RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9965, 8 May 1918, Page 5

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

GERMANS IH THE UKRAINE FOOD SUPPLIES THE REAL REASON. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Eeutor’s Telegrams. AMSTERDAM, May 6. Speaking in the Reichstag, Herr von Payer, Vice-Chancellor, admitted that the tier mans entered Ukraine not. merely for the purpose of restoring order, but because they wanted foodstuffs as speedily as possible. He said the Rada (Ukrainian was powerless to make the population deliver grain. Its communistic theories, moreover, were not reciprocated by the peasants, hence the , trouble,, which had led to the overthrow of the Government. The new Government which wa s being formed by the Cossack Hetman, Skoropadski, whom the peasants, had elected, had agreed to the formation of German field tribunals. The new Government refused to recognise the theories that levied the ownership of the 50i1.,.,.,,,, It. had agreed to the necessity of concluding a long term economic agreement with, tho Central Powers, and would negotiate for ' the reimbursement of German military assistance.

A further message states: During the Reichstag debate on the Ukrainian situation,'''■'the-Socialists -declared that tho people “did - nob stand Behind Skoropadski, the head •of • the new Government which had no more, power than the old one. Herr Erzhorger declared that the shape takpn,,by . Eastern questions would ".tne entire future shaping of Europe. " He advocated a political department, in which the German Government would be the whole deciding factor, in the Ukraine. Australian and NIZ;’ Cable Association. (Received May 7, 7.10 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, 5 May‘6. The “Vorwaerts” says that Skoropadski, the champion of big Ukrainian landlords, received nine votes only in the Constituent Assembly election. It transpires that the Premier whom yon Payer stated had voluntarily resigned was arrested by the Germans. RUMOURS OF COUNTER REVOLUTION DENIED, Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. (Received May 8, 12.43 a.m.i . LONDON,. May .6 M. latyinoff, Bolshevik envoy, has received a telegram from Moscow stating that the rumours of a counterrevolution are absurd. They have probably been circulated for political purposed. PERILOUS CONSEQUENCES FORE- : SHADOWED, 1 4Bauter‘s Telegrams - ■ ZURICH, May 6. The “Arbeiter-Zeitung,” of Vienna (Socialist), condemns the German and Austrian proceedings in the Ukraine. It foreshadows perilous complications, and 6a ys the Ukrainians are bound to regard the Austro-German rule as a military regime whoso object is solely wie requisitioning of foodstuffs. .Thus Russophile sentiment will bo strengthened. THE SIBERIAN TROUBLE. WASHINGTON, May 6. The State Department has received from the Russian Soviet Government a protest against the alleged encouragement given by tho American Consul at V-ladiv ostok, to .the movement- to establish an independent Siberian Government.

REPATRIATED WAR PRISONERS

lir Telceraijh—Pres*-Association—Coarrlchr Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. . , , t LONDON, May 6. A hundred and seven repatriated prisoners of -tear arrived at St. P'anc^i S s * a^on ) ■'there there wore remarkable scenes of welcome. THE KAVAUA_SURRENDERER MURDERED BY A GREEK SERGEANT. My Telegraph—Pros* association—Conrr.'chi Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ATHENS, May 6. A German report recently announced 1 the death from apoplexy' at Jorlitz of Colonel Hezzopoulos, who surondered Serres and' EAvalla, to the Bulgarians. It is now ascertained that Hezzopoulos was murdered by a Greek' sergeant as the result of a conspiracy among Greek officers interned at Jorlitz. PALESIIfIE CAMPAIGN THOUSAND TURKS OAFTDItED. Ry f«*l«crauh“Pr**B Annotation—Coprclfttal Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. .... —--LONDON, May 6. The British captured a thousand Turks and Gormans in Palestine in a few days. The British have retiredfrom Es Salt to the Jordan. OFFICIAL PROGRESS REPORT. Aug. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Heater, (Received May 7, 11.80 p.m.) ' LONDON, May 6. A Palestine official message states: Our advanced, troops holding Bs Salt have withdrawn over the- Jordan. A strong detachment is remaining on the eastern banks, securing the crossings. Wo'captured eastward of the Jordan between April 80th and May 4th one German and 45 Turkish ' officers, 42 Gormans and ‘B4B Turlrs'of mother ranks,29 ' mschin&gaftr,'- ’•'sir motor" - lorries. We inflicted casualties exceeding ours. The King of .Hodjaz’s forces on the 3rd attacked Turkish parties working at Wadi Jerdun railway station northward of Maan, taking 25 prisoners and seriously danWgingthe line: Ui ■ViLxLr:,-, ..LA, T ; J:\_.llAS ZEEBRUGGE RAID GERMAN CASUALTIES. Reuter's Telegrams. AMSTERDAM, May 6. The “Telegroaf” states that 70 Germans wore killed and 230 wounded in the Zeobrngge raid., Tho Germans are compelling a thousand Belgians to repair the damage.

