Trotzky, particularly the men at Kronstadt and Helsingfors. On the other hand, the entire officers’ corps of the army, all the CosMacks, the Black Sea. Fleet, merchants, intellectuals, professional men and officials side with Kerensky and bitterly oppose the Maximalists. The Cossacks refused to support the Provisional Government, Trotzkr was editing the Russian Socialist paper at Vienna. On. Hie outbreak of war, lie went to Paris and started an anti-war daily, was expelled, and went to America. When the revolution broke out he tried to go to Russia and was detained at Halifax, but released. The Daily News, states, that Lenin, addressing the Petrograd Soviet on Wednesday afternoon, said the second revolution is accomplished and the Government is now in the hands of the people. The first problem was to end the war. We shall offer n peace acceptable to the proletariat in all countries, publish all secret treaties, take all land from landlords, establish contro by the workmen over industry. The consequence will be the accomplishment of the third social revolution. Perfect order prevails. Petrograd is calm, and seems to be indifferent to everything. Order igt also due to the fact that the military committee has posted proclamations that in the event of disorders or excesses 1 , the offenders will he wiped off the face of the earth. WOMEN’S BATTALION RIDICULED. A women’s battalion wa& arranged and the women’s marching was magnificent, but their reception was frankly ribald. Only in Petrograd would the Government attempt to fight anarchism with a. parade of tanks, and women. \ M. Kerensky attended the Council of the Republic, .‘raid made an uncompromising speech, showing clearly that he recognised the struggle between himself arid-Trotzky, The lat-

ter is extraordinarily cievei, aim quite unscrupulous 1 . Leninite military revolutionary committees are being established in all the larger Russian to win s. SOLDIERS FAVOR PEACE. The Kharkoff garrison ha s already accepted the Leninite authority. Deserters, disaffected soldiers, and mir tionalists are siding with the military revolutionaries', who favor an immediate peace at any price. When the All-Russian Conference of Soviets 1 , under TrotzkyV chairmanship, opened, only 162 delegates attended, being a quarter of those expected. COSSACKS SUPPORT KERENSKY. Kerensky’s chief source of support was the Cossacks, who yesterday gient a. deputation to the Premier and offered to restore order if M. Kerensky promised to exercise firm authority afterwards. It is understood that M. Kerensky accepted the offer. Capital punishment isf noih-existent, but the Cossacks would readily- invent an ef fective substitute. The vast majority of the population of Petrograd and Russia is fully prepared to be perfectly loyal to any Government which ensures) order. Even Trotzky yesterday described Russia as a madhouse, Tims far the Provisional Government and its opponents , are chiefly engaged in slanging matches. The general mania for wordspinning is universally condemned. M. Kerensky- on Wednesday suppressed a 'number of papers and closed the Neva bridges, making Petrograd temporarily two- cities. STAFFS ON STRIKE. LONDON, November 10. The Staffs of the Russian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Finance struck at Petrograd. The telegraph agency states that a congress of soldiers (all Russian) practically unanimously decided’to appeal to the workmen, soldiers, and peasants of Russia, stating that the parties of Korniloff, Kerensky, Kolodri, and others arc endeavoring to move the troops, to Petrograd; but several detachments of Kerensky’s troops sided with the revolting people. APPEAL" TO SOLDIERS. The appeal urges the- soldiers actively to resist- Kerensky', who is a partisan of Korniloff, also- the railwaymen to stop the forces Kerensky- isi sending to Petrograd. The Smollny Institute, where the all-Russia Sol del sat, was the revolutionaries’ headquarters, from which orders, were issued to take prisoners Cuvozdevpick and Opovitch. The latter was arrested in a motor car in the street with his wife. Under the SoldeTg strategy- the troop*, mustered in various portions of the city- until the Winter Palace alone was unsubdued. STREET FIGHTING. During the height of the fighting the city- presented an historic spectacle. Gardens, houses, and neighboring woods were stripped of timber for barricades to be erected, barring all bridges in all thorougTifarqs, and traffic was stopped. All the troops with armored cars and anti-aircraft guns were permitted in isolated areas, AN ULTIMATUM. The besiegers at eight o’clock gave the Ministers twenty- minutes to surrender. * The latter were defiant , and the guns of the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul were (rained on the Palace, which was, surrounded by a detachment of revolutionaries, who attempted to storm it but were driven back by- a tierce machine-gun lire, the Palace Guards, - cadets, and womens battalion*, lighting finely. THE PALACE SHELLED. A cruiser and two destroyers anchored in the Neva, and armored cars in the Morskava Street, heavily

