BOLSHEVIKS IN PERSIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 203, 22 May 1920, Page 7

BOLSHEVIKS IN PERSIA

A SERIOUS MOVEMENT BRITISH PRESTIGE IN MIDDLE EAST MENACED By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, May 20. Owing to the enormous superiority of the Bolsheviks a British detachment at Ensselli, on the Caspian, accepted the Bolshevik terras, and quitted the town, where the invaders nro now in full possession. Tho capture of Enzelli is regarded as a most serious move, in view of tho military helplessness of Persia, the new responsibilities of the British in tho Middle East, and the risks as regards India. It is nssumed that tho Bolsheviks first aimed at the seizure-of Denikin's volunteer fleet interned at Enzelli, but there is no doubt their ultimate purpose is the occupation of Teheran. The situation is aggravated by tho unreliability of Persia's Cossack Division, of which five thousand are reported to sympathise openly with Bolshevism. It is feared .that the whole division will join tho Beds. Tho "Daily Mail" estimates that the British troops driven out of Enzelli number 400 or 500. A handful remain at Tabriz, whose fate, like that of these captured at Baku, is unknown. The whole situation involves a serious menace to the national prestige throughout the Afiddle East, and endangers the vitally j important oil interests in Persia.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. THE POLEJFrETREATGREAT SUPPLIES CAPTURED BT \ ■ BOLSHEVIKS. London, May 20. A Moscow wireless message claims that the Beds occupied Disnnl and Lepel, and forced the River Berezina on a sector of twenty miles. They captured colossal food and military supplies in the region of Polotzk and Moledetcheno. The Poles continue to retreat at several points, and are showing panic—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BEDS ADVANCING ON 'A 50-MILE FRONT. (Rec. May 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 20. A wireless Bolshevik communique says: —"We started a general advance in the Polotsk-Lepel region on May 14 on a 50-mile front, and penetrated to the I Polotsk-Molodtchcuo railway, also north' I ward of lepel.' We took a lnj'ge number of prisoners."—Aus.rN.Z. Cable Assn.