The Russian Cauldron.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 218, 16 August 1918, Page 5

The Russian Cauldron.

Lenin, the Nation Wrecker Declares War on the Allies. The Dying Kick of Bolshevism. Czecho-Slovaks United for Freedom. Washington, August 14. It is officially announced that Lenm has declared that Russia is at war with the Allies. The American Consul at Moscow has destroyed all codes and records, and turne clover American affairs to the Swedish representative. — (A. & N.Z.) (Received 16, 9.1 5 a.m.) Washington, August 15. In consequence of the Russian situation, the three last Allied consuls at Moscow have asked for a safe conduct to Archangel.—(A. c; X. 7..) (Received 16, 9.15 a.m.) Stockholm, August 15. ' Advices from Helsingfors state that the Russian situation is steadilv becoming worse. The Bolshevik reign is near its end, the peasant rising is increasing, and armed bands have been organised to fight the Bolsheviks. The movement is spreading to the towns. Lenin and Trotsky’s reported flight is apparently true. Other reports state that the German march to Petrograd has begun.—(A. & X.Z.) (Received 16, 11.20 a.m.) Amsterdam, August 17. Reports from Sweden state that the ihght of the Soviets fiom Petrograd to Rrmistadt was due to peasant bands in the neighbourhood marching on the' capital. “ Izvestia,” the official Bolshevik newspaper, admits that the Soviet organisation has collapsed. Ihe Soviets no longer possess authority.— (A. & N.Z.) (Received 16, 12.40 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 14. Riga reports that a. social revo'v.tionary assassinated von Sengbusch, German sheriff in the Wenden district of Livonia. The murderer escaped.—(A. & N.Z.) BHITAIK’3 WAR GF L!BF.RAT!Ot’. SUPPORT FROM THE SLOVAKS. (Received 16, 9.it a.m.) New York, August 15. The New York press praises the British recognition of the Czecho-Slovaks, and urges the United States to follow suit. Professor Masarvk. Prescient of the Cz-’cho-Slovak National Council, in thnnkmg Mr. BMfour for the British rccognition.of the Czecho-Slovak nation. a marts that the sten is con’chmive evidence to all Aiistna-llun r >'arv’s oppressed nations that Britain is engaged in a war of lAwt'cri. Bohemia, y ben frym was in clo=e political and smritiml union .with t'-' British na*ion. The m-t restored this union, liberated Bohemm, ?»d , vpts effectual barrier against pnn-German aggression. (A. & X.Z.)

f Received i 6, 8.4*, a.rn. ) The “Dailv Chronide’s ” Amsterdam vorresvoydent states t’mt Berlin nnlitiepl circles anCeinate that the Polish decision will Tier favour Ar stria. bnt will recognise a so-called independent kingdom, though it will be renllv under German aidhoritv. The conference is l-'kOv to setHe ’th- boundaries of Po>and, TiHnmnia and Finlar-I,' a->d rho-se their rub'-s Th- pann r , nn ., S olo-mes on the ground that toe new ki-oUoms nw" dm-100 di<d<-.yalfy in the future. The only solution is their p.nncKntion. _ ■ However, Russia is the worst problem. News nas reacned Berlin which paints the picture daily m more sombre colours. The alarm m political circles increases. In the meanwhile, the entire German press urges the Govcrn- , . ... „ The “Hamburger Nachtncliment to usiiaie its w«r u.m». n.c uau.jupbten” declares that Germany’s rexerses on tiie. Marne and tne Somme have produced deep emotion, mid advises Count Herthm- to mmr-.rt a League of XTmis. Ihe demand seems strange, but the ” Wcstfalmclm Zeitung,” which l 5 equally impcriaiistic, supports the demand, explaining mat tne countrv I must be coupled with the independence of irelanc, Egypt and other portions of the British empire. A— j ALARM OF THE CENTRAL POWERS. Amsterdam, .August 14. Tim par-( erinan 11 Kreuz Zcitung wains its readers that the situation in the East H graver than is supposed. It cannot be lor- bef.."e another Eastern front exists. Ihe journal blames England for creating this new peril. i- 'r; • nA 0-0 “c 1 a.tua C,'»7pHa” prH-its that pessimism 1 ne influential uaztuvv f . | abound- and exhorts the people tn emulate tne spirit ot the people of France, wlrn, despite their sufferings and sacrifices, ! onl -'' talk cf '' lcUir -'- Be ,. ne . August IS. I The -Xustriar, Government is scnouslv alarmed at the rapid sr-md of Czecho-Slcwak disaffection, and is endeavouring ! rigoAA W reoressbt by numerous arrests and shootings.

