REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3353, 19 June 1918, Page 19

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

CIVIL WARFARE GOING ON

APPEAL FOR ALLIED INTERVENTION. (By Cable.) The Morning Post's correspondent say 3 that Petrograd has reached another crisis. The air is saturated with astounding rumours. The telegraph system has been, placed under severe restrictions, and apparently a further kaleidoscopic change is imminent. The White Guards are fighting their way from Finland towards Petrograd; also eastward. It is believed that .Finland intends to demand the extension" of the frontier to the north bank of-ihe Neva-, which would mean that the Winter""'Jfcace and the British Embassy would stand on the frontier line. Fighting J 3 reported ' within one day's march from Petrograd. There are no physical barriers to protect the but the Red Guards have moved out. The best that can be said is that Russia is still unbeaten, and may remain unbeaten even if Petrograd, Moscow, and Smolensk follow the fate of Kursk, Kharkoff, and Kieff. It is to Great Britain's vital interest to remain Russia's friend and ally. The United Press correspondent at Stockholm, who has recently escaped from Russia, cables: "Unless the Bolsheviks are overthrown by the revolutionary demoractic parties there will be a countermonarchical revolution in Moscow and Petrograd. Germany is approaching the heart of Russia in order to pierce the supports of the monarchical anti-republican plot recently discovered at Moscow, for simultaneous uprisings in Moscow, Petrograd, and other centres, with German soldiers aiding the city w-orkcrs. The peasants are deserting the Bolsheviks, realising the terrible consequences of the Breat-Litovsk peace. The financial and industrial life of Russia is completely disorganised. The Bolsheviks are ruling by foreign bayonets. The Petrograd population are getting £lb of bread "daily. The Morning Post's Stockholm correspondent reports that Petrograd is in a state of turmoil. The Soviet is only supported by a dwindling number of Lettish soldiers, the population are dying of hunger, while smallpox and typhus are raging. The States Department reports that advices from Russia state that Moscow is under martial law following on the discovery of counter-revolutionary plots.' A correspondent states : Vast quantities of Russian equipment—hundreds of horses, thousands of guns, and millions of shells, which the Bolsheviks sold at ridiculous prices—are appearing in France. The arrival of several hundred American specialists is expected at Vologda to participate in a special conference to reorganise the whole of the Russian railways. ANTI-SOVIET MOVEMENT.

The anti-Soviet movement is assuming a threatening character amongst workers. The Soviet delegates have ; violently attacked the Soviet Government. A number of anti-Soviet delegates have been returned by large majorities at the elec tions in several provincial towns. Fighting occurred in the vicinity of Sostoff (on the Sea of Azov) between the Bolsheviks and the Germans, resulting in the latter occupying Batavisk. M. Tchiecherine has protested to Berlin against the German movement in the Don basin. It is semi-officially declared that the counter-revolutionary plot includes both Minimalists and Monarchists, the latter favouring the restoration of the monarchy by an understanding with Germany, while the Minimalists wish a resumption of the alliances with the Western Powers. Notwithstanding the divergence in their views, both parties have agreed on a common platform to overthrow the Soviets. The central figures in the plot are Generals Dovguek and Savinkoff. The plot aims at the isolation of the Ural region from Central Russia, compelling the Soviets to capilidate owing to a lack of supplies. Cossacks under reactionary officers are holding themselves in readiness in the east.

Tlie Daily Telegraph's Russian messages indicate a widespread anti-Lenin feeling. It is significant that the most divergent sections of the Russian public are uniting in a national platform, including the Monarchists, who favour an understanding with Germany, and the Loyalists, who demand a renewal of the alliance with the Entente. All, however, insist on the necessity for the overthrow of the Soviets. FINLAND ORGANISING. The United Press Stockholm correspondent, recently arrived from Russia, states that the Finnish Government is organising an army of 10,000 German-trained men. In Helsingfors Harbour he saw nine German transports, and learned there were 40,000 German troops in Finland. It is believed that their purpose is the occupation of the Murman Peninsula or Petrograd. All the evidence points to the fact that Germany intends to occupy Russian centres, and establish a monarchy. Austrian newspaper correspondents told him that food prices were high, and the scarcity was most serious in Austro-Hun-

