EVENTS IN RUSSIA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10450, 1 December 1919, Page 7

EVENTS IN RUSSIA

DENIKEN'S RETREAT UKRAINIAN DEVELOPMENTS MAY IMPROVE POSITION. PETLURA'S- POSITION DESPERATE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copywright ilteatei-'B Telearuui.i (Received November 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 27. It is semi-officially stated that the Bolsheviks have driven back Deniken's forces to a maximum depth of fifty miles along most of the front during tho last six months. The Bolsheviks have sent 350,000 men and a thousand guns against Deniken who will probably be forced to retreat further, but import-ant forces which may redress the balanco will be available to him owing to events in the Ukraine, where the defection of 15,000 Galician troops has made Petlura's position desperate, while the capture of Makhno's brigands by Deniken's forces is imminent. This moans the removal of the danger of Deniken's lines and supplies, which caused the diversion ot troops from the anti-Bolshevik front. (Received November 30, 11 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. • A Moscow wireless message claims that Deniken's army is broken and is retreating. In has entirely lost the initiative. YUDENITCH HAS LOST TOUCH. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. •(Received November 30, 11 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. • A Reval telegram states that Yudenitch has lost touch with his army, which is now disorganised &nd in disorder. Some of his troops have already entered Esthonia and have been disarmed, and. the rest will be. disarmed. Many civilians and women and children with Yudenitch are dying of cold and starvation. Petlura is the leader of the Ukrainian "R-ed" Army, which made itself felt at a time when the anti-Bolsheviks appeared to hold a strong hand in the fighting. TERRIBLE TORTURES. ESTHONIANS DEFEAT "REDS." Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received November»3o, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 29. The Esthonians defeated the Bolsheviks on the Marva front. A REVOLT CRUSHED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 30, 11 p.m.) TOKIO, November 26. The Czechs combined with the local Democrats at Vladivostok and revolted against Kolchak's Cossack garrison. The rising was crushed. It is reported that a Czech general was either captured or took refuge on a steamer. BOLSHEVIKS' RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS. (Received November 30, '5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 26. Deniken's recent reports show an astonishing record of religious persecutions under the Bolshevik regime. Many orthodox clergy were martyred, some being beaten to death with ramrods. Another wasf stripped naked and placed before his open grave. When' he made the sign of the cross the executioner cut off his right Jiand. Tho body was not buried" and the dogs ate it piecemeal. Hardly a priesi escaped a beating or arrest. No baptisms, burials or -weddings were allowed without Bolshevik permission. The "Red" Ar--my men always referred to the Virgin Mary with blasphemy ancl obscenity, tfhey broke up tho church services, sang indecent hymns and songs, and destroyed ikons, using the sacred vestments as a horse cover. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. . COPENHAGEN, November 25. Litvinoff has arrived, but remains aboard the steamer, and all communication with the vessel is prohibited. Conservative circles are opposed to Litvinoff entering Denmark and the Government press maintains t<hat Litvinoff should only bo allowed to come ashore in conformity with tho promise given to the British Government. The newspapers demand that Litvinoff should be forbidden to negotiate except with the British delegate (Mr. o'Grady, who is to discuss witJi Litvinoff questions relating to the exchange of prisoners). Mr o'Grady states that there aro 110 British prisoners in the hands of tho Bolsheviks, and about a thousand British in Russia, mostly in Petrograd and Moscow.