RED FLAG ON FRENCH WARSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 230, 23 June 1919, Page 5

RED FLAG ON FRENCH WARSHIPS

o ' THE AFFAIR IN THE BLACK SEA STATEMENTS IN CHAMBER OP DEPUTIES (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (lice. June 22, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, June 13. Tho Chamber of Deputies 'discussed tho recent happenings in the Black Sea Fleet. Deputy Meunier, who went to Odessa at the request of tho Navy Committee, said lhat it was owing to Bolshevik protection that tho French troops wcro a'ble to leave OdesFa safely. He declared that military intervention in llueeia was useless, Bolshevism being the nettled outcome of tho country's internal condition. . ..■. Deputy Goude elnted that the French worships' oflicers were not harmed. The Red Flag was hoisted on. the mainmast of the .warships, hut the Tricolour was left in its usual place, and work proceeded on Die vessels as usual. The men's delegate informed tho Admiral lhat they did not desire to be concerned in an unconstitutional war, preferring not to figlit the Russian Revolution, especially in view of the civilians' friendliness. After various incidents the Admiral agreed that the fleet should leave the Black S'ea within 'IT fortnight, tho men not to be punished, but to be granted I wo Months' furlough. M. Goude added that feeling in the Navy was still far from good. Four hundred representatives -of the sailors met Admiral Laeaze at Toulon and insisted that no punishment shoulfl be inflicted on those who refused to fight in the Black Sen—United Service, [It was alleged in. the Chamber |of be-puties recently that tho Communist/) in the Ukraine sent wireless messages to the French warships in the Black Sen not to fire on their comrades ashore, whereupon the Jean Batt and three other ships flew the Bed Flag and vefueed to fight the Russian revolutionaries.!