RECENT PAPAL NOTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9869, 15 January 1918, Page 5

RECENT PAPAL NOTE

BUTCHERY OF NAVAL OFFICERS

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Published in the “Times.” (Received January 14, 8.5 p.m.) I ODESSA, January 13. The horrdrs of Kronstadt have been re-enacted at Sebastopol. There were Wo days of butchery of naval officers by Bolshevik sailors. At least sixty were killed, including four admirals and a general. Most of those killed were members of the Committee of Inquiry in 1912 under the Czar’s regime into the rebellious sailors’ revolutionary union convicting seventeen, who were executed, and many others who wore sent to exile. The murdered admirals and captains were experienced warriors in whom the Fleet expressed well-merited confidence. All the officers of one ship were taken to ,tho famous Malakoff Tower and shot. The population of Sebastopol, is nervous and excited. There are many reports that murdered officers number hundreds. Street fighting is proceeding. i . Nikolieff and twenty .German commercial agents have arrived at Kieff, where they are doing business. LEGISLATION BY BOLSHEVIK COERCION CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY MUBT~OBEY ORDERS OB DISBAND. SITUATION IN PETROGRAD .SLOWLY IMPROVING. Australian timl {.'able Association. (Received January 14, 8.5 p.m.) ' LONDON, January 13. The ‘‘Daily Chronicle’s” Petrograd correspondent states that the Bolsheviks intend that the Constituent Assembly shall sit for only a few days to ratify Lenin’s decrees, hand the sovereign power to the Soviets and then dissolve. If it refuses it will be compulsorily dissolved f«r good._ The situation in Petrograd i s slowly improving. Siberia is dispatching two hundred trucks of corn daily. Southern Russia has also partially resumed dispatching of foodstuffs, which had been stopped since the revolution. POWER GIVEN TO LOCAL COUNCILS TO RECALL MEMBERS OP , ASSEMBLY. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received January 14, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. A wireless Russian message states: —The Central Executive of the Councils of Workmen’s, Soldiers’, and Peasants’ Deputies, has passed a decree giving local councils power to recall members of the Constituent Assembly in all cases where they do not express the views of th< labouring masses. All members of the Ukrainian Black Sea Congress have been summoned to Kieff on January 23rd to discuss "the question of a Ukrainian Constituent Assembly, the reports on the Black Sea Navy to Ukrainia, the reorganisation of the Navy upon a voluntary basis, and the organisation of trade unions. BOLSHEVIKS’ AMBASSADOR IN LONDON CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS FROM A HAMPSTEAD MAISONETTE.. Published in “The Times.” LONDON, January 13. “Citizen” Litvinoff, the Bolshevik Ambassador in London, is conducting his business a s Russian Plenipotentiary from his home in a small maisonette at West Hampstead, assisted by hi s wife. It is probably the smallest Embassy in histtoy. Although it does not recognise the Bolshevik Government, the Foreign Office has established semi-official relations with M. Trotsky through M. Litvinoff. \ SITUATION IN FINLAND DANGEROUS REVOLUTION REPORTED TO BE IN PREPARATION. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. COPENHAGEN, January 13. Telegrams from Finland describe the situation there as dangerous. The Red Guards refuse to obey the Senate. There is‘every indication of a revolution being prepared. The Diet is getting measures ready against the Rod Guards. - } GREAT HUR BLOW IMPENDING VERDUN, CALAIS, AND ITALY THE OBJECTIVES FINAL COLLAPSE CONSIDERED TO BE PROBABLE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. • (Received January 15, 12.15 a.m.) PARIS, January 14. A well-known neutral just arrived from Berlin states that a great offensive has been decided upon directly the weather conditions allow. The main blow will be aimed at Verdun, with secondary offensives against Calais and Italy. Tlie Crown Princo and Von Ludendorff have regained all their old influences. Von Ludendorff holds that there are three out of four chances that the coming offensive will be successful. Other generals point out the last effort at Verdun failed owing to the mud. This time they will ho careful to cKooso a favourable season. Apart from the great army to be entrusted with the offensive twenty divisions will ho held in reserve and used in the last extremity, as the moral of the forces is poor. The neutral adds that although the German machine is as powerful as ever, it is likely to collapse at the first military failure, and then the masses, pacifists, and army of civilians will bring the responsible parties to account. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT Australian aid New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received January 14, 8.5 p.m.) I LONDON, January 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports; —We repulsed an attempted raid east of aoro p] anes on Saturday bombed enemy billets and hutments, and fired several thousand rounds on trenches. Two of our machines are missing.

ARGENTINE WHEAT AGREEMENT WITH ANGLOFRENCH GOVERNMENTS. By Telesrcph—Press Association—Oopyrlghi Eeuier'a Telegrams. (Received January 14, 8.5 p.m.) BUENOS AYRES, January 13. An important agreement has, been completed between tho Argentine and representatives of tho Anglo-French Governments regarding tho Allied purchase of the Argentine wheat 'crop. The Argentine will grant Britain and France a credit of £40,000,000 to facilitate the purchase, and keep the rate of exchange normal.

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY OF BRITISH ARTILLERY. F.y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh: Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Eeuter. (Received January 14, 8.5 p.Tjt.) LONDON, January 13. An Italian official message states; Artillery is active on the Asiago Plateau and eastward of Piavo Vecchia. British batteries made many direct hits on hostile emplacements on the loft bank of the Piaye. GET A "CROWN'’ THAT WON’T COME OFF. A slightly decayed tooth sbonld not ba extracted. My expert treatment and a firmly-fixed crown of gold will restore It to usefulness. Absolute satisfaction guaranteed. Consultations free. W. P. Sommerville, "Tba ‘Careful Dentist.” Molesworth street. Hours: 9 a.m. 6 ».m. ■