RUSSIAN CRISIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4815, 12 March 1918, Page 5

RUSSIAN CRISIS.

ANTI-BOLSHEVIK MOVEMENT. : .a ALEXIEFF ORGANISING GREAT ARMY. PEACETO BE REPUDIATED BOLSHEVIK POSITION WEAKER. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, March 10. Enlightenment regarding the internal political situation in Russia was afforded by Professor Eleceff, of Moscow University, who was interviewed on his arrival at Christiania. He stated that a representative conference at Moscow decided to organise a National Guard, with the obj'ect of overthrowing the Bolshevik regime. General AlexiefF was organising a great army in the Don district. Thousands were joining and the Cossa.cks were supporting the movement, which aims at the formation of a coalition Government, introducing a Republic and repudiating the RussoGerman peace. The Bolsheviki position has become of the weakest, after peace with the Central Powers. The foregoing facts, Professor Eleceff said, had been suppressed in Petrograd. The United Press Petrograd correspondent states that the Grand Duke Michael and other officers liav© been arrested for alleged complicity in a plot to restore the monarchy. A Russian wireless message states that a Russo-Roumanian peace has been concluded, including the early Roumanian evacuation of Bessarabia. BOLSHEVIK MISCHIEFMAKERS. NOT ALLOWED IN SWEDEN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 11, 7.25 p.m.) PETROGRAD, March 10. Sweden has refused to allow Soviet, delegates to be landed. They propose arranging an international congress. GERMANY AND FINLAND. TROOPS MARCH ACROSS ICE Australian and N.Z. Cable Association COPENHAGEN, March 10. Two thousand Germans landed on the Aaland Islands. They hoisted their flag at Ekerese and built barracks. German destroyers sunk two Russian transports south of Aaland on Thursday. Two thousand Germans left the Aaland Islands, and marched across the ice to Finland. Great quantities of munitions and artillery were also transported.' The Af tonbladet learns, that fighting on Aaland the Germans have beaten the Red Guards. A VAIN PROTEST. Admiralty Intercepts—Wireless Press. (Received March 11. 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, March 10. A Russian wireless report says: M. Tcherin has protested to the German Government against the introduction of German troops to Finland and the Aaland Islands. GERMAN LANDING FORGE. HORRIBLE RED GUARD OUTRAGES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 12, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 11. The Morning Post’s Stockholm correspondent says the German warships Westfalen and Rheinland, with live troopships, have anchored beside the Swedish squadron at Mariehainm. The Germans have brought 20,000 troops. “Red” troops are committing horrible outrages', and have murdered 600 of the bourgeoisie at Helsingfors and elsewhere. Drunken Red Guard's cut out the tongues of prisoners and shot a number of children in the presence of their mothers and wives in the presence of their husbands. GERMAN ICE-BREAKER SUNK. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 12, 1.5 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, March 11. The large German ice-breaker Hindenburg struck a mine south of the Aaland Islands and sank. Most of the crew were saved. TURKS AT TREBSZOND. ANOTHER DREADFUL MASSACRE. Australian and N.Z, Cable Association PETROGRAD,’ March 10, The Turks massacred the remaining population at Trebizond. Many were incinerated. A .number of children were tied in packs and thrown into the sea. All women, and even young children, were ill-treated. Some Armenians were crucified. SITUATION IN SIBERIA. AN INTERESTING REVIEW. VLADIVOSTOCK STORES APPARENTLY SAFE. The Times. (Received March 11, 7.25 p.m.} PEKIN, March 10. A semi-official report says General Semenov has been patrolling the • Siberian railway as far as Karimckaya Junction. He commands a staunch, disciplined force, and is awaiting guns and supplies. His recent re-* tirement was temporary and was duo to lack of artillery. The Bolsheviks, under German officers, have some artillery, but are disciplined and disconnected. They have reached Daouriya,. 50 miles from Manchuria. Many Cossack landowners have returned from Russia.-They have seen the anarchy there and'are anxious to co-operate with General Semenov to prevent the Bolsheviks’ domination at all costs. • . . There is little doubt that General Semenov, when better equipped will collect forces sufficient to control the situation until more serious developments are threatened. _ The Allies’ stocks at Vladivostock do not seem in immediate danger. They are reachable’ through ManchuAs the Amur railway is practically suspended owing to shortage of coal and rolling stock, the Germans are unable to seriously take the aggressive in East Siberia, whilst Hie western railways are disorganised. Pro-Ally Russians in Peking, while admitting that the Japanese threat is proving a useful deterrent, state that the fear of intervention may throw Russia ■ into the Germans arms. The Japanese press now generally suggests that a military expedition at present is unnecessary and the Government’s action is thus hampered. , 4

JAPAN’S INTERVENTION. TO BE DECIDED THIS WEEK. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association NEW YORK, March 10. A Washington correspondent learns from an Entente diplomatic source that the Versailles War Council is dealing with “the question of Japanese intervention. A decision concerning Japanese intervention in Siberia is expected in the coining week. The United States will be notified should Japan decide to intervene.

There are indications that Japan is dow more anxious than a week ago to enter Siberia. The New York Times says it is understood that Japan is forming a division of Russians to co-operate with the Japanese in Siberia. The United Press states it is rumored that > the Japanese Government has negotiated with the anti-Bolshe-vik leaders for some form of political aid in the event of intervention in Serbia.

CHAOTIC CONDITIONS AT VLADIVOSTOCK. MILES OF WAR MATERIAL. Tlie chaos which reigns- at Vladivostock, was graphically described by Mr C. H. Carter, an American traveller, in an interview with an Auckland Herald reporter. Accompanied by his Wife, Mr Carter went to Vladivostock with the intention of travelling some distance easi; into Siberia, thence south through China, but the difficulties were so great anti the future so uncertain that tlie tour had to be abandoned. “Japan will have to step in and protect the Allies’ interests in Siberia,” said Mr Carter, “if millions of pounds’ worth of essential war material is to he made secure against Germany. For 15 to 20 miles, the beach at Vladivostock is piled with munitions and supplies of all descriptions —machinery, motor cars by the hundred, steam and gasoline tractors, copper and steel for shells, and almost every essential in the way of war material. Much of this great dump was unloaded on to the ice, the materials then being dragged to the beach and left- there. The confusion and muddle has been such that much of it is below high-water level and when the tide comes in it is covered with water which, in the case of the machinery, must do great damage. Bu't this is not the only place where there is congestion of war material. Every terminal between tho Pacific Ocean and the Ural Mountains is loaded with freight, because many of the railway depots along the route have not the capacity of Vladivostock. At the present time Vladivostock can handle about 300 cars daily, the capacity of each being 15 to 20 tons, but Harbin can handle only 150 to 200 cars daily, and this number diminishes further on owing to the lack of terminal facilities. All this material has come from America and Japan. • Referring to the conditions m Vladivostock. Mr Carter said there was indescribable chaos and no ceitain form of authority. In the town there were 15,000 to 20,000 soldiers who were under no semblance of discipline or control. I hey simply wandered about the streets and dicl what they liked. Drilling was a thing of the past, and every man appeared to be liis connnandiiif* officer. The states of this undisciplined rabble 6f a garrison gave an indication of the awful conditions existing throughout Russia. “The port of Vladivostock is closed,” continued Mr Carter, “and trade is at a standstill. A foreigner cannot deposit money in the banks nor can he withdraw it, and anyone arriving cannot leave under a "period of ten days.” “These,” he continued “are a few of the results of the first attempt of the people of Russia to rule themselves.”