REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3402, 28 May 1919, Page 22

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

STARVATION AND DISEASE.

(By Cable.) STOCKHOLM, May 12. It is reported that 30,000 people aro dying weekly in Petrograd as a result oi starvation.

COPENHAGEN, May 12. The Bolshevists are exercising a frightful reign of terror at Riga, murdering many without even passing sentence. The Reds carry off their victims at night in motor cars and slaughter them in the suburbs. The Bolshevist authorities countenance wholesale plundering. Epidemics are raging in Riga, including smallpox, black plague, and spotted typhus. There is a heavy death roll, and there is a great shortage "of medicines and doctors. May 20. Lettish troops have occupied Riga and shot most of the Bolshevist Commissaries. PARIS, May 23. Tchicherin (Bolshevist Foreign Minister), replying to Nansen's (Peace Conference emissary) proposals, indicates his Government's unwillingness to agree to a cessation of hostilities. THE NORTH RUSSIAN FRONT. NEW YORK, May 12. Despatches from Archangel say that the Allied Murmansk forces are driving the Bolshevists southward. LONDON, May 19. In the House of Commons Captain Guest announced on behalf of the Government that the Bolshevists had adopted poison gas on the North Russian front, but we are preparing to retaliate. May 21. The War Office reports: Our troops, in conjunction with our river flotilla, advanced on the left bank of the Dwina to south of Tulgas, taking 29 prisoners. It is believed that we sank a Russian gunboat. The Russian cavalry acting with us distinguished themselves in this operation. A strong patrol of Russians on May 19 broke through the enemy's outpost line on the Vaga, killing 20 and taking 71 prisoners. There were several determined patrol encounters on the Murmansk front. On May 19, near the railway northward of Lake Onega, our troops drove back enemy patrols, and located the enemy's main defence line. The Bolshevists, in consequence of their recent defeats, have removed their commander and appointed a presumably more able successor. Large drafts of troops continue to sail for Archangel. May 22. General Maynard reports: We attacked on May 20 the main Bolshevist position. The British and the Allied legion successfully co-operated on the right, the Middlesex Regiment on the left, and British and Serbians in the centre. The attack was supported by strong artillery fire alone the Petrograd-Murmansk railway. We drove out the Bolshevists from their positions at Lumbuski (at the northern end of Lake Onega). It is believed that the enemy are in full retreat. Our pursuit is continuing southward. Italian troops have reinforced our line. May 23. The War Office reports that General Maynard's troops hare captured Medvyejya. and Gora, at the north-west of Lake Onega, in a series of encounters with the enemy's rearguards. Captured documents show that the enemy's morale has suffered. A NAVAL FIGHT. COPENHAGEN, May 19. Five Bolshevist cruisers were bombarding the Finnish coast, when three British light cruisers came up and sank one of the Bolshevist vessels, almost the whole of its crew being drowned. The rest of the Bolshevist squadron fled to Krbnstadt. LONDON, May 19. The naval engagement in the Baltic lasted only 35 minutes. One of the escaping enemy ships ran ashore. - ADVANCING ON PETROGRAD. COPENHAGEN, May 14. The Esthonian northern force is within 30 miles of Petrograd, and threatens to cut the Petrograd-Moscow railway. The fall of Petrograd is expected in a few days. May 20. Lettish troops have occupied Riga and The Esthonians, supported by Russians and Germans, are rapidly advancing between Narva and Gdov, and have reached the lower part of the Luga River, 120 miles westward of Petrograd. This force has captured 25,000 prisoners and three armoured trains. The enemy is in disorderly flight. STOCKHOLM, May 21. It is stated that the offensive against Petrograd is progressing. Finnish and Esthonian troops are converging on Petrograd, and the Esthonians are within 50 miles of the city. British troops have landed at Luga Bay and occupied the River Luga and the villages on it after many fights with the Bolshevists. The Soviet Government has resolved to defend Petrograd to the utmost. They will destroy and burn the city if compelled to evacuate it. COPENHAGEN, May 22. An Esthonian communique states that the anti-Bolshevist operations during the past month are believed to have been decisive. Sixty thousand prisoners have been captured and 250 guns taken. May 23. The Esthonians are advancing rapidly on Petrograd. STOCKHOLM, May 23. Operations against Petrograd are proceeding with uniform success. A rapid advance is being made south-west of the capital. A Russian corps, advancing on

Gatschina, captured 1000. prisoners, a num.* ber of guns, and much material. The enemy is disorganised and is making a rapid retreat. Equal success has been achieved on the southern shore of Finland. The important fort of Krasnaiv resisted for 6ome time, and then the garrison revolted, siding with the linns. The Russian anti-Bolshevist force captured Gatchina. The Bolshevist flight continues, and reports indicate that they contemplate the abandonment of Petrograd, where inter-! necine fighting is in progress. LONDON, May 24. Great fires and explosions are reported in Petrograd. It is believed that the Bolshevists are destroying the munitions. The Poles have captured Lutsk. The Finnish army will mobilise on May 25 against Russia. The main force is to endeavour to cut the Bolshevists' communications between Murmansk and Petrograd. May 25. It is reported that the Esthonians have captured Peterhof (a western suburb o£ Petrograd). A FIGHT FOR KIEFF. GENEVA, May 14. A great battle is proceeding for Kief! between the Bolshevists and the Ukrainians. Trotsky in oerson is leading the Bolshevists, who have been largely reinforced. Lenin is also present at the campaign. LONDON, May 19. An official communique states that General Denikin is personally conducting operations against Tsarilsin, and has already captured 10,000 prisoners, 28 guns, and 120 machine-guns. TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY. NEW YORK. May 20. The New York Times Washington correspondent states that the United Statea and the allied Governments have decided to lend 40,000,000 dollars to the Interallied Commission administering the TransSiberian Railway. It is believed that Britain, the United States, and Japan will each furnish 5,00,000 dollars, while France and Italy will each find 2,500,000 dollars. JAPAN RECOGNISES KOLCHAK'S GOVERNMENT. PARIS, May 13. Japan has decided to recognise Kolchak's Government. LONDON, May 15. The Manchester Guardian states that Japan's recognition of General Kolchak, who claims to be the legitimate ruler of All Russia, is equivalent to a declaration of wax on the Bolshevists, and is a complete reversal of the Allied policy, which, lias hitherto been one of independent action in support of independent interests and an independent bargain. The newspaper asks: "Has Kolchak promised the remaining section of the Manchurian railway or a predominant position fox the exploitation of Eastern Siberia. There are also numerous • hints that Kolchak has transferred to Japan the suzerainty over Mongolia—a question which manifestly In* volves China, which may find the whole north circled by Japanese railway spheres and interests. The transactions over Shantung and with Kolchak threaten to give Japan practically a monopoly of enori mous markets. May 16. General Kolchak, in a letter to Mr Winston Churchill, expresses his profound appreciation of Britain's assistance to the Siberian troops, whose sole desire is to liberate the country. FRENCH RAILWAYMEN. PARIS, May 15. The French Railwaymen's Congress denounced the peace terms, demanded the withdrawal of troops from Russia, and urged the establishment of proletariat rule in all countries.