REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 19

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

CIVIL WAR CONTINUES. BOLSHEVIKS STILL SUCCESSFUL. (By Cable). THE BREST-LITOVSK NEGOTIATIONS. Baron Von Kuhlmann, German Foreign Minister, and Count Czernin, Austrian Prime Minister, have arrived at BrestLitovslc A German wireless message states that ,von Kuhlmann has agreed to the adjournment of the Brest-Litovsk Conference to consider the question of opposing the Ukrainian parties seeking to represent Ukraina. M. Trotsky, addressing the Soviets at Petrograd, said he doubted whether the Brest-Litovsk negotiations would have any result, as the delegates of the Central Powers represented only capitalistic interests. The Russian delegates decided to stick to their point. The Maximalists and Left Social Revolutionaries General Committees have adopted a formula refusing to sign peace and refusing to wage war. The Bolsheviks intend to adopt a passive resistance attitude towards Germany. ~A Russian political statement from Brest-Litovsk denounces von Hertling's speech, and describes him as a Jesuit reactionary from head,' to foot, a friend of the Junkers and of the clergy. The statement declares that the Entente's refusal to enter into peace negotiations is sufficiently explained by the German Government's self-confessed annexationist aims, and the Entente Powers are afraid to fall into the highwayman's hands. The Soviets' Conference last Monday approved of giving^' Trotsky a free hand. Trotsky said : " Western Europe must not blame Russia if she is forced to conclude ja separate peace," The Council of Commissaries declared that gold was a State monopoly, and that gold articles in the hands of private persons, banks, monasteries, and goldsmiths must pass to the State at a fixed rate. TROTSKY'S SPEECHES. M. Trotsky, in a two hours' speech at the Soviets' Congress, said that the Allies had been responsible for Germany's heavy terms, which were quite unacceptable to Russia. He was going to the Brest-Lit-ovsk Conference with two convictions. Firstly, Russia had backed out of an imperialistic war, and would not return; secondly, he would not sign peace on the German terms. The debate was adjourned. It ia evident that the congress will approve of Trotsky's report, and allow the "war to continue, employing the guerrilla methods of a volunteer army. . M. Trotsky, addressing the Soviets' Congress, foreshadowed the possibility of the Tartars challenging the Bolsheviks for supremacy.

■M. Trotsky added that if the Allies did not participate in the Brest-Litovsk Conference the Bolsheviks would take whatever action would give the best advantage to revolutionary Russia. The United Press correspondent at Petrograd has interviewed Trotsky, who said: . "We believe Mr Lloyd George and President Wilson should have joined in the Russo-German negotiations if they really desired peace. They would thus have smashed the main weapon by which Germany maintains internal discipline. The Entente Powers' refusal enabled the Kaiser to show the. workmen that the Allies want Germany. M. Trotsky added : General negotiations would have created a world-wide peace sentiment, and an attempt to renew the war would have resulted in the overthrow of all Governments. That is why the Entente Powers refused 'to join. They still hope to crush the Central Powers, but do not desire to sacrifice Imperialism. Inasmuch as the belligerents refused to join the negotiations, President Wilson's and Mr Moyd George's formulas are merely ■" scraps of paper," enabling German Imperialists to satisfy their appetite at Russia's expense. We therefore believe that the Entente Powers silently approved of the German Brest-Litovsk demands. We are now conducting negotiations, hoping that the Allies will still join in. We are virtually at war With Rumania, because she is shutting off our troops and seizing our provisions. LENIN ATTACKED. Lenin continually glories in the idea of civil war, saying : " The real terror has yet to come. We are unabashed by the cries of those who weep or shudder in the presence of a great struggle. We are the first Government in the world who openly declare for carrying on a civil war. A telegram from Petrograd states that another attempt on Lenin's life was defeated. A student entered the Smolny Institute and fired a revolver, missing his aim. He ■was arrested. A Russian Terrorist Committee, consisting exclusively of women, has sentenced to death Lenin, Trotsky, and 20 other leaders of fhe Bolsheviks. POSITION OF BOLSHEVIKS, i Mr Ransome (correspondent of the Daily News), telegraphing from Petrograd, insists that the position of the Bolsheviks is critical. The, conference of the Soviets was discussing on Saturday question of peace or a holy war against the bourgeoisies of the world. Mr Ransome urges the allied Governments to join Trotsky, so as to prevent the Central Powers making a separate peace with Ukraina. If the Allies were to join Trotsky at a peace confer-