shelled the Palace. The defenders still fought desperately. The continuous rattle of machine-guns, shells, and rifles was heard for some time. ANOTHER PROCLAMAT lON. Meanwhile the Provisional Government drafted another proclamation, stating that the Government would only hand over the power to the Constituent Assembly, and refused to surrender. It placed itself under the protection of the people and the army. ASSISTANCE SENT FOIL The Government telegraphed for assistance to General Headquarters!, which replied that it would despatch troops. The Government then issued a further statement and the situation was' still favorable, the Municipal Peasants’ Councils supporting the Government. FIERCE FIGHTING. Fierce lighting continued in the vicinity of the Palace, warships and armored cars shelling till one in the morning. During the evening four destroyers, minelayers, and several minesweepers, with landing forces brought from Helsingfors, participated. MINISTERS CAPT URED. The revolutionary forces succeeded in entering the Palace as two o’clock. While the battle went on alarge audience attended the Norodnk Norodyndom Chaliapine, singing an. opera. The captured Ministers were sent to their own homes, where they were detained. SOLDEL’S CONGRESS MANIFESTO t * 1 ‘"Ui The Soldel’ s Congress, in a manifesto', states that it intends to propose an immediate armistice on all fronts, and the free return of all private and ecclesiastical land to peasants. Committees will establish workers’ control over the production, and arrange food supplies. The Congress is. persuaded that the revolutionary army is able to protect the revolution against all Impena -

iMis. uiß ©irons or. in© new uovern merit will take all necessary measure; to provide the army with everything it requires l , by- an energetic policy o requisition and taxes imposed upoi all moneyed classes, likewise to irn , prove the economic position of farm 1 lies of soldier's. EASY PEACE TERMS. GERMAN EXPECTATIONS. AMSTERDAM, November 10. Berlin expect*: an offer from tin Leninites of peace oh, easy- terms i they- remain in power. A PEACE OFFERINC. HOW THE KAISER RECEIVE! IT. LONDON, November 10Tiro “Morning' Post’s” Petrograd correspondent narrates at astonishing episode. In the at tack on Riga, an entire Russiai Division brought in their officer; bound as a peace offering- to tin conquerors. The Kaiser immediately real is ing the maleffects of such an action on the discipline of his owr army, ordered every fiftieth Russian to be shotThe released officers were returned their swords, and permitted to return to their homes. The remainder of the Russian surrenderors were flogged or ishedThe Kaiser also ordered tin prisoners not to prav for the Provisional Government, and restored the old form for the Czar The Kaiser’s action being- published broadcast in Russia, great ]y impressed (he Russians, win did not realise in it merely a pos( in tin' interests of the Jlolieuzol lern dynasty. Wiser beads saw in (be Kaiser’,' action significant evidence of what would be the fate of Hie revolution if the Hermans capture Retrograd. CHAOS REIGNS SUPREME. LONDON, November 9The “Daily Chronicle’s” Retro grad correspondent stales’ that flu Military Revolutionary Commitfoe has appointed commissaries a every important railway station t< exhort the soldiers advancing tc Petrograd not to obey the Provisional Government at all. The Russian Conference of flic Soviets lias declared itself Hit sovereign Power, and lias resolved that if its democratic peace terms, hereafter to be formulated and offered, are refused by Germany, the war is to continue. Soldiers at the front are ox holder: meanwhile to stay in tile trenehe,' until further notice- It also resolved that workmen in control ol factories under Hie Soviets grapple with the food problem. It is stated that the Bolsheviks are forming a Cabinet without any Premier, Hie members taking turn to preside. After the capture of the Winter Palace the Council of Workmen and Soldiers learned that twentyfour hours earlier Kiskin, now in gaol, had been appointed dictatorKERENSKY ESCAPES. LEAVES EUR- THE FRONTLONDON, November 9. M, Kerensky escaped from Petrograd in a train for the front, and hopes to persuade Hie troops to oppose the Revolutionaries. A German source reports that M. Kerensky has been arrested- The fate of Ministers is unknown. Several transports with sailors from Kronstadt have arrived to support the Maximalists. FAMINE IN FINLAND.

