RUSSIA.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14825, 16 July 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

ALLIED LANDING ON THE

MURMAN COAST.

PURPOSE OF THE EXPEDITION

AID TO RUSSIAN REORGANISA-

TION

LENIN PROTESTING,

BOLSHEVIK! . AUTHORITY

WANING FAST.

(Australian and N.Z, Cable Association)

London, Jujy 13. The landing of a large Allied force on tho Murman coast represents an effort to reorganise Russia and assist the counter-revolutionaries and the Czechoslovaks to overthrow tho Bolsheviki and checkmate Germany's extensive ! annexation plans. The ice-free ports of the Murman coast provide the only means by which.' the European Allies can supply guns, ammunition and war stores to the Russian forces. It is expected that Japanese and i American supplies will be sent through Vladivostok, which is now in the possession of the Czecho-Slovaks, -who defeated the Bolsheviki and disarmed the Russian warships in the harbour. There are 15,000 German troops in Finland, mostly in the south. It is difficult for them to reach Murmansk, as communications are bad, except by railway, and the terrain is difficult. Lenin's Government, whose headquarters is at Moscow, is protesting against tho Allied landing, but is unablo to interfere. The Government controls only 60,000 troops of poor quality, and indifferently equipped. Falk Horyat has proclaimed himself Premier of Siberia. The Government's programme includes restoration of the Allies' treaties, re-establishment of the army, and abolition- of Bolshevism. Bolsheviki rule is rapidly waning throughout Russia. The influence- of Lenin's Government is almost confined to Moscow, and local bands of Bolsheviki, which are largely dependent on gain, are .governing other towns and districts. The most^ remarkable feature of the Rnsidan'vsituation; is the Czecho-Slo-vaks. Many thousands of them desorted from the Austrian army and fought Avith the Russians against tliei Austro-Gormajis before the Russian j front finally collapsed. j Largo bodies of Czecho-Slovaks then j marched eastward, intending to react1. Vladivostok and embark to America and fight with the Allies on the Western front. These captured tho larger part of the Siberian railway, routed the Siberian Bolsheviki,.and now awaifc Japanese intervention.

Other bodies of Czecho-Slovaks remained in European Russia, and defeated the Bolsheviki in 13RT Samara district.

The Czecho-Slovaks now control 2500 miles of main railway from Penna to Nijni "udinsk, In. Siberia, where they have established their own government

The Bolsheviki control a short stretch of the Siberian railway from Nijni Udinsk to Chita, the remainder to Vladivostok being in the hands of the Czecho-Slovaks.

The remarkable achievements of the Czecho-Slovaks, who. are estimated, at over 250,000, have strengthened the Allies' hands. .

The half million Germano-Au,strian troops on the Eastern front are second quality troops. German newspapers assert that it is impossible for the Allies to restore the Eastern front, compelling LudendorlT to' withdraw divisions from France to fight the re-organised Russian armies and the Czecho-Slovaks to the utmost. Germany anticipates that the Allied efforts will result in Lenin's overthrow and create guerilla warfare against the German, troops, and prevent Germany exploiting the Brest Litovsk treaty.