RUSSIAN SITUATION

Wairarapa Age, 17 November 1919, Page 5

RUSSIAN SITUATION

DESIRE FOR PEACE.

I INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) Received Last Night, 7.30 o'clock. LONDON, Nov. 13. In the House of Commons, the R|. Hon. D. Lloyd-George said the Government had an overwhelming sense of the importance of the establishing of peace in Russia. It was essential to the world's reconstruction. The present condition contributed to the world's high prices, and German reactionaries were using it to strengthen their influence there. An international conference will be held shortly to consider outstanding problems which a peace conference was unable to : settle, including Russia.. The Government 1 - had no intention of departing from its Russian policy, as already enunciated. No newpottcf would be adopted without discussion ,ip the House of Commons.

The position in western Siberia wap grave, and General Deniken was tt# able to administer the conquered ton ntory in south Russia. BOLSHEVIK SUCCESSES. ■Received Last Night, 7.30 o'clock. LONDON, Not. 13. The Australian Press Association learns that the success of the Reds against. General Yudenitch was much, assisted by a daring Bolshevik cavalry raid breaking the Russian line north of Yuga. It disorganised the supplies and communications, compel-. Ung Yudenitch's instant withdrawal, which was successfully accomplished. The Bolshevik success improved their morale, with a correspondingly depressing effect on the Russians. The Bolsheviks have scored successes against General Deniken, The Bolshevik cavalry hag forced its way along the Veronezh-Kursk railway, while farther west Generaj Deniken has been forced back to within forty miles of JKursk. The situation in eastern Russian is serious. The Siberian army is still retreating along a 220-mile front south of IPetropavlovsk, to the Irtish river. The Reds' advance guards hare reached a point eighty miles west of Omsk. This retreat has involved the second and first armies northward of tho Ishio-Omsk railway. The BolsTieviks also claimed to have reached a point 125 miles northward of Omsk. It Is now a race between the Bolsheviks and winter. General Dietrichs, has resigned his position as Chief Commander of the Siberians, and General Sakharoff ha# succeeded him. The Letts, assisted by the British fleet, are now successfully developing operations against Colonel Bermondt, erhose schemes are regarded as a failure.

(Jolonel Bermondt, in an unsuccessful counter-offensive against th« Lelts 7 new lines, used civilians and women as a- screen in,front of his attacking columns.

Further German attacks against Libau are expected. . There are also fears for the safety of Windau.

About a hundred German soldiers are smuggled across the border daily from Memel into Courland, while fifteen trucks of war material are smuggled across weekly as private property.

The Germans are largely concentrating in the Niemen area, around Tilsit and Insterburg. It is estimated that 50,C<*5 men pre available, of whom 3000 at Memel ara ready to advance on Libau. There is still no sign of tho Germans evacuating the Baltic States.

THE BLACK SEA COAST. ,1 lceceived Last Night. 7.30 o'clock. LONDON, Nov. 14. Tho Bolsheviks have prized the eastern coast of tho Black Sea, in tlie rear of General Deniken's army. KOLCHAK BEfrTMENTS ' CAPTURED. Keceived Last Nisbt, 7.50 o'clock. MOSCOW, Nov. 12. Four of Admiral Kolchak's regiments have been captured, also one of his divisional staff, while officers who refused to surrender were phot by their own men, prior to tho latter's surrender. TRANS-CASPIAN ADVANCE. Keceived Last NVhi. 5.K o'clock. LONDON, Nov. 13. Considerable significance attaches to the fact that the Bolsheviks in trans-Caspia have advanced on the Merv rnilvny from Kizilarvat to Kra>»navodsk. r !'his phar« of the Bolshevik penetrH'on is likely te hc-n $ .special for tho British Empire. Tho Bolsheviks are stmnplv reinforcing. and have ordered script : on. and hnvo registered all live stock and transport. EVAOUATTON OF KIEFF. Keceived Last N'W. 11.90 o'clock. LONDON, Nov. 15. General D^ni l has ordered tKe evacuation of Kieff. The Bolsheviks claim the capture of Omsk.