RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10028, 20 July 1918, Page 7

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

INTERVENTION FORESHADOWED

PRESIDENT WILSONS VIEW. OB" POSITION. By Tolograpb—■Press Asaociation—Copyrifflit Australian and ??.Z. Cable Association. .. LONDON, July 18.. Tlio “Daily Chronicle’s” diplomatic correspondent foreshadows immediate Allied intervention in Siberia, as the result of the Czecho-Slovaks’ arrival in Vladivostok. President Wilson has modified his earlier views, and will no longer wad for a formal invitation from the Soviet before considering that Allied action in Russia is justified- There every reason to believe that an active agreement between Tokio and Washington is approaching. Japan, however, is not so enthusiastic for intervention as before. The Government is still favourable to it, but the opposition exists in commercial circles. Publianed in "Tba Times." (Received July : 19, 7.40 p.m.) TOKIO, July IS. Confidential conferences of cider statesmen, military leaders, and the Premier are considering Washington's proposals for joint American and Japanese intervention in Siberia. . (Received Julv zO, 12.45 a.m.) ' TOKIO, July 18. Tho Council of Elder Statesmen has considered the Government reports concerning tho dispatch of troops, and has agreed to support unlimited assistance to the Czecho-Slovaks. SPREAD OF CHOLERA. IN PETROGRAD. t . Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 20, 12.45 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, July 18. Cholera continues to spread in Petrograd. There have been thousands ot now cases in three days. CZECHO-SLOVAKS IN POSSESS lON OF IRKUTSK. Published in “The Times.” (Received July 19, 7.40 p.m.) PEKIN. July 18-Czecho-Slovaks are in full possession of Irkutsk, and are advancing on the railway south of Baikal. Tho Bolshe. viks are concentrated east of Baikal. SIBERIAN PREMIER~I)EINOUNOED AS A TRAITOR. (Received July 20, 1.50 a.m.) HARBIN, July 18. The Czecho-Slovaks have denounced M. Folk Horvat, the self proclaimed Premier of Siberia, os a traitor and reactionary. RUSSIAN. GOVERNMENT REFUSES £ A GERMAN REQUEST. Am. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Hetrtov (Received July 19, 7.40 p.m.) . LONDON, July 18. A wireless Russian official message states; Germany has • requested the Russians to consent to the dispatch of a German battalion to guard the Embassy,, at Moscow, and disclaimed pny intention to> occupy Moscow. Tho Government replied that it is prepared to furnish a trustworthy, and sufficient Russian guard. It could in no case permit tho presence of a foreign military detachment in Moscow. The Government hoped Germany would not insist upon its request. AIR MINISTRY’S"REPORV SUCCESSFUL BOMBING OPERA TIONS.

An*, and If.Z. Cable Assn, and Renter. (Received July 19, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 18, 4.20 p.m. The Air Ministry in. its official report states: Our aeroplanes on Tuesday night bombed works and the aero.dromo at Hagendingen and Burbajgh. Good results were obtained. On Wednesday wo successfully attacked railway sidings at Thionrille.

DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS

BY BRITISH INDEPENDENT AIR FORCE. Aus. and N.Z. Cablo Assn, and Editor (Received July 19, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, July IS. Tho Press Bureau issues a striking photograph of the damage caused by the raids of the British Independent Air Force on the German railway system at Metzsablon. The photograph shows exceptionally destructive bursts on engine-sheds, workshops, and the remains .o 1 two incinerated trains. Great damage has been done to the network of lines. A significant feature is tho almost complete absence of rolling-stock, thus showing that the twenty-one raids since Juno 21st on this important junction have materially reduced the oneray’a war traffic. THE BiMfiGASE REMARKABLE DISCLOSURES. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. (received Julv 19, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 18. The “Daily Chronicle” states that remarkable disclosures have been made in connection with the recent Billing libel case. Billing's wife happens to be the German daughter of an uunaturalised Prussian. -Her mother was also born in Germany. Though these facts are based on tho parents’ marriage certificate, Mrs Billing assorts that her father is Swiss and hex mother Irish. i

The Billing case was one in which Mr Noel P. Billina;, M.P., was charged with publishing a defamatory libel upon Miss Maud Allan and Mr Jack T. Green in. the newspaper “Vigilante.” Miss Maud Allan is a wellknown theatrical artist, and the alleged libel was in connection with Jhet •* appearance in a drama called “The Vision of Salomo.” Mr Green was thf manogor of tne Independent Theatre, at which the play was produced. The libel complained of was the inference drawn that mere wa* some connection between nameless vice and the performance at the Independent theatre. The suggestion- was made that if the police were to seize n list of the subscribing members of the theatre they would find the names of several thousand aristocrats addicted to tho vices - hinted at. The hearing of the case before Sir Justice Darling gave rise to exciting scenes in court, the yerdfct being one of not guilty.