REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 20

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

GERMANS CAPTURE SEBASTOPOL. FIGHTING IN FINLAND. GERMANS CAPTURE MANY PRISONERS. EXPLOITING UKRAINIA. (By Cable.) THE GERMAN ADVANCE, German official reports state: Finnish troops captured Viborg. We have occupied Thcodosia, in the Crimea, After a five days' battle we defeated the enemy near Lathis and Tauasterus, in. Finland, taking 20,000. prisoners. We advanced into the Donetz region, and occupied Taganrog, on the Azov Sea. We broke the resistance of the enemy before Sebastopol and occupied the town. Berlin official messages state that the Germans occupied Sebastopol without fighting.

A - Turkish communique states: The Germans occupying Sebastopol found the greater part of the Russian Black Sea fleet and merchantmen in the harbour. Several Turkish warships, including the Goeben, have arrived at Sebastopol. The German generals consider that the Finland campaign is finished. The last shattered remains of the Red Guards, concentrated near Kotka, are surrounded by White Guards. Advices received in Washington say that the German Liberals are vigorously opposing the Kaiser's plan to transform Esthonia and Livonia into monarchies attached to Prussia.

State Department advices say that Germany is sending a mission to Petrograd to demand the immediate release of all healthy German prisoners, while the sick are to remain in Russia under the care of neutral physicians. Germany, on her part, will agree to release only incapacitated Russian prisoners. If these demands are not met Germany threatens that Petrograd will be occupied. The German papers contradict the report of Korniloff's death. They state that he is marching on Orenburg (north of the Caspian Sea), not with the object of restoring the monarchy, but to convoke a Parliament.

Advices from Moscow say that the German Ambassador, Count Mirbach, and the Turkish Ambassador Halil Kom Ali Bey, have presented <.ieir credentials to the local Government. Recent arrivals from Russia believe that the Germans' chief aim in the north is monarchical restoration, while maintaining a separate republican , Government in Ukrainia, thus perpetuating a- breach between different parts of the country. This scheme, even if successful in Petrograd or even a small part of Russia, is unlikely to be decisive over the rest of the country, for Petrograd has ceased to be the country's brain centre. Notwithstanding the Bolsheviks' failures, they have effectively sown the doctrine of government by the people. POSITION IN FINLAND. ' Petrograd messages describe fierce fighting in Finland between the White and the Red Guards. Several trainloads of dead and wounded Red Guards have arrived from Tersoki (?), while Viborg is cut off from Petrograd. The Russian troops have been ordered to resist troops from Finland crossing the border into Russia. Washington State Department advices show that the Finnish White Guards are seizing the stores from Britain and America intended for the old Russian Government. It is officially reported that the White Guards have captured Viborg (connected by rail with Petrograd, from which it is distant 85 miles), killing nearly the entire garrison of 6000 Red Guards. The situation of the Red Guards in Southern Finland is critical. The Germans have captured Tavastehus (70 miles north of Helsingfors). General Mannerheim, White Guards' commander, reached Helsingfors on Saturday. All Finnish parliamentary and civil parties favour the establishment of a monarchy ; only the young Finns demand a republic. The Germans captured 11,000 prisoners at Helsingfors and 5000. at Viborg, including the Red Guard Premier. The greater part of the Red army has surrendered near Lathis. Twelve thousand men were taken prisoner. It is reported that the Russians concentrated on the Finnish frontiers have opened a bombardment against the White Guards. The Aftonbladet states that the Russians have rushed considerable forces of troops to the Finnish borders, where great events are expected. The Dagblad states that negotiations are proceeding for the appointment of Duke Adolf of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as King of Finland. THE POSITION OBSCURE. The political situation in Russia is obscure. The newspapers here suspect that the Germans in Finland are doctoring and delaying news from Petrograd preparatory to some new coup.

The Daily Express features a Petrograd message, dated April 23, stating that the entire Red Army has been ordered to the frontier against the Finnish White Guards, who are making an effort to occupy Petrograd, and who will seek to justify its occupation on the grounds that the' Red Army is still aiding the Finnish Red Guards against the Germans. The Ge/mans are supporting the White Guards, who are now within 85 miles of Petrograd. In Petrograd, General Schwartz, the original captor of Prezemsyl from the Austrian?., is superintending the defence of Petrograd. Trie United Press Petrograd correspon-

dent reports that Russia is preparing to re-enter the Avar.

