THE WAVE OF BOLSHEVISM

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14266, 17 January 1920, Page 5

THE WAVE OF BOLSHEVISM

LENIN’S MI’JUTARY TRIUMPH. THREATENS WESTERN CIVILISATION THE DANGER MUST BE MET. (Australian and N.-Z. Cable Assn.) Received January 1(3, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, January 14. The Bolsheviks’ claim to have captured Melitopol. (30 miles from the Crimea, and to be advancing rapidly is causing serious comment in the Loudon press. The Times points out that Lenin’s military triumph is almost complete. lie* has conquered the greater part of immense Russia, and is ready lo take the field in the spring with a great disciplined army. He aims at world revolution, and the overthrow of Western civilisation and Christianity. The danger must be faced. How do the Allies propose to face il? IMPORTANT CONFERENCE IN PARIS.

(Reuter’s Telegrams.) Received January 1(3, 9.5 p.m. PARIS, Jan. 14

The Allied Conference has summoned Mr Churchill, Secretary of Slate for War, and Mr W. Long, First Lord of flic Admiralty, to discuss the Bolshevik peril.

LATER

ALLIED STATESMEN CONCERNED

WITH PERIL TO CIVILISATION.

MUST BE CONFINED TO RUSSIA.

(Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) Received January 17, 12.40 a.m. PARIS, January 16. The "rave situation in the Middle East is mainly due to the Bolshevik successes, and the Allied statesmen at Paris are giving the most serious con. sideration ' to the Red Armies’ progress. now realising that the Bolshevik peril to civilisation is far greater than ever before, and at all costs it must not be allowed to spread bevond Russia, The situation, broadly summed up,’ is that the Caucasus are now in peril. The Bolsheviks have reached the vicinity of the Persian border, and the Turks are .joining hands with certain Bolshevik forces, while tribes in the area of British occupation in Mesopotamia are being stirred up by Ramadan Shallish . General MacMnnu, G.O.C. in Mesopotamia, sent an ultimatum to Shallish. and attacked and dispersed the latter’s marauding parties. Meanwhile, owing to Admiral Kolchak’s complete collapse, the only serious military force in the Far East is the Japanese division, which _is totally inadequate to stem the big thrust. Moreover, it is understood that Japan is reluctant to.make any-heavy commitments at present. The Bolsheviks are concentrating against General Deniken in South Russia. The latter has just won a success by recovering a. strong iine of defence on the Don River, but he is hopelessly outnumbered, and stands unaided, though it is admitted'that he bolds the road J o India. Moreover, it should not be forgotten that his troops are at present suffering from the influences of retreating hundreds of rmles—a fact that must be faced—and they might give way at any moment. Incidentally,- it may be recalled that the Bolsheviks are feverishly searching for a gold hoard amounting to £80,000,006, representing the Russian National Treasury, which was last in the custody of Admiral Kolchak.

DANGER IN MIDDLE EAST

A MENACING SITUATION

CONCENTRATION AGAINST INDIA

(■Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received January 17, 12.10 a.m.-

LONDON, Jan. 15

It is stated by a high military authority that the present situation in the Middle East is causing considerable anxiety. The French are having considerable trouble in Syria, and there are also difficulties in Asia Minor. The whole of the Middle East is reported to be in a state of subdued combustion, which may flame up into anything. Probably within a few months we will he faced with a great danger in the Middle East and the East, necessitating a large military commitment. The weekly summary of operations stated in this connection that the Bolshevik occupation of Trans-Caspia may be regarded as complete. The Georgia and Azerbaijan republics are anti- Bolshevik, but their armed strength is insufficient to resist the threatened invasion from two sides. The position at Daghestan is even more helpless. The Bolsheviks continue to pour troops into Trans-Caspia. Troop 'trains from Tashkent to Askhbad only lake six days, and are arriving at the rate of one daily. The new arrivals include a considerable number of mounted troops, and are largely led by old army officers now serving with the Bolsheviks. .A number of large armoured cars have arrived at Askhabad. A party of Bolsheviks and Turks arc reported to have reached Herat with two cars containing aeroplane parts and a wireless set. The cars have now proceeded via Kandahar to Kabul, escorted by Afghan cavalry. The Bolsheviks have opened a large number of cavalry schools at Tashkent, where Oriental languages will be taught and agents sent to India, China and all Moslem countries. . The Tashkent Soviet recently determined to concentrate its efforts first on India, and it is intended 'to open propaganda centres there as soon as possible.