RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1715, 5 January 1920, Page 5

RUSSIAN SITUATION.

THE BOLSHSVIK-ESTHONIAN TREATY,

ESTHONI A’S INDEPENDENCE RECOGNISED,

By .Electric ieitgiaph.—Copyright. Australian-New Zealand Cable At,.-. '• LONDON, Jan. 2. .The Daily Chronicle’s Dorpat correspondent witnessed on December 31 the signature of the treaty between Soviet Russia and Esthonia for the cessation, of hostilities-'' Technically, this moans only a week’s armist.ice, terminable thereafter at 24 hours’ notice, but it actually means a month, as the Esthonian Assembly cannot ratify the treaty before February. The interval will enable the Esthonians to test the Bolshevist professions of fraternity. The agreement recognises Estonia’s entirb independence of Soviet Russia,

CONDITIONS OF ARMISJICE

JAPAN’S NEW STATUS,

Uiitralian-New Zealand Cable Asgociatioh Received January 5, 9.0 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 2. i The Russian-Esthon'ian armistice fixes the frontiers with a neutral zone along the east bank trf-"tho Narova and the neutralisation of the Gulf of Finland. Russia .renounces for ever her pretensions against Esthonia.

The Daily Mail describes the agreement is a greats victory for the Bolsheviks, and adds: . The Allies are looking to Japan lo stop the Bolshevik advance. When her troops occupy the great area of Eastern Siberia she will have gained a new place in the world,- rivalling the status of Rio great Western Powers.

OENIKEN’S GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN.

POSITION IN NORTH RUSSIA

THE RETREATING ARMIES

‘Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Jan. 3. The Deniken Government has been overthrown. According to a Moscow wireless message a coup d’etat has placed General Romanovsky at the head of the anti-Bol-shevik forces. An‘authoritative summary of operations in Russia during the last fortnight shows die Russian morale in North Russia is good, and that there is nothing to fear , . from the activities of thd"present Bolshevik forces. The Esthonians continue to rood concentrated Rod attacks. The Letts are also throwing back, attacks in Ukraine. Petlura’s army has been broken up. I etlura is no longer a serious factor in Russian politics. -■ ... In South Russia Demken s retreat continues, owing to overwhelming forces which arc's evidently attempting to reach the Sea of Azof, which is less than 100 miles away, with the object of splitting up- Demken s forces in East Russia. The Rods are driving back Butov’s weaker towards -the Mongolian frontier. The Allied contingent on the railway is withdrawing eastward in conjunction „i,h lh. mam- Jan j. •\ Moscow wireless says that reports from Taganrog state that owing ■ to General ,Deniken’s defeatdie and Ins Government have Tic on overthrown. ■ They have been succeed, d by a group called “ T ho Regenerators of Russia. Received January 5, 9 a.in. LONDON. Jan. 2. Further great Bolshevik gains are reportd, making General Deniken’s position worse. ' > , . . The capture of the Don Basin, depriving Deniken of the only railway running across the front, is reported.

ACTION BY JAPAN. \

MARTIAL L AAV AT IRKUTSK

Vußtralian New Zealand G-Me As^xiiatmn. LONDON, Jan. -x

The 'Daily Express understand? vh-i Japan has recently been purchasing vast ; . stores of war material Japan has d-- - elded to- take activfl measures in g’Kwiy _ as a result of Koltchak’s collapse. It ,if intended, apparently to establish on rtitiBolshevik barrier.'in Central Siberia vitll a view to preventing the Bolsheviks crossing the Angara- river. ■ , j . , Martial law has been declared at Irkutsk, which is KoPchak’s. headquarters. Koltchak’s plight is little worse than Dorn ken’s. The latter is gradually being pushed nearer the sea. , •- Serious', news received is that the rmlwav across DenikmiV front has been cu - The Reds claim to h*vo advanced nithii. 45 versts of Taganrog. They also threate„ PostofT and Mariupol. . It is expected that Pie Esthnninn arnustiefi will enable the Reds to divert troops S °Britafn haf despatched a large consignment of clothing* foi-the relief of a thou sand destitute British residents of Russia. PRISONERS IN SIBERIA. -

THEIR REPATRIATION URGEIh

tiistralim-New Zealand Cable Association. , ReooivM z , , In consequence nt the reptßcntattoni! ot the Internationa] Committee of the Red Cross Societies at Qeneva, it is udders cod that the Pone has communicated _ ui™ Japan, nfging tlft immediate repatriation of 200.000 war prisoners m Siberia. _ EXCHANG'S OF PRISONERS.

Xastralian-New island .Cable A arooir-tf on. . . Received January 5, t 9 55 a.in. , . ,LONDON. Jan. 3. Captain O’Grady, . has. gone to Copenhagen to rcsifrhe negotiations with M. Litvinoff,- the Bolshevik representative, in connection with the exchange of - prisoners..^