CIVIL WAR IN RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 75, 21 December 1917, Page 5

CIVIL WAR IN RUSSIA

COMPLICATED ISSUES

INCREASING ACTIVITY OF THE ANARCHISTS

London, December 19. The "Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent states that the civil war issue is becoming more complicated. The Ukrainians have concluded a treaty with the Don Cossacks, to whom the Terek and Kuban Cossacks ai'here. Fighting is expected at Kieff, and has already begun at Odessa, The Black Sea Fleet is bewildered, not kno.vmg whether to take its orders from the Petrograd Government, the Kicff Bolsheviks, or the Ukrainian Rada. It is announced that the Cossacks hold Rostoff and are advancing on Voronesh. The Russian Ambassadors in London and Tokio have been ordered to return to Petrograd to answer "hnrges of spreading false news regarding the armistice. If they disobey, their property in Russia will be confiscated. It is oxpscted private accounts at the bants will shortly be confiscated. Already the banks refuse to pay cut large amounts. The Anarchists are becoming more active, and it is feared that they will surpass the Leninists in tho expropriation of the goods of ilio bourgeois, middlo, and upper classes.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

THE MONK ILIODOR

(Rcc. December 20, 7.50 p.m.)

Petrograd, December 19. Civil war is spreading northward along the Volga, from .Astrakhan to Samara. The Maximalists occupy Astrakhan, while the Cossacks are twonty vorsts (about 12 miles) distant. An extraordinary situation exists at Baritsio, where neither the Cossacks nor the Meximalists have the mastery, both having been beaten by the supporters of the Monk Iliodor. —Reuter. [The Monk Iliodor is a notorious mob agitator of the Rasputin type oniy different in his methods. Hβ has not boen heard of lately, but before the war he had a considerable following In 1912 he was sent into exile.]

WAR DECLARED ON THE UKRAINE,

(Rec. December 20, 9.30 p.m.)

Petrograd, December 19. The Ukraino Rada has defied the Bolshevik Government. The latter has declared war on the Ukraine.—Aus.-N.Z. CaBTo Assn.

TROTSKY AND THE ALLIES

ANOTHER DEMAND FOR PEACE. (Rec. December 20, 9.30 p.m.) . London, December 19. Mr. Bourchier reports:—"jteplying to von Kallmann's telegram o' December 18, M. Trotsky suggested a direct re-invitation to the Allies If they wero unable to attend the- first meeting, Russia would request their piesonce at a later stage, with the Central Powers' concurrence. The- Conference would receivo the Allies with open arms, but if they continued their sabotage, Russia would concludo a separate peaco. Trotsky points out, warnin;;ly, tho delinito results of the armistice, and asks the Allies to declare, once r.itd for all, whether they desire or do not desire peace. Hβ has instructed the delegates bluntly to ask the Central Powers if they will accept a basis of lioaiinexations. no indemnities, and tho self-disposal of the nations. Trotsky's grotesque phraseology (says Mr. Bourcliicr) does not exoite surprise, Diplomatio euphemisms have now leon abolished. The doctrine of sabotago will no doubt please Germany. ]f true, it would justify the scrapping of all tho treaties between Russia and tho Allies."—"The Times." REPORTED REAPPEARANCE OF KERENSKY Copenhagen, December 19. It is reported that M. Kerensky has reappeared iu tho vicinity of Poi.rograd, loading thousands of soldiers. Bolshovik troops hare been sent to meet him,— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT IN SIBERIA j

New York, December 19. The United Press Agency's representative at Tokio states that Aincri- i cans from Petrograd assert that Siberia is planning a self-governing and hide- ; pendent nation, oxtending from Vladivostok to Omsk, with tho capital at ' Irkutsk.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ; RUSSIAN AUTHOR ON THE OUTLOOK ! BRIEF REIGN PREDICTED FOR TROTSKY AND LENIN. I (Rec. December 20, 7.50 p.m.) Petrograd, December 19. Maxim Gorky, tlic Russian novelist, interviewed, said; —"Trotsky* and j Lenin have had an easy triumph, but their success is not indicated by the ap- ' probation of tho masses. They will bo swept away by the first popular move- ' ment of discontent, and the country will bo plunged into anarcny. :, --Aus.- i N.Z. Cablo Assn. \