THE RED COLLAPSE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 21, 20 October 1919, Page 5

THE RED COLLAPSE

CONFLICTING NEWS OF RECENT EVENTS PETROGRAD NOT YET CAPTURED KRONSTADT DOUBTFUL By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Copenhagen, October 17. . Though the capture of Petrograd is still unconfirmed, Yttdenilch lias reached Tsirskoe Selo, whers there is a great eighteenth-century palace, and the new palace wliero the lc-.te TVnr spent the spring.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE FALL Of 1 ' KRONSTADT A TERRIFIC B(»I.1!A1!I)MENT. London, Octobor IG. The "Dai'Jy Express" correspondent at Ik-lsingfore states t.l.at the capitulation of Itronstadt Mowed a bombardment that lasted all day. It was *) intenso that the concussion s-uaslied the windows in Finnish villages many miles away. The fleet's main attack was directed from Kuporia- Bay. The achievement is- remarkable in view of the absence of battleships, as the British Fleet consisted only of half-a-dozen light cruisers, ten destroyers, a few coastal motor-boats, and an improvised neriaf. flotilla. The complete disorganisation of the naval forces under the Bolsheviki made the oapture of the key of Petrograd possible. • Mosquito craft on August 18 disposed of all the important units except the battleship Petropavlovsk, which escaped serious damasre in August, and was alble to engage In yesterday's fight. It. has always been rreognised that JCronstadt was only impregnable while it, was defended by a navy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CONFLICTING REPORTS. (Kec. October 19, 5.5 p.m.) New York, .October 17. The State Department at Washington has received from Swedish sources reports that the anti-Bolshevist forces have cautured Petrograd and Kronstadt, but that no official information has been obtained— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. (Rec.. October 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 18. Bolshevik propaganda, is still emanating from the wireless station.at Tsarskoe Selo, making it difficult to believe that Yudenitch has arrived there. The capture of Kronstadt is still unconfirmed. The report is generally believed to be premature.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. YUDENITCH CAPTURES KR-AgNOYE-SELO. (Rcc. October 19, 5.5 p.m.) Helsingfors, October .17. General Yudenitch has captured Krasnoveselo. It is reported that a British squadron entered Kronstadt harbour aftor the capitulation. Tremendous excitement prevails in Tula and Moscow. The Soviet authorities have taken tho most drastic measures-to keep down rebellion among the pcopie.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN OFFER TO SURRENDER. (Rec. October 20, 0.5 a.m.) 1 London, October 18. Advices from Helsingfors state that an offer of. the surrender of Kronstadt is officially' announced—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , A KRONSTADT HORROR, Helsingfors, October 17. It is reported that the Bolsheviki in tho neighbourhood of Kronstadt drowned 2000 people of the educated classes.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ PETROGRAD~NOT~YET TAKEN (Rec. October 20, 1.45 a.m.; Paris, October JB. T(io Supreme Council lias received a message stating that Yudenitch expects to take Petrograd in two days.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BOLSHEVIK COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. October 19, 5.5 p.m.), London, October 18. A Bolshevik wireless communique, dated last night, belatedly admits that "an enemy squadron, consisting of transports and ; warships, has entered Kuporia Bay." The communique' states that stubborn fighting continues westward of Krasnayagorka, around ICrasnoyeselo and Gatchina, and north-east of Pskoff,— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asin. ALLIED FLEET AUGMENTED. Riga, October 16. Twenty British and French 'warships have arrived. The majority of the English colony have departed. ■ M. Uimojiis, Premier of Lithuania, was shot in the leg while thanking the defenders of the front line.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MOSCOW WORKMEN VOTE FOR IvOLCHAK. London, October 17. A Bolshevik wireless report admits that a plebiscite of the workmen in Moscow resulted in a majority for Koltchalc. The Bo'slioviki are retreating on the whole of the Siberian front.—Reuter. A MESSAGITFROM TROTSKY OPINION OF HIS ENEMIES. (Rec. October 20, 0.5 a.m.) London, October 18. A Moscow wireless message -transmits Trotsky's manifesto to Soviet Russia. He ridicules tho North-Western _ Russians' advance, and desenbps Yudenitch, Balakovitcli, and Rodvianko 'as on a blooddrunken trip, and von der Goltz, a Hetman, instructed by Stock Exchange sources of all land«, and seeking aid of the Monarchist bands to attack the Soviet from the Baltic countries. Ho adds:—"Wo will not surrender Petrograd. Our troops are goiro? to its assistance. We must smash the skulls of Yiulenitch's bands and the AngloFrench imperialists/'—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MARTIAL LAW DECLARED- IN LITHUANIA

A REACTIONARY PLOT. Copenhagen, October IG. Martial law has been declared throughout Lithuania, pnrtial mobilisation hn-s licpi; ordered, and Parliament lias been oonroked, owing to, a concentration of reactionn.rles at Scliaulen. A Russian colonel named Virkolitch, one of Bermondt's agents. h leading the plot ngainsf. tho independence of .Lithuania. Virkolitch lias uoc.upied tho trfegraph and telephone offices, and is using the schools and barracks, ami hap hauled down Hip Lithuanian flag and hoisted tho Russian. Vi'.i-lcol itell : ssucd a prockunation in which he offers home rule, if Lithuania will cn-cpprate in re-establish-in<: the old Russia—A us.-N.Z. C'ablo Assn.