gary, and the revolutionary spirit was widespread. Advices from Finland state that Plenkahoff, an anti-Bolsheviist leader, is dead. THE UKRAINE. The Frankfurther Zeitung admits that the internal situation in Ukrainia is ditlieult. The Government i 3 di&liked by all clacses. Every village is under military control for the purpose of confiscating corn. The country is without coal, and there are 1,600,000 unemployed in Odessa, Kieff, Ekaterinoslav, and other towns. A provisional Russo-Ukrainian treaty has been signed. It provides for the cessation of hostilities, the return home of the respective nationals, and the exchange of prisoners of war, and prepares for the exchange of railway material and new commercial rela-' tions. i RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA FLEET. Russian official: In compliance with the Germans' demand, all the Russian warships at Novo Rossnsk have been ordered to be transferred to Sebastopol, Germany promising not to use them before the conclusion of a general peace and then to return them to Russia, This was a fundamental condition for the cessation of hostile action on the Ukrainian front and also in all further Russo-Gcrman negotiations and agreements. GERMAN ADVANCE. German official: Wc destroyed Russian bands at Exjeisk numbering 10,000 strong who were attacking Taganrog. The Press Bureau states: A Russian wireless message says that the Germans are starting an offensive along the front from Stalnika to Zhukovka, and have seized three villages neutral zone. Our« troops retired. Increasing movement has been observed lately at Jevstratovka, tanks and cavalry participating. Our troops destroyed the bridge at Jevstratovka as a reply to the German violation of the treaty. Cavalry has been despatched to maintain liaison with our troops, who occupy a line in the neutral zone. The object of the Germans in creating these frontier incidents is to obtain the railway centres of Lisci and Povorino. FIGHTING THE BOLSHEVIKS. A Kieff message states that General Konerzer has telegraphed to Von Eichorn that a force of" 10,000 Bolshevist Red Guards, commanded by Czech officers, was almost destroyed by his troops west of Taganrog. The Bolshevists had landed on the Ukraine coast of the Sea of Azov, and were advancing to attack Taganrog. Over 3000 dead Bolsheviks were left on the field, and he counted many drowned. General Konerzer claims that the German losses were light. A Kieff message from General Konerzei states that the Bolsheviks who landed oh the coast of the Sea of Azov were almost wiped out. Three thousand bodies have been counted, many perishing in tho water. DISASTROUS EXPLOSION. The first details of an immense munitions explosion near Kieff on June 16 arp given by the Lokal Anzieger's correspondent. Twelve big explosions and innumerable smaller ones lasted from 10 a.m. till late in the afternoon. The entire business life of the city was suspended. People were blown off the street, and buildings were whirled into the air. The Swjerinetz Cathedral collapsed, and the street was impassable. A conflagratison enveloped the whole neighbourhood. Tho explosion is ascribed to Boishvist machinations. THE POSITION IN SIBERIA.

Reuter's Peking correspondent states that after an indecisive engagement, General Seminoff's forces on the 30th May retreated from the Onon River owing to a flanking movement by enemy cavalry. Fugitives from Siberia report insurrections in most of the Siberian towns, Peas* ants and workmen at Irkutsk are joining Czecho-Slovaks against Soviets. The telegraphs are interrupted in Western Siberia.

Food riots are occurring at Omsk. Advices from Kieff state that 15,000 Czechoslovaks in the Chelyabinsk region have occupied part of the Siberian railway and captured munitions. The Soviet troops evacuated Chelyabins and concentrated near Slatouet, where they defeated the Czechs. Other Czech forces are near Samara.

General Seminoff reports that AustrcGermang are threatening his communications since he retired. He reports the capture of Gurko, north-east of Borzia. Delayed Russian messages indicate t that fierce righting is raging in different parte, both of Siberia and European Russia, between the Czechs and Slovaks on the one hand and the Bolsheviks. The former, although prisoners of war, are bitterly hostile to the Central Powers, but it is impossible to gauge the full significance of the encounters. German, and Magyar prisoners assisted the Bolsheviks at Penza, on the Moscow-Siberia railway, 220 miles westward of Samara, which another Czech force is threatening. The Czechs captured Penza, but subsequently gave up their prisoners, except the Germans and Magyars, whom they intend to shoot. It is reported that a force of 15,000 Czechs and Slovaks cut the railway line in the Southern Urals. Similar insurrections are occurring in many Siberian towns between rival bands of released prisoners. The Trans-Siberian cable has broken down on both sides of Irkutsk. THE DO^ r COSSACKS.

