RUSSIA.

Timaru Herald, Issue 170299, 19 August 1920, Page 7

RUSSIA.

WRANGEL ATTACKED

BY TROOPS FROM POLAND

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 16.Heavy fighting j s in. progress in. the Crimea. Bolsheviks from the Polish! front are attacking •vigorously, supported by massed aeroplane bombing. General Wrangel is holding his own. General Wrangel's raiders crossed the Don, occupied Konstantinovskaya.. cutting the Tsaritzyn-Ekaterinotlsr railway, and threatening to isolate the Kuban Cossacks.

BRITAIN'S LIMITED CONCERN.

WITH WRANGEL'S ACTION.

Received 1.30 a.m., August 19th. (Renter.)

LONDON, August 17. _Mr Lloyd George replying to M. Kameneif's letter stating that the Russians -were, anxious to learn Britain's final decision regarding General Wrangel, stated that alter the withdrawal of the Deniken Government, Britain was only concerned to insure the sec'urity of troops and refugees under General Wrangel, and to put them in a position to defend- themselves in tha Crimea, until guarantee of safety was accorded them. The Government had no intention of encouraging General Wrangel's offensive, and as soon ns it heard of such a possibility Britain issued a waning regarding'it, intimating that Britain would not have any _ responsibility for it, and imwithdrew tho British military mission.

Mr Lloyd Goorfc further points out that M. Kameneff's account of the British proposal of the 11th July was inaccurate. The British Government did not reply to M. Tchicherin's telegram of tho 11th June, because active negotiations had been proceeding with M. Krnssiu. _ The British suggested that an armistice should be signed with General Wrangel, conditional on Ins forces retiring to the Crimea-, and that General Wrangel should he invited to Loudon to discuss the future of his troops, and the refugees he was defending, hut not as a member of tue conference. The object of the nroposal wa? to end hostilities in Eastern Europe, and emphasise British anxiety. It was as part of a. general proposal for a peace conference to secure thro personal safety of troops and refugees in the Crimea-, hut not intending to detach the Crimea from Russia or to secure its possession for General Wrangel The Government entirely adheres to thi a attitude, and lias no intention of recognising Genoral "Wransrel or "and itis only in the event of the Soviet proposing terms to Poland infringing "the independence of Poland tiMt Britain wonhi feel hound to reconsider this attitude.