RUSSIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18237, 27 October 1919, Page 7

RUSSIA.

ADVANCE ON PETKOGKAD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, Ootober 23. Spreadeagle fighting is continuous south of Petrograd. The Bolsheviks have regained control of tho Nikolai railway. Helsingfors reports state that General Yudenitch as a last resort appealed to Finland for assistance. The Government recommended the Rikstdag 'to agree, but the Socialist Party is now opposing the proposal. Finnish airmen have been ordered to reconnoitre over Petrograd. 1110 British tanks were delayed at Yamburg owing to the collapse of the bridges, but they have now arrived at Tsarskcp Selo, where a tank battle is developing. DENIKIN’S WAR. Warsaw reports state that Deniken has swung his forces westward, occupying the Ukrainian grain districts. STATEMENT BY TROTSKY. STOCKHOLM, October 23. Trotsky, in a manifesto, _ states that the position _ is critical. The troops have retired to Pulkovo, the extreme limit of the defences of Petrograd. Further retirements would transfer the fighting to tho city. Trotsky says that tanks are now supporting tho Red Troops, who have rallied, but the enemy is only one day’s inarch from Petrograd, The work of fortifications must be continued and the defence of the city organised. ESTHONIAN SUCCESSES. “Tho Time*" Service. (Received October 26, 11-30 p.m.) LONDON, October 25. Esthonian advices state that the heaviest fighting now centres on the coast, where a fierce combat is developing before Krasnogorka. An. Esthonian communique states that the Esthonians inflicted an important defeat on tho Bolsheviks near Pslcoff, which is now being bombarded, and is expected to fall. The Esthonian advance along the coast of the Gulf of Finland towards Krasnogorka continues successfully. N ; BOLSHEVIK ATROCITIES. THE EVIDENCE OF MAJOR SAYER. Router’s Telegrams. (Received October 26, 11.30 p.m.) . LONDON, October 25.

Major Sayer has returned from Russia. He gave Reuter an account of his investigations at Kioff, Kharkoff, and elsewhere. The report showed that there had been wholesale murders and robberies. Torture chambers are a part of the normal life of Bolshevism in Russia. Many Bolshevik torturers and murderers, men and women, were captured. They pleaded that they were not responsible. Cocaine fiends joined the Bolsheviks in order to get supplies of the drug. One the worst was a young woman who specialised in killing white officers- Sne is credited with the murder of several hundred. Her practice was to stand the victim against a wall and start shooting with a revolver, beginning at the feet and working up the legs to the body, only dispatching the sufferer finally when he was in a state of collapse. YUDENITCH CLAIMS AN ADVANCE. “ The Time:i ” Service. (Received October 26, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 24. The fate of Petrograd remains unsettled, whilst ice is gathering in. the Baltic. Soon winter will close down on the unhappy city. General Yudenitch has reopened his offensive, and claims that the Reds are fleeing panic-stricken before his tanks. In the direction of Tsarkoo Selo, Yudenitch is driving in on three points, trying to regain Tsarkoe Selo, Pskoff and Luga. ESTHONIANS TAKE PART. Differences have been settled amongst the Ethonians, who are conducting an offensive along the coast. Finnish fortresses are bombarding Kronstadt. Admiral Cowans, on behalf of the Admiralty, has congratulated them, assuring them of support.

REINFORCEMENTS FOR TROTSKY.

HELSINGFORS, October 24

Trotsky lias returned to Petrograd. Ho is conscripting every man, even septuagenarians. The tragic city is being ravaged by fires and disorders. Tile theatres are closed. The Reds arc posting machine guns on- the houses. Some of the best Red troops have arrived from Moscow. PETLURA MAKES A REAR ATTACK. PARIS, Ootober 24. “Le Petit Journal” states that. Pot - lura is attacking Denikin's left flank in tho rear, advancing rapidly on Odessa. LENIN’S LIFE SAVED. A bomb recently wounded Lenin, aii; operation saving his lifa YUDENTTCH FORCED BACK. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, O'ctober 23. A Bolshevik wireless message claims that tho Reds made successful counterattacks in the Petrograd area, forcing back Yudeniteh on the entire front. NO BLOCKADE OF RUSSIA. Mr Cecil Harmsworth, in the House of Commons, said, “There is no blockade of Russia, but the Allies have communicated with neutrals and Germany with a view of preventing communication. with those parts of Russia controlled by the Sqoviet Government. It is a part of Allied policy not to treat with tlho Soviets- We are encouraging trade with South Russia.” NEWS OF YUDENTTCH AND DENIKIN. LONDON, October 23. The Australian Press Association says that owing to the rapid advance of both Yudenitch’s and Denikin’s forces, there was bound to Iks a pause for the purpose of regrouping and bringing up supplies. Yudeniteh at present is engaged m opening traffic on tho railway from Yamburg to Gatchina, in order to bring up material for the advance on Petrograd. The Reds have taken advantage of the felt to launch counter-oitaefe

against both commanders. Present indications point to the fact that the Bolsheviks fighting against Yudenitch have) little to show for their efforts except severe losses. Bolshevik efforts against Denikin met with more success, especially in the recapture of Orel, but despite bombastic claims in Moscow wire" less messages, the operations against Mamontol’s forces show little tangible result, while the Reds’ efforts to retake Chemigoff have failed. THE ATTACK ON RIGA. EBERHARDT WORSE THAN VON DER GOLTZ. LONDON, October 23. The Letts have refused Colonel Bermont’s appeal for a suspension of hostilities. Meanwhile Von Eberhardt., Von dor Golts’e successor, is acting in close co-operation with Colonel Bermondt. It is understood that Von Eberhardt is the commander who suffered under Marshal F’och’s counterstroke between Soissons and Chateau Thierry. Eberhardt is acting even more truculently than Von der Goltz.. - Advices sh-ow tliat tho Gorman frontier is open, and supplies are coming through to Courland. Troops are moving in from East Prussia, and large quantities of grain and produce are flowing from tho Baltic States into Germany. It is clear from tho facts that the Germans in the Baltic States are hand' in glove with Bermondt ?i and that the German Government either cannot or will not exercise control over their actions. PETLURA LOSING CONTROL. Information from the Ukraine shows that control is passing from Petlura to another leader with Bolshevik sympathies. Complete disorder reigns in Petlura’s camp. His force is breaking up. There is evidence that German money has reached Petlura. Many Germans enlisted in his army. Tho situation in Bast Russia has not materially changed. The Siberian forces have maintained their position, and m some instances have progressed against the Bolsheviks. CAPTURE OF TROTSKY’S STAFF. Renter’s Telegram*. (Reoeived October 27, 12.45 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, October 25. Trotsky’s entire staff was captured at Tsarskoe Selo. Trotsky himself jumped into a railway carriage and eventually escaped in his automobile. The White Guards pursued and fired shots at the fleeing motor, but the fugitive reached Petrograd. General Yudeniteh’s left flank is being fired on from a distance of nine versts over the housetops by the Bolshevik dreadnought Poltava, which is on the Neva River, inside Petrograd.