ence, it would have an overwhelming effect on the German people. Meanwhile, a band of idealists who are striving to overcome the apathy of the masses and the active resistance of the privileged and propertied classes have been forced into an impossible position. Owing to their non-recognition of the Bolsheviks, the Allies have put a weapon into the hands of the anti-Bolsheviks, weakening the influence of the Bolsheviks upon the proletariats of the Central Empires. The non-recognition bv the Allies has also strengthened the Ukrainian Rada, which is bourgeoisie, and fears the Bolsheviks more than it fears the Austrians. The Rada is unhampered by any uncompromisirig**ideals, and is ready to conclude a 'separate peace with Austria on business terms, as opposed to the idealistic terms of the Petrograd Bolsheviks. Mr Ransome is of opinion ,that there is still some spirit left in the Bolsheviks, though some of them now believe that Russia will be compelled to make peace owing to her military weakness. Nevertheless, a majority of the Bolshevik leaders still take up Germany's challenge, and the ultimate decision will be with Trotsky, who will do. what is best to serve universal revolution. Trotsky "is ready to sacrifice Russia to save Europe, and to sacrifice Europe to save the world. The whole question now depends on whether the Ukrainian Rada will succeed in securing peace with Austria before the ever-growing Soviet movement in Ukraina displaces it, and brings Ukraina into line with the rest of Russia in support of Trotsky's policy. Trotsky asked for an interval in the negotiations at Brest-Litovsk in order to allow the, Soviets to conquer Ukraina. If the Rada makes a separate peace with the Austro-Germans, then Ukrainian corn, which would prevent starvation in Petrograd, where already spotted typhus has appeared, will be diverted to Austria. This will bring about Trotsky's downfall and anarchy of an appalling kind. CIVIL WAR GENERAL, Civil war is now general in Russia. The Bolsheviks have inaugurated strong military campaigns in Finland, Bessarabia, and Ukraina, troops and guns having been moved south from the front. The Bolsheviks apparently aim at the immediate overthrow of all the bourgeoisie in Old Russia and Rumania. There is a possibility of the Red Guards making a foreign campaign. A Russian warship dominated Helsingfors during its .capture by the Red Guards. It is reported that several Swedes were murdered. The whole of Eastern Finland is in the Red Guards' possession, and reinforcements have been ordered to support the proletariat against the upper classes. Epidemics, the result of malnutrition, are decimating the population. Spotted typhus, more dangerous than plague, ia rampant. As the Bolsheviks haye abolished the Public Health Bureau, there has been no registration of diseases, and only a few doctors remain in the town. Ignorant doorkeepers and cooks are in charge of the hospitals. The food is frightfully adulterated. There is an excessive quantity of straw chaff in the bread, of which only a quarter of a pound per head is distributed, and then only at irregular intervals. In Finland bread is being made of moss and sawdust, mixed with small quantities of flour. A Russian political decree, issued by Lenin, assigns 20,000,000 roubles for the organisation of a workmen and peasants' Red Army. The Government manifesto, explaining the raising of a new revolutionary army, says that whereas • the old army was a bourgeoise oppressive instrument, the new one will be the nucleus of a world-wide social democratic instrument for the freedom of all democracies. A horrible jest was perpetrated at the expense of the Bolsheviks. A train arrived at Petrograd, announced to contain flour, but when the seals were broken and the cars were opened hundreds of bodies of Bolshevik Red Guards were disclosed, who had been killed in the south of Russia. ALL-RUSSIAN CONFERENCE. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent says that the All-Russian Conference of Soviets concluded on Friday. Members were greatly exhilarated by the news of strikes m Germany, claiming that they heralded a resolution in Middle Europe. The Bolsheviks are certain to retain power for three months, till the next conference. The heterogeneous anti-Govern-ment bloc consists of fewer than 60 members, and two-thirds of the remaining 800 members are Bolsheviks and social revolutionaries. There are many internal differences among the Bolsheviks. For instance, the Petrograd delegates, at a recent meeting of the caucus, urged the virtual acceptance of Germany's terms, while the Moscow delegates demanded the continuation of the war until reasonable terms are obtained, but the party voted solidly at the conference. As a result of the Soviets unearthing hidden food stocks, starvation in Petrograd has been staved off, and the situation has now improved, the bread rations having been increased. SIBERIA. Eastern Siberia is menaced by AustroGerman prisoners, of whom there are 15,000 in the Amur province alone. The prisoners at Tomsk, Omsk, and Irkutsk, who enjoy liberty, may assist in an uprising against the Bolsheviks. The Chicago Daily News correspondent at Harbin says that a preliminary session of the Constituent Assembly was" held at Tomsk to discuss Siberia's autonomy. It resulted in a pitched battle between the Bolsheviks o.nd other elements. Twenty were killed. THE UKRAINE. Vienna telegrams report that 'heavy fighting has b en proceeding for several days past between the Ukrainian and Bol-

