FROM BAD TO WORSE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 42, 13 November 1919, Page 5

FROM BAD TO WORSE

YUDENITCH'S PLIGHT

BOLSHEVIK ATTEMPT TO OUTFLANK

BRITISH POLICY STRONGLY CRITICISED c! Telcßrapfl—l'ri!B3 Association— Oojiyricbt London, November 10. The latest, news from .Russia suggests thai, tho position of Yudenitch and Kolchak is going from bad to worse. As Yudenitch ie rapidly falling back upon Yamburg, the Bolsheviki are strenuously seeking to cut oif his retreat by a flank bow. It is no longer a matter of defending certain strategic positions, but one of withdrawing from the most dangerous possible situation with the smallest possible 10.-s. An officer of high ran!; at Helsinsfors states that Yudenitcli had only ten thousand men when he attacked Pelrograd. The whole scheme wag foolhardy in the extreme. Kolchnk's collapio is eijuallv suriou.-. rspeciatl.v on the left: (lank. The loss of Petropiivlovsk uives the Eeds a baso foe an attack upon Omsk. Owing to the military crisis, Mr. Lloyd George's speech, indicating the ifessibility of the Allies coming to tcrnn with Trotsky nnd Lenin, is most im-portant.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

YUDENITCH INTERVIEWED CAUSE OV THE RIJTIKKMEN'I Copenhagen, XovemW 'J. Yudenitch, in an interview, explained his retreat as due to tho Mowing up of the Yninburg railway bridges, whk'h prevented the arrival of supplies. Tip, believes the troops will brar a winter campaign better than the Bolsheviks, and that operations are not likely to bs stopped.

Eleven British destroyer? have passed Copenhagen towards the Baltic—Aus.. N.Z. Cable Assn.

ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE NET. Helsihgfors, November 10. YudenJteh is endeavouring to retire behind Iho Lnga River, and is seeking to (sonpo from being penned between I«iko Peipue and Narva fa to which is threatened, owing to his loss of Gdoff. Tho Bolsheviki are concentrating large forces at Balwkemmi, on the Finnish frontier, in preparation for an attack on Firilarid.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, November 10. According to the Tokio correspondent of tho "Daily Express," a mc-sago from Omsk states that IColchak's retreating armies are murdering their officers.— Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OMSK GOVERNMENT' RISKS DISASTEH. London, November 9, Mr. "Wilton telegraphs from Omsk on November i: The collapse on Kolclisik's front is duo to the failure of the Cossacks at Potropavlovsk. Tho panic in Omsk is subsiding. The licils are pouring in troops from a, new levy of G50.000, who aro using Herman .methods and massed formations. Tho Government ordered the ovacuation of Omsk, but has now decided to defend it to the end. This is against military advice, which forecasts a grent catastrophe.—"The Times." AMEIUCAN IDEA" TO RUN THE BLOCKADE. Helsingfors, November 9. Certain American groups entertain a project of running the blockade to Petiograd, either with foodships, trusting that the British Fleet will not interveno forcib'.y, or by sending a fleet of motorlonics to dasii across the frontier from Yiborg.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable , Assn.

BRITISH POLICY STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT London, November 10. Mr. Bonnr Law announced in , the House of Commons that there was no intention of opening peace negotiations with Lenin and Trotsky before the House had discussed tho question. He added: "The Prime Minister, in his speech on the Bth, inertly c-xpreswd the hope, that some method should be found for obtaining peace in Russia. There is no discrepancy with Mr. Churchill's statement."—Aus.N.SS. Gable Assn. [Speaking at the Lord Mayor's banquet, Mr. Lloyd Georgo said Peace waa impossible, until there was peace in Busfiia, and tho outlook was not pleasant. Tlmre was a prospect of an early issue a few weeks ago; to-day tlie indications pointed more to a prolonged and more sanguinary struggle. Ho dreaded that interminable campaigns would devastate a country that ivns essential to the prosperity of tho world. He had predicted in the early days that. Bolshevism cannot bo suppressed with the sword, and that other methods must, finally be employed. Ho wished that prediction could be falsified. Civilisation could not afford a distracted and desolate Russia. Referring to the Supromo Council's previous nltompt to secure a settlement in Russia, he said liq hoped tho tiino was not distant when tho Powers would be able to renew their attempts with a prospect of success. Ho did not regret one penny of tho help given to North Euasia; but the nation could not afford to continue its costly intervention in an interminable civil war. He Tejoiced that the British troops had left Russia, becauao Eiissia tos a. qnicksnnd. Victories wore easily won there, but tho armies of Empires of the past had been overwhelmed in tho sands of barren victories. Ho hoped, when the winter pave time for all sections of Russia to reflect, that an opportunity might be afforded to the Great Powers to promote peace and contenfment in Russia.]

