RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15311, 26 February 1920, Page 5

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

{Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

London, Feb. 23. The War Office announces that the Vlolunteer Army on February 20th recaptured Rostoff, taking 1500 prisoners, and capturing 20 guns and a quantity of war material.

The Russian steamer Larnondsoff with two British and four Belgian officers in charge, has arrived at Vardo in Norway, from Murmansk. Those on board state that a revolution broke out in Murmansk on Saturday. Bolshevists seized the town and shipping except the Larnondsoff, which escaped under fire, the steamer being riddled by machine-gun fire and the captain badly wounded.

(Received Feb. 25, 10.50 p m ) m »„. .„ London, Feb.' 24. lne Allies wjII not enter into diplomatic relations with the Russian Soviet Government until they "are convinced that Bolshevists horrors are ended, and that the Government is prepared to conform to the practices of civilised Governments. Meanwhile the Allies are willing to encourage to the utmost commerce between Russia and Europe. They welcome the proposal, and the Labour Bureau of the League of Nations will send a commission oto examine Russian conditions.

New York, Feb. 24. The "New York World's" Moscow correspondent interviewed Trotsky, Tyho said: "Our military successes have not blinded us to the need for peace and for the re-establishment of eco* nomic stability. We have been forced to sacrifice the welfare of our people and future generations to the desperate need of the hour. We have transformed, in the past eighteen * months, a peace-loving population of workers and peasants into an armed camp. Our peace terms, nevertheless, remain the same. The reconstruction of Russia is a tremendous enterprise, which will require perhaps ten years. Russia's riches are intact, and the nations which! help us to gain a peace footing will share the profits resulting from the aid they have extended to us. Capitalists who invest money in Russia will receive material guarantees of an adequate character. It is ridiculous to think that Germany can control Russia, and to say that Germany has a better chance than the Allies in our markets. The fact is we cannot possibly expect economic assistance from Germany. It is obvious that we must look towards victorious nations such as Britain ana the United States for machinery and agricultural implements. Ludicrous lies have been "spread that the Red Army is militaristic. Nine-tenths of us are workers, peasants, and pacifists; t\e other tenth are soldiers and officers who served under the Czar. Immediate demobilisation is obligatory with us. As soon as hostilities against us cease, the workers and peasants will insist on returning to their factories and farms, and make Russia a fit land to live in. Only frontier guards will then be maintained. There will_r^o Ije some form of military training for tne working classes, in order that they may always be able to defend themselves against the bourgeoisie."

CReuter's Telegrams.)

(Received Feb. 25, 11.5 p.m.) London, Feb. 24

A Vladivostok message states that the Soviet army defeated General Kappelj entered Irkutsk, and concluded an armistice with the Czechs.

A terrible dynamite explosion occurred at Achinsk. Several trains at the station were wrecked. There were many Polish Russian victims.

Copenhagen, Feb. 21

Litvinoff asserts that Germany is entertaining a plan to involve Poland in war with Soviet. Russia, with « view to taking an opportunity to reconquer lost eastern provinces.

("The Times.")

(R'eecived Feb. 25, 11.5 p.m.) London, Feb. 24

A Moscow wireless message states: — "The Bolshevists recaptured Rostoff after two days' street fighting, and drove the enemy across the Don."