WITHDRAWAL FROM NORTH RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 7

WITHDRAWAL FROM NORTH RUSSIA

ARRANGEMENTS PROCEEDING

SMOOTHLY

ANTI-BOLSHEVIK FORCES' INCOMPETENCE

CAUSES BREAKDOWN OF PLANS FOR SPUING By Tolegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, September 11. General Maurice, writing in. the ".Daily News," states definitely that, the arrangements for the withdrawn! of Hie forces from -North Russia are. proceeding tmioothly. The operation is delicate, but tho prospects aro much brighter than they were a month ago, and tho withdrawal should 1)0 completed in a low week 3.

Tho behaviour os' the Russians who have been fighting with ns has been tho chief cause of anxiety since the intention to withdraw was-announced. It is well known that ire had an ambitious programme for the spring, and. hoped lo organise an army largely composed of Russians, which would . have been ablo to advance towards Petrograd from tho north, along and east of the Vologda railway, to effect u junction with. K.olchak's right, and so establish a sure barTier against Bolshnvism. ,It was also hoped to organ iso a combined 'Finnish-Lettish-Estjionian advance upon Petrograd from tho' went, Britain supplying the money and material. All the plans broke down from the same causes—the incompetence of tho various anti-Bolsherik forces, and tho impossibility of organising them into nil efficient military force. Von Ludendorff's reminiscences finally dispose of tho fiction that tho-Archangel expedition exercised an influeneo on tho issue of the war. They show that-the Murmansk landing ke/pt four thousand Germans in Finland for four months. The Archangel landing had no effect whatever! General Maurice proceeds: "We failed to galvanise the Russians into energy with troops and . competent leaders on the 6pot; and we are not 'likely,to. bo successful if we confine our assistance to advice, money, and. .matoriaL There is not the remotest prospect of arriving at a settlement of the Russian problem for. the next half-year. Tho only sensible* course is to revise our policy drastically and scientifically, and make our commitments square with our means."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. - 1 'difficultieslFwithdrawal OPERATION STA.TEM.EST BY MR. CHURCHILL. (Rec. September 13, 1.30 a.m.) Loridon, September 11. Mr. Winston Churchill, in an official Note, replying to criticisms of British policy in- North' Russia, says: "Tho. policy accepted by the' House of Commons on July 29 ifi being speedily and punctually pursued. Tho decisions on .which it is based a;e irrevocable. There is no reason to suppose that .General liawlinson, who is in supreme command of the- British forces at Archangel and Murmansk, will not succeed in his task at. an early date. Nevertheless the peculiar, difficulty of the withdrawal operation niust.be realised. Tim enemy forces on the above-mentioned fronts way well bo eyual.to the combined British and Russian nationals. ■ Tho attitude of. tho latter, who are much more numerous than theißritish, also tho attitude of. the civil population, must inevitably affect the British' withdrawal. Thus tho' task - of' extricating the British, while injuriii;; the -Russian nationals' subsequent chances 'as little as possible, is most complex.".Mr. Churchill continued: "The Government considers it its duty to offer a means of refuge to all Russians who compromised lueimelves with the Bol-shevists-through assisting us. Considerable numbers of. persons, including women and childr;n, besides , British troops, must therefore bo evacuated by sea." : ' . ' ' , .• Mr. Churchill scathingly describes the suggested process- of simply, marching the British into transports and sailing away under cover <:-f the warships', guns as likely to result in a series of episodes dishonourable to tl.e British name. The .military anlhoriliet had always insisted that tiie British could not be withdrawn except by certain offensive operations limited in s<ope in order to disengage the front. It would lie wrong and unpatriotic to increase Hie. difficulties of withdrawal in the most critical phase by inspirilini: the'.onemy and disheartening the Russian nationals.—Aus.N.Z. Cable'Assn.-Rmiter. . AN APPEALIi? ARCHANGEL FOlt CONTINUATION OF BRITISH ' ■ SUP TORT. London, September 11. A deputation of four Russ:ans from Archangel has arrived and is appealing for continuation of' British support. They state that the evacuation was announced to Win on September 7, and> to be completed by the end of October.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. REPORTED SECRET AGREEMENT *

A SEMI-OFFICIAL DENIAL London, September 11. The sec-ret agreement with North-West Russia recently referred to is semi-olfi-cially denied. It is slated that negotiations occurred, but. no agreement re-sulted—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. |A mesage dated Paris, September 8, 'stated: The papeas publish a: secret treaty between the British and the Russian North-West Government, suggesting that the' Allies should now recogniso.this as the .veal Russian Government, transferring the power. from Kolcliak to Liauozott and Yudenitch. Apart from the supply of munitions and food, tlie treaty aims at facilitating recruiting among the prisoneisof war'now in Germany on behalf of the North-West • Government. Tho treaty 'promises a oredit 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 tlie Bailie, acknowledges the debts of the Russian Umpire, and promises not to en>ter into important commercial relationships with Germany while the billion oredit continues, REQUESTER PEACE HANDED BY LUNIK TO BRITISH JOURNALIST. . , • London, September 11. The "Daily Herald" soys that it is believed that the Soriet Government's request for peace was' handed personally by Lenin to i:. British journalist, Professor Goode, who was travelling from Moscow. • He wivs arrested bv the Estlionians by wuest of tlie British, and is now aboard a British ship 1 waiting to return to England.—Aus.-N./i. Cable Assn, SPREAD OF BOLsipiT PROPAGANDA LENIN'S APOSTLES SEEK. TO CONTROL UNITED STATES. New York, September 11. Spoil king at Billings. Molilalia, President. Wilson said thai the lfussian silualion had -spread unrest lliroughoul the United State.*, wlioro active Holsheyisl propaganda w'Js pi occeding. Bolshevism was tho dread of every European statesman. Lenin's apist-lns were seeking to got control of tho United Stales;'it was t'lio business of th» country to see that no minority could pol control, no iniil.lor .how rioli, no matter bow pour.—Aus.N./i. Cable Assn.