RUSSIAN MUTINY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9721, 25 July 1917, Page 5

RUSSIAN MUTINY

APPALLING CONDITIONS ON SOUTH-WEST FRONT

ENTIRE UNITS DESERT

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. Router’s Telcgram(Rcccived July 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. Tho Germans have occupied Tarnopol. An appalling official account of tho Kituation ow tho south-west front has been received by tho Russian Government. It says that a fatal crisis has occurred in the moral of -tho troops. -Most of the units are completely disorganised. The spirit of the offensive has utterly disappeared. Orders arc unheeded; exhortations by comrades are replied to by threats and shots. Some elements voluntarily evacuate their positions, not waiting the approach of the enemy. Sometimes urgent orders for reinforcements are discussed' for hours. For a distance of IWJ versts, long files of robust shameless deserters are proceeding to the rear. Frequently entire units desert. Extreme measures arc necessary to avert catastrophe. Tho Commandor-in-Chief of the western front has ordered desorters to be fired' on. They must, ho says, be merciless in action against tho cowards who are selling the Russian Revolution.

CAPTURE OF TARNOPOL Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received July 24, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. ’Hie “Daily Chronicle’’ states that the Gormans have taken Tarnopol, which is the pathway to Kieff, the Ukranian capital, the occupation ot which will cut off the Roumanian and Russian armies south of the Dniestei. COLD FEET IN NORTHERN SECTOR SUCCESS JEOPARDISED BY “INSTABILITY” OF TROOPS. ) High Commissioner’s Cable. / LONDON, July 23, 5 p.m. Russian official report:—ln the neighbourhood of Krevo tnoar^ Vilna), in the district of Tsary Bogushi wo occupied a portion of the enemy s position, penetrating to a depth of two miles in places. More than a thousand, sons were taken. . ~ , The development of the success is jeopardised by the instability and moral weakness of certain detachments. Numbers of officers perished m Unfailing their duties. GERMANS CONTINUE THEIR OFFENSIVE Australian and NeW Zealand Cable Association and Router. .. , (Received July 24, 7.10 p.m.) Ju]y 23 A Russian official message states: —We attacked in the direction ot Vilna, penetrating to a depth of two miles in some places in the neighbourhood o 4 Krevo and taking over 1000 prisoners. The instability and moral weakness of certain detachments is jeopardising the development of further success. Hie enemy continues his offensive between the Sereth, Strypa and Zlota Lipa, and has occupied four villages. There is intense enemy artillery activity southward of Cerczovoca and iVclka. A GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT RUSSIANS PENETRATE POSITION AT KREVO. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received July 24, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. . A wireless German official message states:—A Russian attack south-west of Dvinsk failed. The Russian attack at Krevo penetrated our position. Our counter-attack drove him out except at two points. Our counter-attack on the southward of the Sereth (Roumanian front) has developed. The Russians retreated into the Carpathians.- Wo occupied the heights immediately westward of Tarnopol. \Ve crossed -the RphatynOstrow railway. We have begun a forward movement astride the Dniester. The Russians strongly resisted southward of the railway. : The Russian activity has increased along the ridge of the Carpathians as far as Patna. There is lively firing on the Lower Sereth, which indicates impending battles. MILITARY DEBACLE THREATENED : ... ■tEl {S ’-VvO IMIMEN’S-PEASANTS’ COUNCIL. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. (Received July 24, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGRAD, July 23. The Soldiers,’ Workmen’s and Peasants’ Council hold an all-night sitting, and resolved that the country was threatened with a military debacle and internal anarchy; declaring that State and Revolution wore in danger; proclaiming the Government to bo a Government of Safety of the Revolution and according it unlimited power to re-establish organisation of the army and public order. GOVERNMENT EMPOWERED TO RE-ESTABLISH DISCIPLINE POSITION AT THE FRONT CHAOTIC.

Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, July 23. The United Press Agency’s representative at Petrograd states that the Workmen's and Soldiers’ Congress passed a resolution granting the Provisional Government unlimited power .to re-establish discipline in the Army. Tho correspondent adds: —The Government Executive Committee in the south-west (Galicia) reports that most of the units of tho Russian Army there arc completely disorganised. Mutinous soldiers threaten to shoot those opposing them. There are long lines of deserters. A fatal crisis has occurred in the moral of the troops. The offensive spirit has utterly disappeared. RECALCITRANT REGIMENTS HAND OVER THEIR ARMS Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received July 24, 7.10 p.m.). PETROGRAD, July 23. Following tho example of thojnachine-gun regiments, tho other regiments readily handed over their arms, but were very depressed at their disbandment. EIGHTEEN LOYAL PROVINCES EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN M. KERENSKY. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received July 24, 10.30 p.m.) ■. » PETROGRAD, July 23. The news from the provinces is good. M. Kerensky has received iron) eighteen provinces numerous addresses expressing confidence in him and lavounng the adoption of strong measures against the extremists. Lenin has placed himself at the Government’s disposal in connection with the commission of inquiry.

a REVOLUTION FOMENTED BY GERMANS POCKETS OF ARRESTED AVOllloiiiV AND ANARCHISTS BULGING WITH GERMAN MONEY. Australian and New Zealand Cable Associatioa. (Received July 24, 10.30-p.m '• Washington, July 23. The Petrograd correspondent of the United Press states that there is full evidence that Germans financed the revolution. Hundreds of workmen and anarchists have been arrested with their pockets bulging with money received from German agents. M. Kerensky emerges stronger than ever. His assistant has ike fleet and every ship pledged to loyalty to M. Kerensky.