RUSSIA’S CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1917, Page 2

RUSSIA’S CRISIS.

NEWS FROM RIGA.' . THE LETTS LOOSE. TAUSTRALIAN & N.S. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, September 20. Tlie “Morning Post's”* 1 Petrograd correspondent states that the public are calm regarding the possibility of a German dash for Petrograd this year, which will require 500,000 men. This is impossible but the Germans are strenuously making an effort to raise another army. The garrisons in the interior of Germany havo been replaced by Turks, who arg- cheaper ‘fed and may be relied upon to deal mercilessly with internal disorders. It is believed that Germany intends/ to use the new army to secure the Russian rich black earth zone. (An eye-witness state*? that when the Russians abandoned Riga, the Letts, armed with knives invaded the richer quarters. They went from house to house and slaughtered tlio Germans without exception. The German army entered and sought the guilty parties. They shot’ 800. It is a significant fact that the Riga merchants had been bringing in vast quantities of goods before the German occupation.

STRICT DISCIPLINE. ! PETROGRAD, September 19. The Government lias ordered the prosecution of Socialists soldiers fraternising with the enemy and refusing to obey their officers’ orders. Some of the soldiers have been sentenced to ten years’ hard labour. POLISH TROUBLE. TaUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] BERNE, Sept. 20/ The recent trouble in Poland arose over the transfer of a Polish legion to the Austrian front. Revolts broke out at (Przemysl. Two of the regiments were disbanded and the officers and | Inen transferred to the Austrian army. 1 The legion is now commanded by an Austrian. RUSS LA’S ARMY. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received Yesterday at IP. 10. p.m.) WASHINGTON, 1 September 20. Advice to the Russian Embassy states the Russians resumed the offensive on the Riga front, and forced the Germans to evacuate several villages. General Alexieff, the successor to Komiloff is handling his'’ army well. The new Russian advance is threatening the German army supports . The Kerensky Government is also vigorously fighting the latter. It is believed some German havo been withdrawn to aid the Austrians to meet the Italian offensive.