GERMANS SEEKING MAN-POWER. CONSCRIPTION OF RUSSIANS COMMENCED. London, August 15. Mr. Falk, writing from Vladivostock, states that the Germans have commenced conscription Russians from 18 to 45, and are trying and shooting those refusing to mobilise.—(United Service. ) FINLAND ORDERED TO PROVIDE ARMY. (Received 16, 0.15 a.m.) Washington, August 15. The State Department has received reliable unofficial advices from Stockholm saying that the Finnish Government has been given two weeks by Germany in which to prepare an army for an advance on Murmansk, where the Allies have established a military base.—(A. &N.Z.) EASTERN SIBERIA. THE CZECHO-SLOVAKS IN DANGER. Vladivostock, August 15. The Czech-Slovaks in Siberia are in a dangerous position, and are liable to be cut off. The force is distributed over 3000 miles of railway, from the Volga to Lake Baka.l. They are largely unarmed and deficient in clothing, artillerv and ammunition. The whole region is cut off from the Far East. The Czechs here are pathetically anxious to help their compatriots, and contemplate fighting their way from the Manchurian frontier to Lake Baka.l. They are poorlv equipped and likelv to meet disaster unless the presence of Allied troops disheartens the Bolshevik forces. The Czechs desire to relieve their compatriots before the Siberian winter. This is impossible without Allied co-operation on a larger scale than arranged. The bridges ahead are broken and rolling stock removed. The enemy is busily enforcing the enlistment of the local population. Prisoners are liberally mixed with all units, German officers commanding.—(“Times.”) BRITISH TROOPS ON THE CASPIAN COAST. (Received 16, 11.25 a.m.) New York, August 15. ’ British troops have reached Baku, on the Caspian Sea. American troops have landed at Vladivostock. It is understood that the Japanese will strike westward from Harbin in order to rescue the Czecho-Slovaks in the Lake Baikal region. (A. &N.Z.) THE CANADIAN RECRUITINC FORCE. (Received 16, 9.15 a.m.) Ottawa, August 15. Recruiting has opened throughout Canada to secure the force which it is intended to despatch to & N.Z.)

AMERICAN SLAV LEGION

EXTENDING ASSISTANCE TO RUSSIA. New York. .Tune 2L The creation of a ‘‘Slavic’’ Lcsjiou as ‘a separate unit of the American Army is one of the most sicnifieant developments of the discussion on the question-of extendiritr assistance to Russia. Senator Hitchcock has drafted an amendment to the Army Rill providin." that the force to be raised shall l\e known as the Slavic Legion, or by such other designa:ion as the President may prescribe, and that it shall be recruited “from Slovs Yuko-SJavs, Czecho-Slovenes. and Poles belonging to the appressed races of the Aiistro-ITungarian and German Emp : rcs resident in the United States, but not subject to draft.” but that “no man shall be enlisted in it until he has furnishfd satisfactory evidence that- he will faithfully and loyally servo the cause of the United btates and that he desires to fight the Empire of which lie and his race have been the unwilling subjects.” 1 By means of this amendment Senator Ilkchcoek expects to add a 'very large body t-.i han.lv. welltrained troops to the Allied Forces, whose participation in the war can not but exercise a tremendous moral effect upon those of their race under are now fighting unwilling: ly under I the Austrian and German Hags.

Arnone those who are studying ttys Russian situation the plan to cieate a Slavic Legion is welcomed with the utmost enthusiasm. They believe

that it contains the promise, already indicatrd by the successes ot the Czec'io-blovaks on the Volga, ol 1 eally effective action in Russia. Recent, speeches in Congress and elsewhere reveal ihe general feeling that something should be done quickly to “save Russia from herself” and from the Germans. Very few practical proposals, however, have been brought to light, and the whole discussion has shown the desirabilty of establishing immediately in America some kind of staff able to give expert- adivce and formulate effective plans based on exact knowledge of the situation in Russia, such a staff, it is felt, should be composed of military, geographical, and ethnological auihorities on Russia and Austria-Hungary . Vi th the in formation and council of authorities which have been experic-nci’d in arriving at a decision on the momentous question of intervention u. Russia would be speedily overcome.