THREAT OF INVASION

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 October 1930, Page 9

THREAT OF INVASION

MB Monarchist Russian refugee® in A Franco have reached the important decision to organise a large force to tight the Bolsheviks, says the “Daily Telegraph.’’ They consider that there will be no difficulty in raising ,ai body of 100,000 trained men consisting largely of former officers of the Imperial Army. A commander, who is in tiro Far East, has already been c-htrsen. The problem, of the moment is how to raise the necessary funds. The Republican .refugees do not, however, support the project. They hold that, nothing has occurred to justify such a 1 step.

The Monarchists ’ decision was reached at a. meeting held on July 2d at the flat of 'General Miller, the successor of General Koufepoff. Representatives of Monarchists’ organisations, including the Supreme Council of Russian Monarchists !and( of th Grand Duke Cyril, were present at. the meeting.

General Stogoff, assistant to Genera: Miller and head of the “White” espionage system in the Far East, read a report, on the present, situation. This stated that for several months peasants had -been in revolt in Siberiai and had got the upper hand of the “Red” army. But what they lacked, was a. chief. Thousands of deserters from the “Red” army were, he said, roaming the Siberian steppe, -and there were 10.000 mutinous “Red” sailors near Vladivostok. The strength of the “White” forces was put at 10,000. They were represented to be well armed and disciplined, and were sta tioned along the Manchurian railway.

He added that there were 30.000 mere troops under arms in various parts of Mongolia, and that there would bo no difficulty in raising 100,000 trained men in a, few weeks, if money was found to equip them.

Russian Royalists Organise

i General Miller appointed General Diterichs, who has been carrying on guerrilla warfare in Asia, against the Bolsheviks, as commander of the “Army of Peasants.He js at Shanghai, and it is reported that lie will have under him 30,000 former officers of the Imperial army who are now quartered '.in various towns in China. General Diteric-hs has beer, ordered to get into touch with the rebels and ro furnish instructors and eoihmmk rs.

The great question -will Ire, however, how to raise the money necessary to equip troops for fighting the “Red” army. It has been decalej to make a collection among '.he Russian refugees in Europe. The sura aimed at will be several million dollars.

The Russian Republicans and Democrats publish a daily paper in Paris called “'Les Dernieres Nouvelles, ” of which M. Mil-iukoff is the proprietor. They believe that the situation in the Ear East as described by General Stogoff is exaggerated. According to information which they have received fr< m. Harbin and Shanghai, the posi tion is pretty much the same as existed fit ring the last five years. One of their spokesmen said that Kerensky and Bourteeff, the wellknown revolutionary, wore sceptical and would not participate in the initiative taken by General Miller.

The “Dernieres X-ouvelles” published a leading article in which it- is declared tbit this new Monarchist adventure would constitute a. real danger for Russia, because Stalin and the Soviet Government would eortainly use it. as an argument for propaganda in order to strengthen the Soviet regime.

However this may be. it has evidently been decided by the [Monarchist leaders to organise an army on the Manchurian border with the object of starting an offensive against the'Soviet force® in Eastern Siberia.