shevik troops at Lutsk, which the Ukrainians are endeavouring to capture. The Austrian commander of the troops in that district refused the Bolsheviks' request for assistance. The Bolsheviks assert that the Ukrainian Government' has resigned, and the Bolsheviks and Left Section Socialists have formed an Administration and recalled the Rada's representative from Brest-Litovsk, replacing them with Bolsheviks. ■

The Russian Government announce? that it will not further negotiate with the Ukrainian Rada; that the only possible course is a relentless struggle with the Rada until the Ukrainian Soviets are completely victorious. Papers state that the Ukrainians and Bolsheviks are both mobilising, and a general engagement is expected in a few days near Kieff. It is reported from Kieff that Ukrainian troops have occupied Lutsk, ejecting the Bolshevik army after three days' severe fighting, and inflicting heavy losses. The Bolsheviks claim further successes against the Ukrainians. The Red Guards, it is claimed, disarmed 20 Cossack eschelons at AlexandrOvik, and have occupied Kertch, Sevastopol, Jalta, and numerous stations round Kieff, Portava, and Kursk. General Kaledin's Tartar troops continue resistance. Bolshevik troops have occupied Kieff. The town surrendered after four shots. The Bolshevik papers claim a big success against the Cossacks. They say that Kaledin is now practically deserted. Petrograd advices state that the Bolsheviks have captured Orenburg and Odessa. A Ukrainian regiment is reported to have disarmed a force of sailors and Red Guards at Bakehisarai. l Fighting has begun between the Cossacks and the Bolsheviks in Astrakhan. The Revolutionary Committee has seized 40 Rumanian steamers and several warships in the Black Sea ports. The Maximalist Agency confirms the capture of Kieff. Three Ukrainian regiments, with artillery, have joined the Soviets, the whole garrison refusing to fight. TROUBLE WITH RUMANIA. The Bolsheviks seized the Rumanian gold reserve at Moscow, and expelled the Rumanian Ambassador and staff. Russia has promised to hand over the gold to the Rumanian people. The Rumanian Legation at Petrograd has received 12 hours' notice to quit Russia. . The Bolsheviks have declared the Russian General Tscherbatsheff, commanding in Bessarabia, to be the people's enemy, and have deprived him of tlu laws of protection. General Tscherbatsheff had promised to assure the Rumanian army of food and supplies.. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent says it is sported that the Rumanians have advanced into Bessarabia, captured Ugeni, and besieged Kishinev. The Moldavian Regional Council has declared Bessarabia autonomous. The council announced a rupture with Rumania on the 27th inst., stating that the Rumanian Legation and all Rumanian agents would be sent abroad. Haparanda messages state that negotiations are proceeding between RumanVi and the Central Powers for a separate peace, on the condition that Rumania gives Bulgaria Dobrudja and gets Bessarabia instead. M. Trotsky refuses to declare wa>* against Rumania. The republic is waging civil war only against Rumanian generals, capitalists, and the Bourgeoisie. He says: We are helping the Rumanians to cast off their fetters, and intend forming a connection between the Russo-Rumanian proletariats in Bessarabia., under a democratic government. We have provided funds from the Rumanian reserves seized in Moscow, but no mercy will be shown and not a kopeck will be given to the old Rumanian Government. Bolshevism is spreading rapidly in Siberia, and the workmen's organisations are embracing our tenets. Trotsky has issued a statement that Russia is virtually at war with Rumania. Petrograd reports that Russian troops are being rushed to Bessarabia, where the Rumanians are advancing from Kishinev, and battles are expected to take place before long. Jassy telegrams state that the Rumanian troops, on the invitation of the Russian High Command on the south-west front, entered Kishinev, and were welcomed with cheers by the population. THE ALLIED AMBASSADORS. It is rumoured that, the allied Ambassadors are leaving Petrograd owing to the Bolsheviks' attitude toward Rumania. This both astonishes and dismays the Bolsheviks, whose view is that Rumania is on the verge of a badly-needed revolution, and that consequently the Rumanian landowners are preparing to seize Bessarabia, with the collusion of the Bessarabian propertied classes, in order to compensate Rumania for the loss of the Dobrudja when she accepts peace from Au> tria and Germany. The Bolsheviks are astonished that the Allies are supporting the Rumanian propertied classes, who are -actually working m the interests of the Central Empires. THE POSITION IN FINLANDThe Daily Chronicle's Stockholm correspondent reports that civil war is in progress in Finland. The Red Guards organised a revolution and overthrew the existing Government. A Diet was established bv the proletariat at the dictation and with the assistance of the Bolshevik Government. A great fight is proceeding at Viborg, with much bloodshed. The Red Guards have occupied the railway station at Helsingfors and cut the telegraph lines and cables. All the foreign Consuls 'have left the town. Members of the Finnish Government escaped to Tammerfors, where a great Government/ army is concentrated under General Mannerheim. The Swedish Go-

