ALLIES AND RUSSIA

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16264, 15 July 1918, Page 7

ALLIES AND RUSSIA

BOLSHEVIKS PREPARING TO FIGHT. (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received Julv 14th, 5.5 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, July 12. As a consequence of tho Allies landing troops on the Murman coast, the War Commissary in Northern Russia has ordered war preparations.

M. Trotsky has proclaimed a partial mobilisation' and gathored war materials from the old front.

A military censorship has been reestablished at Petrograd.

Bolshevik circles state tho Government hopes for a peaceful settlement, but is determined to continue the war if necessary.

(United Service.)

(Received July 14th, 11.20 p.m.)

LONDON, July 13. The news of the Allies' landing an army to protect Murman draws attention to the gravity of events in Russia.

There are 35 German and 15 Austrian divisions between Finland and the Black Sea. German divisions are approaching Mumnan by railway from Finland. Other divisions are moving east, seriously threatening Allied, interests. They have nearly reached the Volga, and hava gained the rich Don territoiy. They are aiming at £ho Baku oil fields, possession of which opens a route to Central Asia and the Indian frontier zone. The obscurity of Russian news complicates the situation, but it is believed the Bolshevik army, which does not number more than 60,000, is unlikely to fight. A Petrograd paper publishes a letter from the ex-Czar contradicting his reported murder. He states that bandits attempted to assassinate the whole family, but a Commissary bravely frustrated the outrage. The incident has

seriously impaired the ex-Czar's health 1 (Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.)

PETROGRAD, July 12. An Allied force, at the request of the Russians, is guarding the Murman Coast railway against the Germans.

("The Timos.")

(Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. The Allies' landing at Murman is re-

garded as an event of the first import-

ance. Coupled with the German news from Russia, it foreshadows that Russia will eventually be the scene of scattered

and prolonged campaigns

A Berlin report states that the Allies planned attacks on two sides, with a Japanese advance into tho Baikal district, where they would link up with General Semenoff.

Berlin authorities regard tho British expedition most sftnously, assorting Germany intends to advance from tho north against tho heart of European Russia, and asks whether the feeble Soviet Government is capable of resisting with the Red Guards' troops. Berlin admits the Allies have already established connexion with Czechoslovaks, who furnish a valuable rallying point.

Berlin further announces that the Central Powers must intervene with their armies, because the Russian Government, is too weak to resist without help. It is impossible for th© Central Powers to permit the Allies to gather ,a new source of strength in the East.

(Renter's Telegrams.') (Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, July 12.

Russian news from Bolshevik sources insists that there has been complete suppression of the counter-revolution in various parts of tho country. The Czecho-Slovaks, it is claimed, have been heavily defeated in tho Samara region, and forced to cross the Volga northwestwards towards Moscow. Other Czecho-Slovak troops at Tcheshardrimsk, in Eastern Siberia, wero also compelled to retreat.

The messages indicate the widespread nature of the revolt. The Bolsheviks state that tho situation is now secure, and that they aro preparing a fresh counter-offensive. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Eeut-er's Telegrams.) (Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 12.

A'Russian official message states: —

"Owing to food shortage, cholera is increasing in Petrograd. There are many hundreds of victims daily. It is Very difficult to carry on till the harvest. Councils in the corn provinces ihave urged a speeding up in the despatch of food."

(Reuter'a Telegrams.) (Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.)

PARIS, July 12.

The "Matin's" Stockholm correspondent states: —"M. Tchernoff, the leader of the Social revolutionaries, is at the head of numerous armed bands, chiefly peasants, which are marching on Moscow, and have already reached the environs of tho city.

(Australian and Cable Association.)

(Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 11. The chairman of the American Council of Czechs states that there are 100,000 in the Czecho-Slovak forces in Siberia and elsewhere. Advices received from Vladivostock state that the Czecho-Slovaks attacked an armed force of former German prisoners, and captured 600. They* also took the'town of Nikolek, 80 miles north-west of Vladivostock.

JAPAN AND INTERVENTION

> (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received July llth, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, July 12. ■ Tho report from Washington to the ' effect that Japan declined the requost 1 of the Entente to intervene in Siberia is without. any ground whatever, and is authoritatively declared to be untrue. Japan's attitude on the question is unchanged. | America's reply on tho subject is still ■ awaited. An unofficial report states that in I Japan there is an almost unanimous

feeling that the despatch of troops to Siberia at present is unnecessary.

(Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.)

COPENHAGEN, July 12,

A Moscow message, via Germany, states that one of the late Count Mirbach's murderers has been arrested. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Received July 15th, 1.20 a.m.)

LONDON, July 13

The Germans, with the aid of Finas, are making efforts to establish submarine bases on the Murman coast, which is open all tho winter; also to cut off Russia from the Allies. Further forces are being sent.

HOW THE CZAREVITCH DIED

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

COPENHAGEN, July 12. Swedish papers announce> on the authority of a well-known Swede from Moscow, that a Bolshevik soldier murdered the Czarevitch with a bomb. The locality is not stated. (United Service.) STOCKHOLM, Julv 12. A Petrograd message 6tates that M. L©nin has accepted a Finnisli proposal, through the German Foreign Office, to negotiate a separate peace.

PEKING, July 12. The Czecho-Slovaks' overthrow of the Bolsheviks in the whole region from Tobolsk to Semichtimsk, and from Krasnovarsh to ChiliabrLsk, is confirmed,. and also overthrow at Irkutsk.

STOCKHOLM, Julv 12. The Bolsheviks all ope th at General Murn.iev. Commander-in-Chief of the Czecho-Slovaks' army, has committed suicide.

The Swedish Press learns that the late Count Mirbach. while oxortincr a powerful influence over tho Bolsheviks, entertained secret relations with the monarchical anti-revolutionary party.