PRESS OPINIONS "SHAKING HANDS WITH MUEDEI?.." Most of Urn London papers interpret Mr. Lloyd George's speech as a return to the policy of Prinkipo. It follows the nnnonncenionfc of Colonel .M.ilono. M.P., that he was authorised by the Soviet, leaders to repeat the terms offered through Mr. Bjillitt. Colonel Mnloue ia a young Coalition Liberal, who went to Esthonin. with a British passport, nnd thence to Petrograd and Moscow, where hn interviewed, the Soviet leadors and hrought back the terms. These, as now published, are practically identical with those Mr. Bullitt published in America. "The Times," commenting on Mr. Lloyd Georgq's speech, says: "This is blowing licrt: nnd c<3d, and will make British policy stink in the nostrils of all patriotic Russians, who are still 'convinced of the. ultimate military overthrow of the terrorists now in control of Russia," H stigmatise? tlie Bolshm-ilc pparo proposal as immoral, and a-s inspired by internationnl financiers who are anxious to have Russian money. The "Daily' Mail" heads an article on the Bolshevik peace offer "Shaking Hands With Murder." Several news--s«pers devote columns to a review of ilio honors of the Bolshevik terror, Tint tlie main opposition to such a peace proposal comes from France, which is relentlessly opposed to Bolshevik Government. Washington is inclined to negotiate with Lenin, leaving it to time to solve Russia's difficulties. The "Daily News" declares Hint tins Soviet's terms aro reasonable, and says) Tieither Denikin nor JColchak is tin/ longor in a position lo deny the Allies' attempts at conciliation. The "Daily Telegraph" protests against Mt. Lloyd George's decision to abandon ever, the limited intervention by which supplies are furnished In I he anli-Bol-shevik armies. The "Daily News" remarks: "There is a 'lunger, if the Allies wmite time, that Uifi military success of the Bolshoviki wKI tempt then; to put Iho peace price higher than it is to-day, when the deof to a settlement is obviously open." The "Daily Herald" claims that Mr. Lloyd George's speech means that the policy of intervention in Russia has been a complete failure, and that he is reverting to tho policy expounded in .lanu;>ry ;it tho Supremo Council in Paris. We. Lloyd George can now be forced to make peace oa the terms tho Soviet pro-

poses if the whole of tho Labour movement insists. French Comment. The' Paris newspapers have not yet had lime to criticiso the speech, but tiller first comments aro unfavourable to milking terms with Lenin and Trotsky. Ihey attach political significance to tho visit of If. l'oinenre and M. Pichon to London, and expect an understanding on the Kussian ■.iiuutiou. Tho "liuuiois" regards Mr. Lloyd pionimiici'inenf a< a capitulation jo the liolsheviki, and thinks it will inevitably load to an alliance between Germany and the Slavs. Other newspapers condemn Mr. Lloyd George's new policy towards Hussia.—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUSSIAN LOYALISTS ANXIOUS. Helsingfors, November 9. HiiFsian loyalists an apprehensive, pointing out that the eat and mouse policy of the .Allies i> unworthy, afcd is liable to ruin their fill lire relations with l'u.-.sia — Ans.-N./,. Cable Asm. A TURKISH. INTKJGUE WITH LENIN Constantinople, November 10. Miiflaphn Kernel is .seeking to negotiate an alliance with Lenin— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ONE WaFoUT TERRITORIAL MANDATE FOR TUB AIMED POWERS. (Eec. November 12, 8.30 p.m.) New York, November 10. If is understood that the Russian problems will be; referred to the Lcngui> of Nations, which will givo mandates over different sections of iion-Bolslievik Russia. 11: is suggested that England should becumb the mandatory Power for Northern Eu.-s'a, the United States and Japan for Siberia, and Franco for the Ukraine. It is said that the League, (issisti«d by the Hiissiiu. Council nittiny in Paris, will be able to direct operations against the Bolshev\ki without necessarily granting recognition to any one Russian Government—Aos.-N.Z, Cable Assn.

BESTIAL BOLSHEVISM DEGENERATION <)F THE IJFD REGIME. (Rec. November 12, 5.5, p.m.) Sydney, November 12. Mr. Harold Tanner has arrived from Finland with the object of developing trade between Australia and Finland. Ho assisted in fighting the Bolshoviki in Finland, and gives a blood-curdlin? account of tho atrocities of the Bolsheviki. Their favourite method was to nail whols families to fables, with spikes through their tongues. People were crucified in the churches. Others were suspended by the fe.et til'i they died; many hud deep incisions cut in iiieir bodies and salt rubbed on the wounds. Tlw whole thing was too horrible for anyone to havo imagined possible. Bolshevism in Russia, had degenerated to tho 'bestial elemental 6tage, whore everyone had to fight to live.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE FUTURE OF SIBERIA A JAPANESE VISION. Tokio, November 9. Mr. Motosando Zirmoto, editor of the "Herald of Asia." after a visit to Siberia, writes that h n thinks the coining political ehango in Siberia will result in tho formation of an autonomous Government, from which Kolchak will b? excluded, especially if the Powers, including Japan, support such a procedure. Japan shou'i , . take a lead in 'jiving sincere assistance. --Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.