THE FIASCO IN NORTH RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 7

THE FIASCO IN NORTH RUSSIA

FACTS BEGINNING TO LEAK OUT ' POLITICAL WIRE-PULLING HINTED 'AT ATTACKS ON CPIURCHILL By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, September 8. The British-aro evacuating Archangel. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROSPECI"GROWS DARKER GENERAL YUDENITCH INTERVIEWED. (Rec. September 9, 9.30 p.m.) London. September 9. The "Daily Express's correspondent at.Reval interviewed General" Yndeniteh, who. stated: "My army is hungry, ragged, practically- barefooted, and .without tobacco, whik the Bolsheviks nmnbpr forty-five thousand,' aro well equipped, and have abundant artillery, niaehnu'guns, and ammunition. Potrograd cannot bo taken without generqus material support from the Allies and the co-opera-tion of tho Esthonians and M. Lianozoff, who is a wealthy oil merchant nt tho head of the North-West Government." General Yudenitch emphasised the difficulties of persuading the Esthonians to' advance beyond the frontier.

M. Lianozoff hopes to secure Allied recognition. Ho professes optimism regarding the fall of Petrograd, but his colleagues admit that tho outlook is not promising General Yudenitch bones for success before : tho winter—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo. Assn. GENERAL GOWS RETURN SAID TO BE OPPOSED TO INTERVENTION. (Rec. September 9, 9.30 p.m.) London, September 9. General Gough has returned from the Baltic. He refuses to mako a statement. The "Daily News", says that there is good ground for saying that ho is opposed to further intervention.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE PRESS ATTACKS ON MR. CHURCHILL i _. IS IT. A POLITICAL MOVE? . (Rec. September 9, 9 p.m.) London, September 8. In connection with the Russian situation, the "Daily Express" has singled out Mr. Winston Churchill for special attack. This is exciting, comment in political and military clubs. It is'pointed out that General Ironside's interview, whicli is dated Juno 7, doubtless represented the Government's intention at the time, but tho temper of the country ban (considerably changed. Tho Government has now given a categorical assurance regarding the evacuation. It would mean the downfall of the Government if Mr. ChuTchill were allowed to initiato another Gallipoli contrary to tho Government's pledge. Some attribute the "Daily Express" attacks to Lord Bpaverhook. who was largely responsible for the formation of the Coalition, but Lord Beaverbrook is still ill. The general impression _in newspaper circles is that the campaign is not. connected with possible political developments. NeverthcUss it is possible that some Minister who is aware that Mr. Churchill is de?irous of leaving detachments of British troops in North Russia, wishes to put a "spoke in his wheel." Military officers admit Colonel Sherwood Kelly's brave»y, but they liavo riot formed a high opinion of his judgment and discretion in connection with difficult military and political probloms. It is semi-ofiicially 6tated that General Ironside's interview, as it appeared in the "Archangel Gazette,", was the official Russian version'. An inquiry has been instituted to ascertain how it was passed for publication. The real idea was that the Russian ,forces should carry out the schemo with British ■ assistance.—Ana.' N.Z. Cable Assn. '

AN ALLEGED SECRET TREATY . BRITAIN AND NORTH-WEST .RUSSiiI. (Rec. September 9, 8.5 p-.m.) Paris, September 8. The papers publish a secret treaty between the British and the Russian North" West Government, suggesting that the Allies should now recogniso this as the real Russian Government, transferring the power from Kolchak to Lianozoff and Yudeiiitch. Apart from the supply of munitions and food, the treaty aims at facilitating' recruiting among tho prisoners of war now in' Germany on behalf of tho North-West Government. The .treaty promises a credit of a billion roubles for the purchase of machinery necessary for the rebirth" of Russia's industry. 'Russia in return recognises Britain's special interest in tho Baltic, acknowledges the debts of the Russian Empire, and promises not to onter into important commercial relationships with Germany while the billion credit continuca. Tho North. Russian Government also promises to institute ~a demooratio regime based on universal suffrage—Aus,N.Z: Cable Assn.

ADVICE TO THE ALLIES * TO "DIG IN." ' (Rec. September 9, 8 p.m.) Paris, September 8. ■ M. Rousset, in the "Petit Parisieh,* advocates the Allies dicing in from the White Sea to the Black Soa, and abandoning their efforts to reach Petrograd and Moscow—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn., BRITISH LABOUR ANDTHE RUSSIAN WAR AN UNPOPULAR ENTERPRISE. (Rec September 9, 8.5 p.m.) London, September 8. In his opening address- at the" inaugural session of the Glasgow Trades Union Congress, Mr. Banning, the president, said that tho Russian war was thoroughly unpopular with tho ■working classes in Britain, and tho Government was running a- gravo risk in ignoring tho fact—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. KOLCHAK APPEALS TO JAPAN OFFERS TERRITORY FOR AID London, September 8. A Bolshevik wireless messag* states that Kolchak has appealed to Japan for. help, offering as compensation the Rns : sum portion of Sakhalin and tho Ussori region—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Tho island of Sakhalin (or Snghahen), Off the coast of Siberia and north of the j Japanese Archipelago, has a total area of about 27,800 miles, and is about G7O miles long and from 20 to 150 miles wide, j It was wholly Russian from 1875 (prior | to which the Japanese owned tho southern half) till 1905, when as a result of j the Russo-Japanese war tho southorn half i was returned to Japan. Tho islan'd was under Chineso dominion till tho 19th century. The climate is very cold, and the island is heavily timbered. Fisheries of various kinds are among tho chief industries. Tho inhabitants compneo about 31,000 Russians, mostly convicts. Tho Japanese inhabitants number about 57,000. The Ussori region lies about the Ussori river, in tho neighbourhood of Vladivostok.] IMPORTANT REVERSE TO THIS REDS OPENING UP FKTTCXSIVE DEVELOPMENTS. , (flee. September !), 7.30 p.m.) London, September 8. The Omsk correspondent of "Tho Times" savs that General Diterich's Third Armv ha? scored an important success, routing two Red divisions— presenting half the enemy's forces-oppo-site Saratov. Tho Bolshcviki fell mlo a trap while planning n Hank attack. Tho achievement is regarded as tho prelude to an extensive anti-Bolshevik thrust, in which the Cossacks are ptodged to render exceptional eorvices.—'Tho Times."