RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17825, 6 January 1920, Page 5

RUSSIA

DENTKDPS POSITION WORSE. BOLSHEVIST ADVANCE IN SIBERIA. JAPAN'S OPPORTUNITY. Press Association—Bj Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 2. Further great Bolshevist gains in South Russia are reported, making General Denikin's position worse. The capture of tho Don basin is depriving him of tho only railway running across his front. Tho Soviet-Esthonian armistice fixes the frontiers with a neutral zone on the east bank of the Narva, and the 'neutralisation of tho Gulf of Finland. Bolshevist Russia renounces for ever her pretensions against Esthonia. The Daily Mail describes, this agreement its a great victory for the Bolshevists, and adds: "The Ames are looking to Japan to stop the Bolshevist advance. When her troops occupy the great area of Eastern Siberia she will nave gained a new place in the world*, rivalling the status of the great Western Powers.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

JAPAN'S INTERVENTION PROBABLE. AMERICA THE STUMBLING BLOCK. LONDON, January 3. Semi-official #advices from Tokio explain that the considerable movements of Japanese troops to the seaboard are reinforcements intended to bring the three divisions now" in Siberia up to war strength. The Japanese peace mission denies the American statements that there are 83,000 Japanese troops already in Siberia, asserting that the troops are sprinkled between Lake Baikal and Vladivostock, and do not exceed 35,000. Japan does not disguise lier intention of stemming the Bolshevist advance towards Lake Baikal, whatever the Americans say. It is believed that America will accept the Allies' pressure, and consent to this. Miliary experts consider the task easy. This occupation would give Japan command of the valuable Amur region, and the domination of the whole of Northern Mongolia and Manchuria. The "leading British newspapers are in favour of giving Japan a free hand in Siberia. The Times says: "Japan is naturally determined to arrest Bolshevism in the regions adjacent to her splieres of interest. The Allies' policy is to assist all border States to fight the Bolshevists." The Daily Mail editorially declares that Japan's intervention is necessary for saving civilisation and protecting China from the incalculable penis of Bolshevist interference.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

JAPAN'S CROWNING POINT. WISE DIPLOMACY PREVAILS. PARIS, January 3. Le Matin -weightily comments on Japan's entry into Siberia. The fear of Bolshevism, it says, has conferred on Nippon a supremacy which neither the military triumphs of_ the Russo-Japanese ivar nor » the. negotiations during the European -war could -win. It is Japan's crowning point. JTer wise diplomatists have worked for a frco hand, and their aim is attained.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AVAR PRISONERS IN SIBERIA. POPE URGES REPATRIATION. ROME, January 2. In consequence of the representations of tho International Committeo of Red Cross Societies at Geneva, it is understood that the Pope has communicated with Japan, urging the immediate repatriation of 200,009 war prisoners in Siberia.—A. and N.Z. Cable. EXCHANGE OT PRISONERS. NEGOTIATIONS REOPENED WITH LITVINOFF. LONDON, January 3. Captain O'Grady lias gone back to Copenhagen to resume negotiations with M. Litvinoff, the Soviet representative, concerning tho cxchango of prisoners.—A. and N.Z. Cable.