THE RUSSIAN SITUATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 28

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION

SENSATIONAL FALL IN STOCKS

ACTIVITIES OF PEASANT ARMIES

RUMOURED NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN JAPANESE AND SOVIETS

LONDON, November 21. Sensational rumours are agitating Russian stocks, which after a speculative rise in September have sunk to the lowest point recorded, . An unconfirmed roundabout message from Helsingfors declares that an army of insurgent peasants sacked Tolburg and Ural and surrounds Moscow. Another message reports that the fJapanese have had secret negotiations with the Soviets, which the Japanese Ambassadors emphatically deny. • Petrograd is- precariously maintaining life by burning wooden houses, doors, and wood blocks from streets. Peasant armies in Astrakhan and Kaluga are trying to break through to join Denikin. THE BALTIC STATES. SOVIET'S PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. LONDON, November 20. General Litvinoff,. cm behalf of the Bolshevists, has been discussing peace with the Baltic States at Dorpat. The Esthonians officially state that General Litvinoff offered as a guarantee of peace to surrender the Bolshevist fleet in the Gulf of Finland and to establish a neutral zone between Bolsheviet Russia and the border States.-. GENERAL KOLCHAK'S RETREAT. ARMY RETIRING IN GOOD ORDER.

LONDON, November 21. Mr Wilton reports from Riga that General Kolchak arrived with his staff at Tsarskoe, 100 milo3 east of Omsk. His army is retiring in good order.-