THE HALIFAX DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1917, Page 5

THE HALIFAX DISASTER.

GOVERNMENT INQUIRY. EVIDENCE OF MONT BLANC'S CAPTAIN. Australian-N.Z. Cable Association. Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.m. Ottawa, Dec. 13. The Governmental investigation into the disaster has been opened. Captain Lamodic, of the Mont Blanc, described the collision. The Imo was crossing his course and exchanging signals. The lino was travelling at high speed, and the Mont Blanc slow. He believed the lino altered her course too late. Captain Lamodic manoeuvred, hoping to save the ■ part where the picric acid was stored, but failed. When the fire broke out ho ordered the crew to abandon the ship) seeing it would be useless for them to remain. The crew escaped to land with the loss of one life. AUSTRALIA'S GIFT. Received Dee. 14, 10 p.m. Melbourne, Dec. 14. The Government intends to make a ■substantial contribution to the Halifax relief fund. The amount is not fixed.

RUSSIA.

OPENING OF ASSEMBLY,. A GREAT FARCE. ANTI-BOLSHEVIK INSURRECTION j FEARED. r BOLSHEVIKS NEGOTIATING WITH ROMANOFFS. Received Dec. U, 8.30 p.m. London/Dec. 13. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent thus describes the opening of the Constituent Assembly at Taurida Palace, on Tuesday: The shops were closed, flags were waving, and processions were marching through the streets. There were many meetings and speechifying outside the Palace, where workmen and soldiers assembled'. The doors of the Assembly were guarded by soldiers with machine guns. • After rebuffs, the journalists reached the Chamber. But the Assembly—where was it? We saw a little group at the foot of the Speaker's tribune, numbering about fifty, instead of 760. Included in, these were f6rty Social Revolutionaries' and four Cadets, but no Bolsheviks. The members held -a little meeting, theij voices sounding like whispers in the empty'hall. It was decided to meet daily until a quorum was,present. Wednesday's sitting was even more saddening, only forty being present. The key of the situation is the prevalent belief that an anti-Bolshevik insurrection is imminent at Pctrograd, which Lenin is taking drastic measures to pre vent. He has ordered the arrest of the leaders of the Cadets. Trotsky states that the arrest only means saving them from being lynched. It is generally stated that the Bolsheviks favor a constitutional monarchy, and it is believed they are negotiating with the Romanoffs. Lenin and others treated the Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovitch with the utmost respect during his recent visit to the Bolshevik headquarters i THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY DEFIES THE BOLSHEVIKS. Received Dec. 14, 10 p.m. Petrograd, Dec. 13. M. Bourchier wires that the delegates of the Constituent Assembly, under Uie presidency of a'major, decided that there was a sufficient, quorum present, and ignored the decree, and virtually established the Assembly. They declared the three arrested members free, on the ground that their membership gave them [immunity. They formed committees, and propose to meet daily. 1 the Leninites apj.\>r «o be reluctant to use force, in view of.Qthe unfavorable effect it would have on the peasantry. NEGOTIATIONS FOR ARMISTICE. ROUMANIANS' > ATTITUDE. London, Dec. I . Negotiations regarding an armistice to replace the existing truce begin on Monday nt Prince Leopold's headquarters. The. text of the armisice on the Roumanian front shows that the Roumanian army will observe the armistice so long a? the Russian armies on the Roumanian front do so.

RIVAL PARTIES. KORNILOFFS DEATH BATTALIONS. London, Dec. 13. m Petrograd correspondent <~f the Morning Post says that the opponents of the Bolsheviks, who claim that the power must remain in the hand* of the self-ap-pointed commissaries of the people, made n demonstration to-day demanding that the power should belong to the Constituent Assembly. Meanwhile other parts of Russia are active. Siberian troops are organising under General Pleschkoff. The Siberians are understood to favor a monarchy and it iii rumored intend to bring the ex-Czar and his family from Tobolsk to European Russia. General Korniloff has broken through al! opposition and Will goon join forces with General Kaledin at Novotcherkash. He commands a division of some "death battalions" and artillery. RIOTING AT VLADIVOSTOCK. ■PRESENCE OF JAPANESE TROOPS DENIED. Received Dec. 14, 10 p.m. Reuter Service. Washington, Dec. 13.' The American Consul at Vladivostock reprrt* rioting, but denies the presence oi' "."M! troops.* FIERCE FIGHTIXC. Petrograd, Dec. 13, Fighting is reported in various places including Rpatoff, where Kaledin is opposing the Maximalists, who are said to be supported by a detachment of the Black Sea Fleet. Fierce lighting is reported to 'be continuing at Bielograd, with great losses to both sides.