APPEAL TO BRITAIN. COPENHAGEN, November 9. Professor von Wendt, the Finnish Government’s delegate, Ims ■written to Mr Lloyd George, Mr Asquith and President Wilson, appealing* for food supplies to prevent starvation, due to the country’s isolation and the failure of cropsCIVIL AVAR PROBABLE. PEASANTS’ ATTITUDE DOUBTFUL. PETROGRAD, November S. The “Daily News” Petrograd correspondent says the Bolshevik coil]) d’etat has taken the place of authority in Petrograd, which is now in the hands of the Military Revolutionary Committee of Retro grad. The Soviet and all Government institutions, including* the Provisional ' Council, are occupied by the committee’s troops. The peasantry are still an unknown factor, though the immediate handing* over of large proprietorial lands means the granting of the peasants’ chief demands. It is likely that civil war will he necessary to decide who shall hold powerALLIED RESIDENTS. ENSURING THEIR SAFETY. PETROGRAD, November 9A meeting of the Allied representatives discussed the question of ensuring the safety of the Allied residents at the Telegraph Agency. It is stated that M. Kerensky oh the 7th, at Gatchineu, addressed six thousand soldiers from the

front who were on their way to Petrograd- Afterwards the soldiers decided not to proceed to Petrograd. THE LENIN CONSPIRACY. INTERESTING DETAILS. LONDON, November 9. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Petrograd correspondent gives a vivid description of the events leading to Lenins' conspiracy, of which Trotsky was the nominal head. PRELIMINARY DISORDERS. The upheaval had been threatening for a fortnight- Petrograd throughout was in a state of intense nervousness, owing to rumours that numerous vast processions of armed workmen were assembling. The rumours were confirmed by hands of workmen parading the streets singing the Marseillaise, and others went about offering rifles, resulting in disorders, wherein thirty were killed or wounded, hut occasional murders are too common in Petrograd to arotise notice. Sometimes electric lights were suddenly extinguished for hoursCrowds poured into the streets to find out what had happened. They dispersed when the lights were restored. KERENSKY’S VAIN EFFORTS M. Kerensky vainly attempted to restore public confidence in the Provisional Government, which prepared armed strength and armoured cars, and a British tank, from the front, impressively clattering up Nevsky Prospect was an imposing spectacle“WE SHALL CARRY ON TO THE END AND CONQUER.” WELLINGTON, November 9. Referring to the latest news from Russia, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. AY- F. Massey) said to-day:— “I can hardly say that I am surprised. Something of this character was to be expected. A country in a state of revolution cannot successfully carry on a. war. For this purpose a strong Government is required, and, judging by present appearances, Russia will not arrive at that

stage for some considerable time to come. “The question is, bow will the latest development affect tbe war In conjunction with recent events in Italy, it will probably have tbe effect of prolonging tbe struggle, but although we cannot help feeling disappointed, there is no reason to feel discouraged. Our Navy is still unbeaten and retains Ihe supremacy of tbe sea ; good work is being done by our forces in Palestine; t lie losses by submarines are decreasing: tbe French and British forces are steadily driving the enemy back on the Western front; the Americans are coming in and may soon be (expected to make their presence felt- We have much to be, thankful for, and, whatever happens, we can last longer than (Jerma.ny. “The fighting spirit of flic British—(hat combination of courage and tenacity which has contributed to the success of our race on many previous occasions—is being thoroughly aroused all over the Empire. As British citizens, always relying on Divine guidance, we shall, with our Allies, carry on to the end and conquer-”