RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

A GENERAL ARMISTICE. AGREED TO BY GERMANY. BOLSHEVIKS IN SUPREME COMMAND. New York, Nov. 28. The Germans have agreed t« the Bolsheviks' overtures for a general armistice, Petrograd, Nov. 28. About half the Petrograd voters polled in the Constituent Assembly elections, which close to-dny. Undoubtedly an overwhelming majority: of the Petrograd garrison sides with the Bolsheviks. Tho latter have seized the Customs. General P.alueff, commanding on the western front, lias been superseded for refusing to negotiate an armistice.

The Bolsheviks announce that they control Tashkent after four days' fighting.

M. Trotsky has dismissed without pensions two assistant Foreign Ministers and thirty officials for refusing to submit to Bolshevik authority.

M. Trotsky has written to the British Ambassador demanding the release of two Russians arrested in Britain who iiavc apparently been interned, and hints at reprisals. London, Nov. 28.

The Petrograd correspondent of the Morning Post says that the Bolsheviks alone enjoy facilities for propasraiuh. in connection with the elections. They have risorously suppressed the literature of other- parties. A Bolshevik pronouncement threatens the better classes with terrible reprisals, including deprivation of their food allowance, because of their passive resistance to the new Government

A wireless Rusian message says that Haritonog, secretary of the Bolslieviki, sent n proclamation to the commander-in-chief, Ensign Krylenko. a? follows: "The Bolslieviki faction of the All Russian Extraordinary Congress of peasants delegates, numbering (14, awl 3 delegates of other factions, congratulate you on your resolute step towards the realisation of the wishes of the whole Russian workers for the conclusion of a general, just, and democratic peace. We also congratulate all the nrmy corps and other committees who are helping you in this great and difficult task. S Copenhagen, Nov. 28. A Haparanda message states that General Kaledin is not marching on Petrogrnd. hut intends remaining at Novotcherkaslc. in the Don country. The Militarv Revolutionary Committee has dissolved the Petrograd Town , Council. It is reported that Caucasia, has formfid an independent Parliament of fortv iwemfoers, all Socialists except one 80lI shevik. I London. Nov. 28. Mr. Phillip Price, war correspondent, reveals from Petrograd that the Kirghiz Tartars, near the Chinese frontier, rehelled in the summer of IMB. when the Czars Government, after the gradual confiscation .of their lands for the past decade, called them to the colors for military service. Half a million Kirghiz were killed during the rebellion, and a million fled to China.

THE "SECRET" TREATIES. NO VAST TERRITORIAL DESIGNS. , Reecived Nov. 29, 8.30 p.m. London, Nov. 28. In the House of Commors, in reply to a question, Lord Robert Cecil said it was untrue that the secret treaties published at Petrograd revealed that the Allies were committed to vast territorial aggrandisement. Petrograd, Nov. 2S. An agreement made in the spring of 1916, and ratified in February, 1917, between RussUi, France, and England, Ins been published. It gave to Russia Erzerum, Trebizond, Bitlis, and Van villayets; France to receive the seaboard of Syria, the Adana villayet, and lesser Armenia; England to receive lower Mesopotamia, with special rights at Haifa and Jaffa. Between the English and French nones to ibe an Independent Aranian State. Alexandrctta to be a free port. Palestine to be a protectorate under Rusia, France, and England. There was also to be a neutral zone in Persia through Ispahan, within the Russian sphere.

FOOD AND SUPPLIES. CONGRESS TO CONSIDER ORGANISATION. Received Nov. 29, 10 p.m. Petrograd, Nov. 28. Russian official: The Council of the People's Commissaries of the Army and Navy convenes a general congress of the forces for December 2, at PetTograd, to organise arrangements regarding food and supplies. \ RUSSIA'S ENEMY PRISONERS. THE QUESTION OF EXCHANGE. Received Nov. 24, 8.40 p.m. Paris, Nov. 28. M. Marcel Hutin points out that Russia holds 1,700,000 Austro-German prisoners. The Allies' conference must give the greatest attention to any suggestion to exchange while anarchy and treachery dominate Russia OFFICIAL RUSSIAN MESSAGE. 1 ;"; Received Nov_ 29, 9.10 p.m. ' London, Nov. 28. The War Office reports that the chief of the Russian military mission to England has received a communication from Russian headquarters, dated November 22, aa follows: From November 6th to 13th there was no sea fighting. Seventeen hundred and thirty-four Turkish gendarmes surrendered at the Diala river. We lost a thousand men during an attack in the Barahoviehi region, in which the enemy occupied our first line. Our fire dispersed the enemy, who was attempting to fraternise. AUSTRIA READY FOR PEACE. Received Nov. 30, I.2ft p.m. Amsterdam, Nov. 2fl. A message from Vienna states that Count Czernin, in the Upper House of the Reichslrath, expressed Austria's readiness to negotiate for an honorable peace with Russia-