The Pan-Executive Council has adopted universal military training between the ages of 16 and 40, and the conscription of all workers and peasants. Military experts and the best army officers have been called into the service. The plan is expected to furnish a large army in 10 months.

The Allies' representatives attended the council meeting. The Soviet Government is being charged with aiming at its own preservation, and not defending Russia, The Aftonbladt learns from Finland that tha new counter-revolution Government at Petrograd refuses to accept the BrestLitovsk peace, and demands new peace terms, including a provision that Esthonia shall remain under Russian rule. TALK OF A COUNTER REVOLUTION. The latest Petrograd advices up to April 23 do not confirm the rumours from Stockholm of the restoration of the monarchy in the person of the Czarevitch, which Russian circles in Sweden anticipated as a prooable German move. The German Government has taken up the Swedish reports of disturbances at Petrograd- of the restoration of the monarchy. Herr Bussche, Foreign Undersecretary, has telegraphed to Herr Mirbach, Ambassador at Moscow. He mentions the Swedish reports, and says he has received a letter from Petrograd, dated the 13th of April, stating that a monarchist pronunciation was imminent, and that Alexieff, Gutchkoff, Miliukoff, and Rodzianko are in Petrograd. Herr Bussche suggests that the reports are not improbable, and asks for a telegraphic reply. Though Vienna re~)or + s imply that important changes have occurred at Petrograd, it was officially stated in the House of Commons that the British Government has had no confirmation of the reported counter revolution. The ex-Czar and Czarina and one daughter, according to a Soviet announcement, have been transferred from Tobolsk to Ekatrinburg, owing to the alleged efforts of the peasants and monarchists at Tobolsk to promote their escape. The Czarevitch is not mentioned in the Soviet's announcement. THE BOLSHEVIK INFLUENCE. German-inspired stories of the restoration of the monarchy in Russia are believed by Mr Philip Price to show that Lenin's influence is stronger than ever. The Soviets' authority everywhere is increasing, replacing the Zemstvos even as far as the Arctic. The Bolshevik leaders are anxious to revive production and a sense of responsibility amongst the people. The younger peasants and soldier's in the north are responding, and are organising transport, restoring agriculture, and assisting' the formation of a revolutionary army. Advices from Petrograd state that exports of all foodstuffs are prohibited. The Bolsheviks are endeavouring to unite all the Socialists, with a view to establishing a strong coalition Government, and to demand a revision of the Brest-Litovsk treaty. Members of the Kerensky Cabinet, imprisoned in the Peter and jfaul Fortress, have been released. The Bolsheviks have abandoned the idea that they can govern Russia without the help of other parties. The New York Times Paris correspondent says that allied officials returning from Russia take a gloomy view of the Russian situation. They point out that the one bright spot is that Germany will continue to have difficulty to capitalise her Russian success.

Out of 1,500,000 German prisoners in Russia, Germany will not get back under arms more than 10 per cent. In Kieff the Bolsheviks murdered 1048 Russian officers on May Day, and there were many murders in Petrograd. LENIN AND TROTSKY. It is reported that Lenin and Trotsky have come into contact with, a number of officials of the Czar's regime. Travellers from Moscow say that Lenin is preparing a counter-revolution Avith the connivance of the Czarists, Lenin hoping to subdue the parties responsible for the first revolution. Indications point to the Russian situation ■ generally trending towards reorganisation through military means. Mr Herman Bernstein, the New York Herald's Stockholm correspondent, says he has obtained an original letter from Trotsky to Lenin during the separate peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk, in which Trotsky said: "It is impossible to sign peace. My plan is to announce the termination of the war without signing peace. The Germans would then be unable to attack. In any case it would be difficult for Germany to attack us because of her internal condition." The disarmament of the troops of the Government at Kursk and the* Crimea has been ordered. GERMANY AND THE UKRAINE. According to a telegram, Field Marshal Eichorn, commanding the Germans in Ukrainia, has ordered the peasantry to return the property taken from the landowners and begin the cultivation of the great estates. This is arousing vigorous opposition. The Ukrainian Rada instructed the Minister of Agriculture to direct the peasants to disregard General Eichorn's order.

