RUSSIAN SITUATION

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12000, 13 February 1920, Page 5

RUSSIAN SITUATION

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. London, Feb 13 Mr Lloyd George, continuing his speech in the House of Commons, said a alternative solution was to make peace with the Bolsheviks, but observation and experience must first demonstrate that Russia had dropped barbaric methods and was governing on civilised, lines. He believed we could restore Russia’s sanity, cot by force, but by trade and commerce, which had a sobering effect. He did not apprehend "a Bolshevik invasion, because they were unable to organise a powerful army, and such a motive as plundering prosperous provinces did not exist. No Bolshevik force could invade the Middle East. There was nothing they could get if they did. What was there in the mountains of Armenia, Turkestan, or even Mesopotamia, which the British did not control ? He expressed the opinion that trading would end t< e ferocity, rapine and cruelties of the Bolshevik more surely than any other method. London. Feb 13 Mr Lloyd George, in the Commons, added :—Europe needed what Russia could give. He summarised the prodigious Russian exports of staple requirements. Before the war high p ices ruled and even starvation and L inger ranged over Europe, while the cornbins in Russia were bulging with bread, hnt it was necessary that transport must be organised and this was not possible while contending armies were traversing the European borders. The Premier concluded gravely:— “The conditions in Europe are serious. The dangers are not all in Russia: they are hero an home. I speak with knowledge and with apprehenison. I warn the House that there is only one way to fight thing that may happen. We must, fight anarchy with abundance.” (Loud cheers). LOSS OF A TRANSPORT. Received Feb 13, 10 a.m. Loudon, Feb 11 A message from Novorossiysk via Moscow reports the loss of the transport Karantin with 1400 refugees who fled du the approach of the Bolsheviks. The message alleges that owing to indignation among those left behind Denikon’s artillery fired at the vessel and a shell blew up the boiler and the vessel sank. FAMINE-STRICKEN CITY. A Moscow wireless states the disorganisation of transport has left Moscow breadless. The workers are bearing their sufferings with fortitude, but their strength is failing. The workers are now repairing rolling stock to enable food to be brought to tho city. A SIGNIFICANT PROCLAMATION. To-day’s wireless from Moscow contains a significant proclamation urging full return to wort “against the new front of disorganisation the Red Army men are being transferred from the battle front to the bloodless front of labour and reconstruction. The reasonableness of wort should be inculcated as well as the consciousness of the necessity for intensive work in order to raise tho economic conditions of the country. ’ ’

' OFFER FROM HUNGARY

/!? Pa ris, Eeb 11 Hungary is offering the Peace Conference to provide 600,000 men to fight the Bolsheviks if the Alilea will equip them.