RUSSIA'S ORIGINAL UNPREPAREDNESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3249, 21 June 1916, Page 27

RUSSIA'S ORIGINAL UNPREPAREDNESS.

PETROGRAD, June 13. The Russkoye Slowo makes revela= tions of General Sukhoinlinoff's responsibility for the Russian difficulties. He, it states, got his hands upon a gang of 11 adventurers and habitues of the family circle, including Bogroff, the murderer of M. Stolypin; Nyascedoff, who was hanged in 1915 for betraying plans to Germany; and Kuiiabko, who gave Bogroff access to the theatre on the night of M. Stoly= pin's murder. General Sukhomlinoii was probably not aware of the character of his associates. lie reposed the greatest confidence in Myasoedpff, and communicated to him many secrets of the War Office, of which the conspirators made use. Madame Sughomlinoff was a young and attractive woman, who gladly accepted the obeisances of frequenters of her salon. General Sukhomiinoff was also largely responsible for Russia's unpreparedness for war. Without consulting his official colleagues, he formulated a faulty scheme of defence, involving the abandonment of the Polish fortresses, and directly the war commenced General SuMiomlinoff was deluged with appeals for a more liberal supply of munitions, but he obstinately refused to consider offers to supply war material, adopting the standpoint that the manufacture of munitions was only possible at Government arsenals. He told the generals they must try to economise, as the military works could lot make more.

FORCED MILITARY SERVICE. LONDON, Juno 13. Official : Germany is forcing ' Belgians who have been resident in Germany for three yeara to join the German army. The Belgian Government has protested to the Allies and neutrals against this breach of The Hague Convention. Spain has taken up the matter on the Belgians' behalf.

THE JAPANESE NAVY. MELBOURNE, June 16. Speaking at a reception to the visiting Japanese warships, the Japanese Admiral sai-d that his two ships had come on the mission of training midshipmen, but they were always ready to fight. If any emergency arose and he found it necessary to use force he would not hesitate to act. Senator Pearce, Acting Prime Minister, said that the Japanese had been instrumental in destroying German domination of the Pacific, and had otherwise given valuable aid to Australia. BELGIAN CONGO. HAVRE, June 15. A Belgian communique states : General Tambeur, continuing his pursuit, has reached three points on the high road between Lakes Victoria Nyanza and Tanganyika. His right column occupied Usambura, at the northern head of Lake Tanganyika, on June 8, and is now marching towards Kitega, in which region the German forces are concentrated.

EAST AFEICA. GENERAL SMUTS'S THOROUGH WORK. LONDON, June 15. Official : General Smuts's northern column has reached Makuyuni and occupied Wilhelmstal. It is reported that Tanga (on the coast) is clear of the enemy. BRITISH PROGRESS. LONDON, June 17. The Press Bureau states that General Smuts reports that after considerable difficulty, due to lack of water and the density of the bush, portion cf Hoskins's column reached Kwedizwa, six miles north of Handeni, and on the 15th the advanced troops reached Kilima-Njaro village. On the 16th a considerable German force •was reported to be entrenched near the Handeni wafer supply. Simultaneously Hannyngton's column, advancing along the railway, occupied an important station at Karogwe, and secured the bridge over the Pangani. Our forces have occupied the island of Kerewe, in Lake Victoria, and in the north the German fort of Mwanza, capturing a quantity of stores. FEMALE DE WET. LONDON, Juno 15. A Johannesburg telegram states that a German woman went mad owing to the loss of her husband and brother, and is now leading bands of marauding Askaris. Owing to her daring and elusive tactics, she is called "the female Do Wet." The Germans have promised the Askaris to hand over to them all the white -women in British East Africa. [Aekari bo-ihi to be in East Africa a generic t< rm f< >r natives employed by the white* as fi-hirs, just as "Sepoy" was used in India, mid does not denote any particular tribe or race.]

RUSSIAN PRISONERS STARVED. AMSTERDAM, June 18. The Telegraaf states that the Germans ordered the whole of the population of Roulers indoors from .2 o'clock in the afternoon till 8 o'clock in the morning for three weeks, because the citizens fed the Russian prisoners employed in agriculture. A number of Russian prisoners in Belgium have died from starvation, the Germans, in a spirit of revenge, depriving them of the modicum of food generally allotted. COLONIAL SOLDIERS. LONDON, June 18. Many New Zealanders are encamped at Bulford and some Canadians are elsewhere. At Salisbury, when the main body of Australians arrives, it is expected that there will be an immense review oi 100,000 men. The King has expressed a desire for a closer acquaintance with the largest colonial army, consisting of Australasians, Canadians, and South Africans. Pie will choose the most suitable moment, probably during the visit of the dominion members of Parliament.

MARSHAL VON MOLTKE. SUDDEN DEATH. LONDON, June 18. The death of Marshal von Moltke occurred from heart failure while he was representing the General Staff at a memorial service to General von der Goltz in the Reichstag. [Field-marshal von Moltke, who was a nephew of-the man whoso genius was largely responsible for the phenomenal success of the Teutonic armies in the Franco-Gorman war was Chief of the German General Staff at the beginning of the war, but when the great thrust failed to reach Paris a scapegoat had to be found, and Marshal von Moltke was retired. He was 67 years of age.]

GERMAN MEAT SUPPLIES. LONDON, June 18. A message from Berlin states that Professor Rnbner warns Germany that henceforth meat supplies will steadily decrease. A meat diet could be substituted by eggs or spinach, but there are no eggs and but little spinach. A pound and a-half of apples would not be a bad substitute, but not enough apples are being supplied. He scolds the Germans for eating fat, which, he says, is merely a bad habit.