BRITISH IN NORTH RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 300, 15 September 1919, Page 5

BRITISH IN NORTH RUSSIA

MR. CHURCHILL'S STATEMENT LIEUT.-COLONEL SHERWOODKELLY DISCREDITED By Telegraph-Press Associatiou-Copyright London, September 12. Referring to the allegations published in the Press by Lieutenant-Colonel Sher-wood-Ivelly regarding the British operations in North Russia, Mr. Winston Churchill, in his official statement, said that Colonel Shcrwood-Ivelly was removed from his post on August IC, and sent back to England for a 6erious ofiienco under the Army Act. General Eawlinson reported that ho had only refrained from court-martialling him owing to liis gallant record. Colonel Sherwood-Ivelly was now otherwise an offender against the 'King's Regulations, and would be subjected to disciplinary action. Mr. Churchill proceeded to recapitulate; the steps taken, as already reported, in connection with the British withdrawal, and referred to tho upsetting of the British plans to withdraw from North Russia without risk, difficulty, or anxiety with regard to tho fate of the North Russian Government and army owing to the failure of Kolchak|s plan to join up with the North Russians. It was not proposed to issue any statement of policy regarding the progress of tho operations until British lives were 110 longer endangered by publicity or tho interests of Russian Nationals prejudic-

cd. Referring to numerous rumours about tho anti-Bolshevik forces in the Baltic States and on the Petrograd front, which were chiefly ascribed to Bolshevik wireless reports, Mr. Churchill says that >10 British troops were ever employed there, nor had the British Government ever accepted ■ any responsibility for thoso military operations. We had only furnished munitions and advice; and the British Navy, with its superb efficiency, had prevented- the Bolsheviki raiding the Baltic ports. Mr. Churchill pointed out that the Baltic States woro subjected to social dangers from the Bolsheviki and political dangers from Germany. These could not be averted single-handed by Great Britain, but tliey had ongagod the attention of tho Peace Conference for some time. The problem could only be grappled with l>y the victorious Allies acting concertedly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

lieutenant-colonet, SFERWOOD KELLY IN DEFENCE. (Rec. September 15, 1.15 p.m.) . r London, September 14. Lieutenant-Colonel Sherwood Kelly, in a letter to tho "Daily Express," gives, the text of letters informing him . that his only offenco consisted in writing ti letter criticising and condemning the operations in North Russia. He says no wrote it with the deliberate intention of being sent home, as he knew the censor would see it. General Ironside stated that the only offence was tho censored letter, and'offered him a better job if ho stayed, or six months' leave, and command of the reserve battalion in lingland. Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly found when ho reached England that General Rawlinson had not confirmed . General Ironside's offer. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ON THE SOUTHERN FRONTS. London, September 11. General "Wrangel's troops in the Don area have beon driven back by the iiolsheviki. and are now endeavouring to hold ft defensive line covering Tsantsin. Tho situation of the Siberian amy has improved, owing to the Bolsheviki withdrawing largo forces to assist in tiio effort againßt Denikin. There has been severe fighting west of tho Bolsheviki lost heavily.—Aup.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

BRITISH WAR. Olf ICE REPORT. (Rec. September 14, 11.55 p.m.), London, September 13. A War Office communique states:— "After! threo days' battle for Tsantsin, in which the Bolsheviki made combined attacks from different directions upon tho town, "the defending " troops under General Wrengel heavily repulsed tho attackers, capturing nine thousand prisoners, eleven guns, and over a,, hundred machine-guns. Three Bolshevik regiments surrendered and tyro others were completely destroyed—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesu.,

THE ALLEGED PEACE WITH ESTHONIA (Rec. September 14, 11.55 p.m.)Helsingfors, September 13. A representative of Esthonia declares that ' tlio Bolslievist peace offer waa neithor accepted nor refused. Esthoiua will not conclude peace without consulting Finland and the Allies.-Aus.-N.Z,. Cable Assn. kolchM army OMSK CLEAR OF DANGER HEAVY SCORE CLAIMED BY THE,REDS (Rec. September 13, 5.5 p.m.) Moscow, September 12. A Bolshevik wireless report claims great successes in the advance in Turkestan,'.with numerous.prisoners; also that twelve thousand of IColchak q surrendered between Aktubinsk and. Omsk.— "The Times." (Eec. September 14, .5.5 p.m.) ■ New York, September 13. The Now York "Times'' Washington correspondent says., tliat Omsk advices state that Kolchak's Siberian army continues'successful operations against the Bolsheviki, and that Omsk is no longor menaced. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A BOLSHEVIK REPORT CLAIMS SURRENDER OF- 45,000 OF KOLCHAK'S ARMY. (Rec. September 14, 5.5- p.m.) London, September 12. A Bolshevik wireless communique claims that a delegation from Kolchaks southern army, numbering fifteen to twenty thousand, has offered to surrender. 'The communique adds: "Wo have captured a further twelve thousand prieoiiGvs ftfc Aktiubinsk, in. tlio Oinsk 10sion and an additional five thousand have surrendere<l. Admiral kolchak, accompanied by General Knox, . has proceeded to the front. ... A further Bolshevik wireless communique claims that forty-five ■ thousand of Kolchak's southern army surrendered last week, with full equipment, . artillery, baggage, and moneys.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LARGE RED FORCE BOTTLED UP BY DENIKIN (Rec. September 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 12. General Denikin is clearing tlio country between Odessa and Kieff, and is endeavouring to foil an attempt by a large forco of Bolsheviki, who have been cut off ami who aro trying to break through from a large pocket, in which they have been bottled. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TROTSKY SAID TO FAVOUR PEACE CANNOT FACE AVINTER- CAMPAIGN. (Rec. September 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 12. Advices from Moscow state that Trnt-. sky has doctored that tlio Soviets will be unable to continue tho v/nr through the winter owing to Denikiti's Mid Kolchak's. converging offensive. It is expected that the Workers and Soldiers' Council at Moscow will favour peas; negotiations.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.