A German communique affords an interesting sidelight on affairs in Ukrainia. It alleges that there is a strong anti-Ger-man agitation at Kieff, supported by members of the Government, and resulting, inter alia, in the distortion of a German decree regarding spring sowing of grain, which produced excitement in the country and the arrest of the manager of a Russian bank for foreign trading. The communique that the Ukrainian Government connived at the bank manager's arrest. Hence Field Marshal von Eichorn was obliged to take dras-

tic action, including the establishment of military tribunals with severe penalties for disturbers of the peace and the arrest of the Ukrainian War Minister, the wife of the Minister of the Interior, the commander of the town militia, and others. The arrests in Ukrainia have excited bitter feelings in Germany, and the Socialist deputies intend to interpellate Count von Hertling. In consequence of the criticisms the Government has sent a wireless message to von Eiohhorn instructing him immediately to release those arrested. It is stated that von Eichhorn and also von Mumm (Ambassador at Moscow) will be summoned to Berlin to report exhaustively on the whole situation. The entire Liberal press in Germany has joined the Socialists. It accuses the authorities of causing an anti-German agitation in Ukrainia for their own ends.

Vorwarts says that tho methods employed have resulted in great political disadvantage to Germany, which has not secured a single piece of bread from Ukrainia, whereas the whole German food programme is founded on the supposition of getting ample Ukrainian grain. In the Eeichstag, von Payer, referring to Ukrainia, stated that von Eichorn's drastic action was due to the discovery that a Ukrainian committee, including several Ministers, plotted the assassination of all German officers in Ukrainia. The Frankfurter Zeitung excuses the tyranny by stating that the economic situation of the Central Powers is so grave that it justifies the greatest energy in enforcing their requirements. GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINIA. A United Press message from Petrograd says that a break between the Ukrainian Rada and the Government of Germany is near, because of the German demand that the land bo taken from the peasants and returned to the landlords, and that the stores of food be- sent to Germany. The Ukrainian workers and peasants are joining the Russians in the formation of a strong army, whose purpose will be to restore a recognised democratic Government. The message adds that Turkey has again offered Russia to open peace negotiations with her. A Berlin message states that the peasant deputies have overthrown the . old Ukrainian Rada and Government The new Government immediately announced its adherence to the BrestLi tovsk peace terms. Latest advices from Ukrainia state that violent fighting has.occurred between the new Government and the old Rada. The real meaning of these latest developments is variously interpreted. One theory widely held is that Germany instigated the overthrow of the Rada, finding her hopes from the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty, especially in the matter of food, so bitterly disappointing. The Bolsheviks" in Petrograd assume that the Germans are the real controllers of the situation at Kieff. The Hague correspondent of The Times says that the new Ukrainian Government consists of mere German tools. FOOD FOR THE HUNS. The economic agreement between the Central Powers and Ukrainia. was signed on April 23, establishing a State Grain Bureau to deal with supplies of grain. Official advices say that the first trainload of grain from Ukrainia has arrived in Germany, and a reduction of the German bread rations has been postponed. SIBERIAN AFFAIRS. The Siberian Provisional Government has issued a proclamation urging the establishement of solid relations with the Allies. The Government of Siberia recognises the necessity for the Allies introducing bodies of troops in the far east of Siberia, pending -the establishment of a fixed Government in Russia. Baron Ishii states that the Siberian problem is not yet settled, but he bears Japan's pledge not to take action without the consent of the Allies. The Bolsheviks have arrested the Japanese colony at Urkutsk on a charge of espionage. JAPANESE CHANGES. Baron Goto has succeeded Viscount Motono as Minister" of Foreign Affairs. The appointment of Baron Goto to succeed Viscount Motono as Foreign Minister is regarded as indicating the definite rejection of schemes for Japanese intervention in Siberia. Japan is unwilling to act unless the Allies are unanimous. The newspapers anticipate that Baron Goto will promote an economic rapprochement with China. The Nichi-Nichi Shinrbun demands the recognition of the Bolsheviks and the withdrawal of the allied marines from Vladivostock when order has been restored. Baron Goto, in a speech, stated that the landing of the Japanese and British marine's had been unduly exaggerated. He expressed friendship and sympathy for Russia, and promised help to restore her industrial and political stability. He was determined to maintain the friendliness of relations with Japan's neighbours in the East and continue his predecessor's policy of assisting the Allies to the utmost. Tiie New York Times Tokio correspondent says that Baron Goto, the new Foreign Minister, declared in an interview that there would be no change in Japan's war policy. Japan will stand with tho Allies until victory is achieved.