RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16431, 27 January 1919, Page 7

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

BOLSHEVISTS IN NEW LIGHT. (By Cable,—Press Aseociatton.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 22. A "Manchester Guardian" correspondent who was engaged upon the Society of Friends' Relief Mission in Russia in 1917 and 191S has provided an interesting review of the economic conditions in rural Russia under Bolshevism. He says that co-operative societies have now secured a virtual monopoly of trading, and have put the small traders out of business. The societies get credit from the Soviets, and are regarded bv the railways as a Government Department. The profits are reduced to the minimum, and are devoted to education, including classes on modern languages, history, and bookkeeping. The Bolshevists commenced with nn ambitious educational projrramme, and aimed at ostabhshmg a school in ©very village. '1 his project was abandoned owing to tho Jack of teachers, and insteacr ot It tho Bolshevists started training colleges for teachers, financing the colleges. ihe immense enthusiasm for education was a great Bolshevist asset. The Boy Scout movement is also flourishing- . Tho Soviets control most of tho factories and forests. The Bolshevist leaders for a time gave the local Soviets control of local sections of the railways, but the scheme soon failed, and coir.nlete disorganisation followed, as the Bolshevists desired, and national control was resumed. the ownership of land, there is a difference of opinion. The Bolshevist leaders want to manage the large estates through their own experts, hut tho peasants do not desire nationalisation but village ownership. The Bolshevists have secured taxes by capital levies, from which none are exempt. and by commandeering stores and selling them at high prices. Justice is secured by the election of older men as Magistrates. The Red Guards hare sometimes over-ridden them, bufr on the whole the Law Courts aro more reliable, and the police administration more just, than under the old regimo. Thero is no blackmailing in connexion with illicit vodka stills. Ihe Bolshevists simply confiscated the still and deprived the maker of supplies of grain. FIGHTING IN THE NORTH. NEW YORK, January 23. A message dated January 23rd (12.30 a.m.) from Archanpol, states that the Bolshevists are heavily shelling the American and Russian armies in tho Ustpodesifa region. Heavy fighting is proceeding. ALLIES RETIRE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Januarv 2fith, 11.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 24. General Maroh announces that tho Bolshevist attacks on the Archangel front compelled the retirement of th© Allies, whoso losses, however, were small. PETROGRAD EVACUATED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Recevied January 26th, 5.5 p.m..) LONDON, January 23. The Stockholm correspondent of the "Morning Post" states that, according to Helsingfors telegrams, Trotsky has telegraphed to the Minister of War as follows: —"Tho Bolshevists ar© compelled to cvacuate Petrograd without a fight, chiefly owing to tho last defeat on the northern front,, when the wholo army with its General deserted." Sixty thousand workmen at Petrograd have been oni strike since January 16th. All supplies have been removed from tho city. Trotsky has removed his headquarters to Novgorod. Th© Red Guards, who invaded Karelia at Suojervi, were beaten off, and ar© now in full retreat. They are suffering from a shortage of food. (Received Januarv 26th., 5.5 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, January 23. Trotsky's statement in reference to tho desertion of the wholo Bolshevist army refers to sixty thousand men on the Narva front, who have gono over to the Esthonians. The evacuation of Petrograd was necessitated by th© heavy Bolshevist defeat at Perm. ESTHONIANS ADVANCING. (Received January 26th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. The successful advance of the Esthonians towards Petrograd is important. Tho defeat of the Bolshevists is due partly to the trouble in Petrograd and partly to tho disaster at Perm. The British have handed to the Esthonians several captured torpedo boats which are being used against the Bolshevist flank. TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY. (Received Januarv 26th, 5.5 t>.m.) NEW YORK, January 23. Despatches from Vladivostock state that the Americans will control tho Trans-Siberian railway from Porgranio"hana to Omsk, under the agreement for international control, and the British from Omsk to the battlefront. Th© French will control tie Khabarovsk section and the Japanese from Blagoviestchensk to Chita. JAPAN DISSATISFIED" (Received January 27th., 12.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, January 23. Despatches from Tokio state that members of the Lower House of Parliament are opposed to international control of the Chinese Eastern and TransSiberian Railway. It is said the American scheme of control has disregarded Japan's special position in th© Orient.