Reports from Moscow indicate that the Don Government has commenced the reestablishment of an army on the old basis. Meanwhile, fighting continues at Tzaritzyn (on the Volga, in south-east Russia,

between Rostov and Saratov), the Cossacks gaining the upper hand. Conflicting accounts have been received of the progress of the Czech-Slovak movement. The Leninists declare that the Cadets are behind this movement, which, they allege, is decreasing. On the other hand, it is admitted that the Czechs have blown up several bridges and hold several sectors of the Trans-Siberian railway. Daring Monday the Bohemians and Slave advanced towards Ouffa. It is reported that all the towns_ on tho Siberian railway from Tsheliabinsk to Tomsk are now in the Bohemo-Slav hands. Omsk was occupied on June 8 by the Slav-Cossack peasants under Colonel Ivanoff. The Soviet forces have retreated from Omsk and Tumen. After being driven back from Penda the Czecho-Slovaks advanced on Syzran and took possession of the great railway bridge ncrcss the Volga, which is the principal artery of Trans-Siberian communication. APPEALS TO THE ALLIES. . The Russian Embassy has published a resolution by the Cadet Party declaring that it does not recognise the BrestLitovsk treaty, and makes appeal to the Allies for aid. The resolution states: "We can assure you, in a most conclusive manner, that the information picturing the Russian democracy as disapproving of the Allies is false. If such information has reached the President of the United States it must have originated from Bolshevik sources. The Bolsheviks in no Wfiy represent Russia." The resolution concludes; —"If the Allied military expedition be sent, it is imperative that the Russian people should be assured that Russian rights will not bo violated, and that the expedition will bo under international control." M. Konovaloff, ex-Russian Minister of Commerce in the Kerensky Cabinet, has arrived at Vancouver en route to Washington, London, and Paris. He is trying to induce the Allies to intervene in Siberia to prevent Russia passing utterly under German domination. Russian officials say that with the arrival of Konovaloff, late Vice-Premier under Kerensky, there will'be a speedy decision as to what action the Allies shall take to help Russia against Germany. Konovaloff has arrived at Seattle, and will probably 6ee President Wilson. A Bohjhevik mass meeting, .held in Madison Square Garden, passed a resolution urging the United States to recognise the Soviet Government. A Washington correspondent states that the Government is not convinced of the desirability of intervention in Russia. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour denied that the Allies and the United States had agreed to intervene in Russia. A BELGIAN APPEAL. The Belgian Minister at Petrograd, in addressing a meeting at Tokio, said the law-abiding element of Russia earnestly desired salvation with the aid of Japan. Delegates of the propertied classes at Samtira have called on the Japanese Consul (General Sato), who said that if tho Japanese army advances into Central Siberia all European Russia would rise to overcome the Soviets; otherwise, tho only courso was to invite the Germans to control all the other Soviets. After that Russia would become but a German colony. The newspaper Hochi Shinibun urges Japan to respond to the appeal; if sho hesitates, Germany will become master of Russia, and the coloured races of the World will lose tho favourable opinion of the Japanese.

WILL JAPAN INTERVENE? Japan will increase her army to 25 corps. A correspondent states that the Entente Governments are urging the Japanese to intervene in Russia. At a council meeting held on the subject, at which Allied representatives were present, M. Jules D'Estree, Belgian Minister to Petrograd, who escaped from Russia, said: " There are 20,000 armed German prisoners of war in Siberia. The Trans-Siberian railway is now Russia's only means of communication with the outside world, and this railway could easily be cut by these German prisoners. I saw armed Germans at every station, ostensibly allied with the Bolsheviks." Prince Yamagata's refurn to Tokio and the reassembling of the High Military Conference have revived public interest in the question of Japanese intervention in the war. . - THE EX-CZAR. The Daily Express's Petrograd correspondent says that the forthcoming indictment and trial of the ex-Czar promises to be sensational. The Moscow Soviet is collecting all telegrams and letters sent to European monarchs, including the Kings of Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Belgium, and Germany, also to Rasputin and President Poincare. ; The most remarkable item in the indictment alleges that the ex-Czar had a secret understanding with the Kaiser amounting to a verbal alliance against I France and England, and Nicholas had I also promised not to hamper the German ! military mission to Turkey. CONTROLLING TRADE. The Politiken's Stockholm correspondent says that- advices from Russia indicate j that a great syndicate has been formed ! under Government auspices to control j the whole imports and exports, in order j to transfer from private interests to State interests the trade with foreign countries. Exports will be based on the license- system. This syndicate comprises the l'eadi ing statesmen and financiers, and it possesses great store of metals, oil, and hemp. Branches of the syndicate are being established in England, Scandinavia, and Am- • sterdam. TURKEY AND THE CAUCASUS. The second consequence of the Government crisis is the increasing energy of the Turkish offensive in the Caucasus. The Diet has declared itself dissolved, and the republic no longer in existence. Turkey has proclaimed an independence in Georgia. Tho Turks have launched a strong offensive at Akibalin. A general assembly factory of workshop delegatesat Petrograd ordered the workers' to strike I as a protest against the policy of the Soviet Government.