GERMANS IN THE BALTIC THOUSANDS WILLING TO RETURN. Berlin, October IG. fifteen thousand of tho German soldiers ill tho Baltic provinces have expressed their willingness to return to Germany, and sumo have already arrived. Thin number, howovw. is only one-third of tho Germnns in tho Baltic St.t-s; 25.000 others are serving in tho Russian armies.—Aiw.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LETTISH ADVANCE AGAINST THE GERMANS HUN RETGN OF TERROR IN COURTS NT). il>c. October 1!),''5.5 p.m.) Lent'on, Oc ober 18. Telegrams, from Riga repojt that Iho Letts hove taken posses-ion of the suburbs of Dunamundo and Balderoa, and havo reached Ilgerecn, at the mouth of the Uvina. tnl.-intr many German prisoners and quantities of arms and ammuni-

[ tion. The greatest enthusiasm prevails among the Lettish population. The Germans continue to send gas shells into Riga. .Many reinforcements are arriving dailv from Germany. A campaign oi' terror his begun in Courland. The Germans are rubbing and plundering on a vast scale, shooting many citizens. Bands nf deserters from fiennondt's ami von der Holla's armies are looting the homes of terrified inhabit.nrs. The German milit.vy authorities have cumpulsurily enlisted the population for .labour purposes.—Atis.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Glee. October 19, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 17. The Letts, with the support of the Allied warships, eaptir'ed the fortress of Dunnmunde, and took prisoner five hundred Germans. A liolshcvik wireless report admits the abandonment of Gatehina, and says that an artillery battle is proceeding northward of Krasdoeselo.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WOULD BQYCOTTOF BOLSHEVISM THE ALLIED BLOCKADE* NOTE. London, October 17. The "BerFner Tagebla.tt" on Uctoiier 13 published the text of the Allied Council's Note to Germany and certain neutral nations. It says the "limity of the liolshcviki against all Governments, and their programme of international revolution, constitute a grave danger to the lint- onal security of all Powers. It would be desirable that all nations desirous of peacc and the re-establislunent of social order should unite to resist Bolshevik government. Therefore the A-'.lies have invited the Governments of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland. Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Me.rico, Chile, tho Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela to initiate measures to prevent their subjects engaging in. trado with Bolshevik Russia. In order to ensure the strictest adherenco to this pol'icy permission to depart or cntc-r ports will lie refused to every ship for or from Russian Bolshevik ports. Similar regulations will bo adopted as regards all goods destined, to reach Bolshe-\ ik Russia by any other route. Passports will 1)0 refused to people going to or coming from Bolshevik Russia. Measures will be taken to hinder banks from granting credit to commercial undertaking.- in Bolshevik Russia. Every Government will refuse its subjects facilities for intercourse with Bolshevik Russia by po>=t or wireless.

The Note requests the German Government to take measures in conformity with the above policy— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A GERMAN PROTEST. (Rec. October 19, 5.5 p.m.) Parish October 17. Tlie German Peace Delegation at- Versailles lias been instructed to protest against the Entente Powers' blockade in the ..Baltic, on the ground that it is causing fatal economic results'.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. REDS TIRED OF WAR ' ARMY REFUSING TO EIGHT. (Rec. October 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 18. The "Daily Telegraph's" Copenhagen corresuondent says that the defeat of the Bolsheviki is due to tho fact that thev are tired of the war, and unable to maintain discipline. The. Bolsheviki have decided to evacuate Petrograd because the army has refused to fight.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , BOLSHEVIST RESISTANCE STIFFENING (Rec. October 19, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 17. A communique mentions that Denlkin with considerable forces and supported hv armoured cars, tanks, and aeroplanes, has begun an advance in the Tsaritsin region. Denikin announces a further advance towards Moscow, and is now in , the vicinity of Brians!:. He refers to fieico fighting eastward and south-east-ward of Voronezh, indicating that the Bolshevik resistance is stronger.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. , BIG EFFORT AT TSARITSIN FAILS. (Rec. October 19, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 17. The. Australian Press Association corresDondeiit learns that a great Bolshevik effort against Tsaritsin failed after two (lavs' fiereo fighting. Severe losses were inflicted hv the Wrangel Co-sneks in the Don and Khoper regions, and upwards of three thousand Bolsheviki were taken prisoner, including a rifle battalion — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BOOM INIuSHAN STOCK (R<3«. October 19, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 18. Russian stocks and shares of ali kinds, and Govenunent, municipal, railway, mining, and oil shares have risen vapidly this week as the result of tho anti-Boi-shev.'k successes. Investors in Britain have sunk much money in Russian mining and oil shares. The oil properties in the Caucasus have suffered little material damago, but tho chief need is labour and tlio'faci.'ib'cs for distributing tho oil and remitting tho proceeds to Britain. Tho French investors aro the biggest holders in the Russian Government securities, one thousand million of which has been in default since 1917. The resumption of tho interest payments on this smm would largely' relievo the French exohange, an»l thus remove the hindrance in Anglo-French tra.de.—Aus.N./i, Cable Assn.