AWARDS TO NEW ZEALANDERS FURTHER LIST OF HONOURS. (From Captain Malcolm Ross, Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in the Field.) , By Cable, May 6. During minor operations last night the New Zealanders advanced into the German trenches, and after lulling between thirty and forty of the enemy, took back ten prisoners. Our position was very slightly improved. Prisoners state that the preliminary bombardment killed several men. The trench mortars did effective work. The following awards are announced: D.S.O.—Captain H. JR.-. Vercoe (Auckland). Military Cross.—Temporary StaffCaptain D. W. Curliam (Wellington), Captain W. J. King, Captain H. C. C. Meikle, Lieutenant G. Greenwood, Captain J. L. McAllister (Rifles), 2nd (Lieutenant J. T. Thomas (Wellington); ' Distinguished Conduct Medal.—Sergeant M. J. Fordo (Wellington), Private T. .W. Parsons (Field Ambulance) Lance-Corporal F. A. Gaskell, LanceCorporal McMurray, Lance-Corporal W. Q. Bowers, Lance-Corporal S. W Toms (Rifles). Military Medal.—Rifleman C. Brackhage (Rifles). Medaillo Militairo.—Private J. Davie(Auckland). t Cr , oil L de Guerre—Sergeant J. McQ. Lamb (Otago). AUSTRIAN FOOD QUESTION Bjt Telfjrapli—Press Association—Copyrluli* Bftatar*B Tele^rariß* , AMSTERDAM, May 6 A telegram from Vienna states that ■Ur von Seidler, the Premier of Anatna, admitted that Austria was unable to feed the population of the Northern Tyrol and Noi’thern Bohemia. The former had been attached to Bavaria and the latter to Saxony for provisioning purposes. This concession was wrung from Austria by the German parties and will accentuate the feud between the German and non-Gorman races in Austria. PACIFIST MEETINGS MOBBED BELLICOSE PEACE PROTEST. Ry Telegraph—Press AesocinUon—CmrvrlehJ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, \ LONDON, May 6. Several efforts to inaugurate peace Jfieetings in England yesterday failed 1 . One attempt was made at Finsbury Park, where disorderly s'conos occurred owing to groups of men parading, carrying flags, and singing “The Red Flag.” They had a warm reception when they left the park. The flags wore snatched away, their clothes were torn, and several were rolled in the mud 1 . Fifteen thousand people assembled in tho Market Souarc in Leicester, where Mr Ramsay Macdonald was announced 1 to speak. Counter-dcmonstraiors rushed tho platform and the police rescued Mr Macdonald and saved him in a taxi-cab. NEUTRAL FUG AT SEA PROTECTION WITHDRAWN Bt GERMANY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Kcuter's Tel earn ms. , AMSTERDAM, May 6. A new German regulation withdraws tho protection of the neutral flag from any ships belonging to any country which has concluded an agreement with tho enemy respecting tho cession of tonnage or if tho greater part of tho merchantmen of tho country concerned is sailing for tho enemy. Henceforth such vessels will be treated ns enemy shipe.