REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 25

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

(By Cable.) A RUSSIAN ECONOMIST. The New York Herald's London correspondent interviewed M. Sokoloff, the Russian economist, who is a Bolshevist and close friend of Lenin and Trotsky. M. Sokoloff, who has just arrived from Russia, said the Bolshevist regime was unsuccessful because it failed to keep the labouring classes disciplined. The Government compelled peasants to pay levies, although it had planned that levies should come from the bourgeoisie. Land conditions had been allowed to become chaotic, and the Government had failed to establish State farms. Inefficiency and corruption among local Bolshevist authorities also contributed to the failure. The Lenin-Trotsky Government was collapsing. A NEW CALENDER. The Russian Soviet Government has instituted a new calendar year, which begins on the date of the outbreak of the Revolution. All religious festivals are abolished, and the year consists of 280 working davs. : A Russian official message states that a Bolshevist commissary named Gregonff was murdered in Petrograd. A SPEECH BY LENIN. A speech of Lenin is placarded throughout Petrograd, in which he declared that the Bolshevists have performed half their task in securing victory over the bourgeoisie. The more difficult half was only beginning. The success of the world revolution would depend on a Bolshevist victory over Imperialism. The Bolshevists are resorting to eveiy means of mobilisation, but the results are most unsatisfactory. The regiments proceeding to the front are barely 500 strong, and half of their number desert en route.

THE ADVANCE OF THE FINNS. Finnish troops and General Judenich's Russian volunteers are within 22 miles of Petrograd. Reports from Helsingfors state that the Bolshevists have closed the Russo-Fitmish frontier, and the Finnish Government has taken .similar steps. The Finnish naval flag was hoisted for the first time on the 3rd. . A message from Abo (South-west tinland) states that the Bolshevist fleet bombarded Narva, and severely damaged the French and British warships patrolling the Gulf of Finland. No details are available. . ' ' „ In the House of Commons Mr Cecil Harmsworth announced that the Government recognised the independence of Finland and the de facto Finnish Government. ALLIED TROOPS IN THE NORTH. The Russian Bolshevist Government has proclaimed a state of siege in Petrograd, relying for defence mainly on the Finnish " Red Guards." The Bolshevists appealed to the proletariat to assist in repelling General Mannerheim's Finnish " White Guards." ~ The principal motive of General Mannerheim's advance is to force a favourable solution of the Finnish question, hoping to compel the Bolshevists to concede his demands before the Bolshevist debacle complicates the problem. General Ironside reports that the Bolshevist bombardment of Vaga lasted for Beveral hours. The dugouts withstood the shelling and protected the infantry well. The enemy assembled under cover of the woods, but were speedily dispersed when they advanced in the open. One party of Bolshevists attempted to get round the British flank, but the Russian infantry counter-attacked and defeated the enemy. General Ironside pays a tribute to thp Canadian artillery and also the Russian artillerymen manning the British 60pounders, which were the deciding factors in the battle. General Ironside is confident that there is now no danger of a successful enemy attack on the Archangel front. A Helsingfors telegram to the Dady Express says that Bolshevist spies learned details of the defences of Shenkursk, on the Naga River, 275 miles south-eastward of Archangel, and organised a detachment of axemen, who attacked the American guard during the night, beheaded 60 out

of 80 pickets, and gained an entrance to the fort. An official Murmansk telegram says that the Allied troops captured Melelskaya, on the railway, 25 miles southward of Urosozero, after encountering strong resistance. A DOUBTFUL REPORT. Helsingfors messages report that tho Entente Powers are preparing for military operations with Helsingfors as a base. Foreigners have been ordered to leave the town at short notice. Fifty thousand troops are assembling, with the reported object of attacking Petrograd. French cruisers are lying off Helsingfors, and 20 British ships are expected. UKRANIA AND RUMANIA. A wireless message from Moscow states that Ukrainia has sent an ultimatum to Rumania, demanding the evacuation of Bessarabia. The reason given is the Rumanian advance into Hungary. A BOLSHEVIST DEFEAT. Advices from Novorossik state that Kuban Cossacks headed a cavalry force under General Sokuvo and destroyed the Bolshevist forces on General Deniken s flank, capturing Mariupol, on the Sea of Azof, and taking 6000 prisoners. General Deniken, vastly outnumbered, is still holding his own with his back to the wall. A RACE FOR LIFE. The battleship Marlborough had an exciting experience in rescuing the Dowager Empress of Russia, five grand dukes and duchesses, and 19 princes and princesses off Yalta," in the Southern Crimea. It was known that the Bolshevists were on their track, and had sworn to put the royalties to death summarily. The Marlborough's searchlights swept the mountains throughout the night, and armed parties were sent to assist the royalties. It finally became a race between the royalties and the pursuing Bolshevists. The Dowager Empress and her party of 80 won the race, and reached the Marlborough safely.