DEVELOPMENTS FROM MEETING OF RUSSIAN ASSEMBLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16750, 17 January 1918, Page 5

DEVELOPMENTS FROM MEETING OF RUSSIAN ASSEMBLY

PLAN TO SUPERSEDE AUTHORITY OF BOLSHEVIKS. ARREST OF OFFICIALS OF ROUMANIAN LEGATION. Australian and N.Z. (Received 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 15. The Petrogiad correspondent of the Daily News reports that the meeting of the Constituent Assembly has been fixed for Friday, when the anti-Bolshevik majority will try to replace the Bolsheviks by a weaker Government committed to securing peace by pressure upon tho allies. The Bolsheviks are preparing to set up a new conference of Soviets in opposition to the Constituent Assembly. The Bolsheviks have ordered that religion shall not be taught in the schools, and will probably issue a decree abolishing the right of inheritance. (Received 7.30 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, Jan. 15. The Bolsheviks have arrested the members of the Roumanian Legation in Petrograd. The reason is not disclosed. (Revived 11.30 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, Jan. 15. The Bolshevik arrest of the officers of the Roumanian Legation is supposed to be a reprisal for the arrest of Maximalist agitators at Jassy. PAN-GERMAN PARTY FORGING A POLITICAL CRISIS. KAISER IN CONSULTATION WITH CHIEF ADVISERS. MILITARY PARTY REPORTED TO HAVE TRIUMPHED. Australian and N.Z. (Received 11.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. Jan. 15. The Vorwarts states that the pan-Germans are trying to induce the Kaiser to consent to a policy of wholesale annexations in the east and west which will involve the immediate resignation of the Imperial Chancellor, Count von Hertling, and the Foreign Minister, Dr. Kuhlmann. Latest messages from Berlin give an indication that the military party has gained the upper hand. It is semi-officially announced that no change has been made in the official decisions upon tho Polish question. A wireless message from Berlin states that the Kaiser had summoned Dr. von Kuhlmann, Prince von Buelow, and Count von Bernstorff to Berlin, and also the Ministers at the Hague, Berne, and Copenhagen, to consult them regarding impending Ministerial changes. The Tageblatt says that Count von Hertling is seriously ill owing to overwork. LONDON, Jan. 15. The Morning Post announces the impending resignation of Herr von Valentine, the Kaiser's chief civilian secretary. Great political changes in the personnel of high political circles are foreshadowed. Amsterdam advices state that the fact that the Kaiser is consulting German diplomatists in neutral countries adjoining Germany is regarded as significant in view of the latest discussion on war aims. ALLIED RESOURCES SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE VICTORY. DEFENSIVE ROLE MAINTAINED ON WEST FRONT. DECISIVE RESULT WHEN AMERICA'S WEIGHT IS FELT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. Jan. 15. Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Auckland Geddes, Director-General of National Services, in the course of a 90 minutes speech, gave a masterly survey of the British resources and military and industrial needs His most important declaration was that until America's weight began to tell decisively, the role of the British and French armies in the west would be a defensive one. Notwithstanding Russia's defection, the. resources which the allies and America had actually mobilised or had in reserve in civil life were sufficient to assure victory. Only a psychological catastrophe to the allies such as had befallen Russia could save the Central Powers when the full force of America came into play. The endurance of the allies would then be justified by a superiority which would be sure to herp/d complete victory. Britain, he declared, had four million men on /he rolls to-day. Our enemies were slaking everything on our failure to solve the man-power problem, the successful solution of which meant certain victory. Much had already been accomplished. The Ministry of National Service in December filled 37,000 vacancies for men and 36,000 for women. The co-operation of the Trade Committee and the trade unions was of the greatest value in assisting in tho substitution of men available for the army. There had been established seven centres for discharged soldiers, at which the Ministry was setting up employment exchanges, enabling discharged men to engage in work of national importance. They would also assist in bringing back into civilian life men in the medical categories not wanted immediately for army purposes. ANZAC HORSEMEN'S PART IN PALESTINE FIGHTING. GREAT FEATS OF ENDURANCE AND HORSEMANSHIP. United Service. (Received 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 15. The story of Australia's and New Zealand's share in the capture of Palestine is coming out, revealing feats of combat, endurance, and horsemanship worthy to rank with the greatest cavalry achievements of history. Sir Edmund Allenby daringly played for the highest stakes, and risked everything on a great cavalry coup, in which the Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles were the leaders, backed by the splendid Yeomanry. The lack of water alone prevented the capture of the Turkish army and the earlier fall of Jerusalem. An officer from Palestine, interviewed, said he was lost in admiration of the feats of the Light Horse. They lived for two years like Blacks, the monotony varied by occasional patrol encounters. The only furlough they received was in Egypt, of which they were utterly tired. Many suffered from septic sores. They were never dispirited, and were overjoyed when the time for action came. The most notable feature of tho campaign was the extraordinarily long rides over waterless country with short rations, both horses and men suffering seriously. The Turks fought brave retreating actions. General Chan-vel's leadership was supremely good. Tho story of the great charge of the Fourth Regiment at Beersheba, under General Grant, was epic-like. They dashed in with the bayonet after a 30-mile night march, and fought all day victoriously. PATROL AND AERIAL ACTIVITY IN PALESTINE. AERODROME AND RAILWAY STATION BOMBED. Australian and N.Z. and Reuter. (Reed. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, Jan, 15. A Palestine official report states: Despite the weather, our aircraft bombed an aerodrome at Jenin, 17 miles south of Nazareth, and Annan Station on the Hedjaz railway, with good results. There is considerable patrol activity in the Jerusalem sector. We raided Makimas village, taking prisoners. Similar activity has occurred on the coastal sector, east and north of Jaffa.

DARDANELLES INQUIRY. PUBLICATION OF REPORT. UNLIKELY DURING WAR. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 15. It is not likely that the report of the Dardanelles Commission will he published before the conclusion of tho war. POPE'S PEACE ACTIVITIES. LACK OF ENCOURAGEMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 18. The Romo correspondent of the United Press states that the Papal Nuncios in Vienna and Berlin have informed tho Pope that there is no encouragement for a peace move at present.

ITALIANS ILL-TREATED. CAPTIVES IN FLANDERS. WORK UNDER SHELL-FIRE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 11 30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 15. The Germans are employing Italian prisoners upon defensive works in Flanders under harsh conditions within artillery range. MR. WILSON'S SPEECH. COPIES IN BELGIUM. Australian »nd N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 15. Allied aeroplanes flew over large areas in Belgium during the past few days and dropped copies of Mr. Wilson's speech. A thousand were picked up in Liege.