RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16979, 16 April 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA

FIGHTING NEAR OZERKI. HALF-HEARTED ATTACK BY AUSTRIANS. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Router. LONDON, April 13. A wireless Russian official message states : In tho region of Ozerki the enemy attacked and occupied 1 positions. Our counter-attack drove them out. In tho region of Bogarodshany following a gas attack which did no damage, the Austriaus woro bombarded. Disorder was noticed in the enemy's first-line trenches, fart of the Austrians retired, and the remainder attempted to approach with white flags, but were subjected to tho fire oi their own artillery, and lied back. CONGRESS OF WORKMEN. OPPOSE ANNEXATION POLICY. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association PETROGRAD, April 13. The Congress of Workmen's Councils passed a resolution congratulating the Government on the decision to abandon an annexation policy and promising the support of the Labour party. Resolutions to issue appeals to all belligerent peoples to urge their Governments to abandon annexations were passed. GREECE Affl) RUSSIA. ATHENS, April 13. _ Greece has officially recognised the Russian. Provisional Government. THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT. SUPPORTED BY REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS NOT THOUGHT OF. Router's Telegrams. PETROGRAD, April 14. (Received April 15, at 5.5 p.m.) A meeting of tho Workmen's and Soldiers' Committee adopted, by 325 votes to 55, a resolution endorsing the Provisional Government's proclamation, which the committee considers an important step towards the realisation of democratic principles in the foreign policy, and declaring that the official renunciation by all Governments of ideas of territorial expansion will powerfully contribute to the ending of the war, but that while the war continues the Russian democracy recognises that any disorganisation of the army is weakening to its fighting capacity and would be disastrous to the country and to liberty. The committee appeals to the people to concentrate their energies upon assuring the army that the population will provide everything that is indispensable The Executive of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Committee emphatically denies the report thai Russian Socialists have sent delegates to any secret peace negotiations in Copenhagen or elsewhere, and declares it has not the least idea of such negotiations. THE SOCIALIST DEPUTATION. ARRIVAL IN PETROGRAD. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. PETROGRAD, April 15. (Received April 16, at 0.5 a.m.) The Franco-British Socialist deputation, | conveying the Democratic Party's fraternal greetings, has arrived. The Britishers include Messrs Thorne, O'Grady, and Bowerman (of the-House of Commons). INDEPENDENCE OF POLAND. ALLIES' GUARANTEE. PARIS, April 15. (Received April 16. at 0.5 a.m.) Tho Allies liave given the Russian Government a collective guarantee of Poland's unity and independence, as foreshadowed in the Provisional Government's proclamation. SOCIALISTS DESIRE PEACE. A FUTILE CONFERENCE. STOCKHOLM, April 15. (Receieivd April 16, at 0.5 a.m.) Russian extreme Socialists, who were formerly _ exiled to Switzerland, have arrived with the object of arranging a peace conference. Some German-French Socialists have accepted the invitation, but the British refused. The British Government has refused the exiles permission to visit England. Tiny travelled from Switzerland through Germany in closed) carriages.