RUSSIAN EVENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10597, 24 May 1920, Page 6

RUSSIAN EVENTS

JAPANESE DEFY “ REDS ” REMARKABLE SCENES IN AN ’ ICE-BOUND PORT. < DEATH BEFORE SURRENDER. By Telegraph—Press Assn,—Copyright Australian ■ am! N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Mav 23, 5.5 p.m.) TOKK). Alay 20. ’ • Americans," who escaped from the . ice-bound port of Nikolaovsk, stato that. the. Bolsheviks took possession of the- town and made prisoners of all Russian soldiers and bourgeois, slaughtering 300, who were buried under tho ice on (the river Amur. When the Japanese commander pro- - —tested- tho "Reds” demanded the dis.armament of the Japanese garrison.. The Japanese commander refused, and .fighting commenced. , ,Jl'hp "Japanese -took refuge in tho Consulate, which cau'ght fire. Tho ■desperate Japanese, seeing no hope of - rest-no and being pledged not to sur--rouder, deliberately plunged into ‘the flames, crying “Banzai.” The victims included the Japanese Consul, his wife and two children. A Japanese force has been sent to Nikolaevsk to rescue the remaining 11 rodents, but it-is'foarcd tho ‘‘Reds” • 'killed Ithem all. , OPERATIONS AGAINST BOLSHEVIKS. SIBERIA AS A BUFFER STATE. (Received Mav 23, 5.5 p.m.) HONULULU, May 21. “ .According to a dispatch from Tokio the War Office has announced that Japanese troops landed at Nikolaovsk on May loth to -begin operations against tho Bolsheviks. It is understood Japan will begin negotiations with Russia for tho creation of a buffer Stato in Siberia® PENETRATION - INTO ARMENIA. fßcceivcd Mav 23, 5.5 p.m.) . . ... . WASHINGTON, May 21. Colonel Haskell, Allied High Com- ' missioner in Armenia, has advised the State Department that the Bolsheviks have control of the AlexandropolArmeniau yaihvay centre. Rail travel is completely tied up in Armenia. Tho Bolsheviks control the Baku oil supplies. RESUMPTION OF TRADE .RELATIONS. ALLIES T® DEMAND UNDERTAKINGS. (Received Mav 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. May 20. The Australian Press learns that three Bolshevik representatives, who are at present in London in connection, with tho resumption of trade relations, are there merely to supply information to the Supremo Council and information regarding Russia’s supplies. Later the Council will approach Russia; with which there arc no diplomatic relations. They can only, communicate by wireless. Definite negotiations will commence when complete satisfaction has been receiyed with reference to the fate of the remnant of Deniken’s army, the release of prisoners under the O’Grady ' agreement, the release of Allied prisoners in Siberia, and assurances regarding the Bolshevik policy' in Persia. CAPTURED DOCUMENTS (Received Mav 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDO'N, May 21. Tlid “Daily Express” publish';, documents captured from an aeroplane flying to Russia, which was forced to descend in Lettland. The tugnatures of a British Sovietists’ address to Lenin include Sylvia Pankhursfc. Another document alludes to the payment of money to British sympathis-, ors. Another contains a request for pearls for France and sapphires for England. “SEAL OF LIBERTY.” , MILITARY' TRAINING THE ONLY WAY. * (Received Mav - 23,, 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 21. A Moscow .wireless states that the workers celebrating tho anniversary of the introduction of military training by a people’s holiday. A typical slogan runs: “The seal of liberty is tho rifle in the handfi of tho worker or peasant.” Soviet loaders urge that Russia is surrounded by bourgeois nations, and tho system of general and popular ' military training'is the only way to secure life and liberty. THE POLISH WAR ATTITUDE OF BRITISH GOVAus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.'and Reuter. ■ LONDON, May 20. .In the House of in the course of an explanation ‘of the atti-• tude of tho British Government towards Russia and Poland, Mr Bonar Law disclaimed the desire to make war on Russia. Ho maintained that the kind of government which tho Soviet professed was contrary to hu- .. man* nature," and could not last. The way to create a reasonable situation in ‘Russia was to allow tho Ru?«ians to work.,out their own salvation. It was by opening up trade much mbre than by armaments that tho Bolshevik Government would be put down. Dealings. Poland, Mr Bonar Law said that the little ammunition which had been given Poland as an ally was intended to enable them to defend themselves-against attack -by the Bolsheviks, which was threatened in October, 1910, hrr.t Poland told Britain that she would not take the ro- • sponribility of advising pence or war, although the opinion of the British Government, was against war. Mr Llovd Gerfrge, supported bv the Cabinet, Informed the -Polish - Foreign Minister that Britain did not desire to give Poland the slightest encouragement) to pursue n policy of war, because Jt woidd incur responsibilities which could not he discharged. Mr Lloyd George made it clear that the ' principal difficulty was that the Polish army had advanced far beyond the racial boundaries, but that if. Poland made a real a-ttomdt at an. equitable peace, and tho Bolsheviks refused, Britain was bound to awns® Poland, BRITISH MINERS WANT WAR TO END. (Received Mav 23. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 21. The Minoru’ Federation Executive has urged the Government to uso its influence to end the Polish war. It

wan decided to co-operate with the political,Labour..movement to demand that-the.. Government, should cease ,to support Poland. , (Received Mav 23, midnight.) LONDON, May 21. Tho executive of tho National Uniot of Railwayman has instructed its members to refuse to handle liny material intended .to assist, Poland against RusFI.EROE FIGHTING. BOLSHEVIK ADVANCE CONTINUES. (Received--Mav--23,-11 p.m.) LONDON, May 21. A Bolshevik ‘whelms communique states: The ' piltsuit ‘of "’the retreating enemy continues in the Polotsk region. We occupied a number of villages eastward of flmmen. after fierce fighting. bombed enemy positions, and assisted our crossing tho Bcrcgina. xjvcr. .