vernment has closed the frontier to prevent tho transport of arma. A t Finnish delegation has arrived in Sweden, seeking military help against -the Red Guards. | The White Guards defeated the Russian soldiers in the north, but the Red Guards are masters of the south of Finland. M. Trotsky, in a letter to the President of the Finnish Senate, deprecates Russian troops interfering with the Finnish civil war, and states that all must be withdrawn as soon as poshible. General Mannerheim continues his successful march southwards in Finland, disarming the Red Guards. He has occupied Twoerfors, Kristinestadt, and Tavastchus. J There is great enthusiasm in North Finland, where all men between the ages of 15 and 60 are joining tlhe Government troops. Only Tornea, Koms, and Uleaborg remain in the hands of the Red Guards in North Finland. There has been righting a.round Viborg. Helsingfors remains in the hands of. the Red Guards. Newspapers have been stopped, and officials are striking. Members of the Landtag Bank directors have been arrested, a.nd the City Council has been dissolved. Government troops, have occupied Raumo, Lovisa, and Berga, in South Finland. • THE POLISH LEGIONS. Information from Minsk states that tho Polish Legions, having declared war against the Bolsheviks, the latter have hotly attacked a Polish division under General Ottapovitck. Twenty-six thousand Polish Legionaries, commanded by Polish generals, have occupied Rogatcheff. A provisional Soviet demanded their evacuation and the submission of the Polish staff, intimating that the fate of a number of leading hostages depended upon their compliance with this order. A NEW PARTY. A new party has arisen in -Russia, called the Independent Anarchists, who denounce the Bolsheviks as a bourgeoisie Government. The Anarchists threaten to hold the American Ambassador personally responsible for the safety of the two " comrades" sentenced in America for violating the Military Drafts Law. FRANCE TRUSTFUL .The French Minister of Finance has announced that the French Government believed that succeeding Governments in Europe will continue to-pay the interest on -their loans; therefore, the French , Government would Day interest on Russian securities held in France. ,

SPORTSMEN'S CONTR! BUTIONS.

TO RED CROSS HOSPITALS. A summary of the sportsmen's contributions from Otago (including Hakatarameal last season to the military hospitals in England has been compiled. From this it appears that 2885 hares were provided. This is the best record so far from Otago. As unfortunately there is reason to fear that a heavy call will bo made on tho hospitals during the current year, sportsmen are urged to endeavour to double this number during tho ensuing season. From towards the end of May to the middle of August is recognised to be the best season for taking hares. Tho Christchurch branch of the Red Cross, which has charge of the shipping. greatly appreciates the pood work of all those who take part in these hare drives. The New Zealand Refrigerating Company, has again generously undertaken to freeze and crate the game free at its Pukeurj, and Burnside works. Mr Duncan Rutherford'* death last year has been a heav}' blow to tho cause. The initiation of\this work was duo to him, and sportsmen cannot pay a greater tribute to his memory than by carrying it on, as he would have. wished it to be. The details of the contributions show that hares were supplied as follows: —From Central Otago: Patriotic Sccietv. Kokonga, 525; F. Mathias. Waipiata, 347; M'Kinnon. <Middlemarch, 329; Conn. Dunedin. 165; Patriotic Society, Becks, 113; L-aidlaw, Matakanui, 74; Wilson, Oturehua, 59; Pearson, Ko» konga, 43; Becker, Oturehua. 33; Patriotic Society, Hyde, 31; Quin and Bodger. Tapanui, 26;—total, 1744; less rejects.' 16—1728. From Kurow and Hakataramea: Gillies. 221 j Scott, 214; K'eleher. 191; Menzies. 165 > Ensor, 131; Kirknldy, 116; Rattray, 69 1 Card, 50;—total, 1157. The North Dunedin Gun Club supplied 20 carcasea of venison, from tho Tapanul district.