RUSSIAN UPHEAVAL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1917, Page 3

RUSSIAN UPHEAVAL

KORNTLOFF’S ESCAPE. ± ~ ~ [LONDON TIMES SERVICE— COPYRIGHT] (Received This Day at, 11.25. a.m.; LONDON December 5. General Korniloff escaped with the connivance of bi s guards. Ho has gone southward with four companies of Cossacks. S a denial: (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, Dec. 5 The Foreign Ministry denies the report that the. Swedish Legation at Potrograd is mediating in the Russo-Ger-man negotiations. FOR THE PEOPLE. (Received This Day at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3rd. An official telegram from Petrogra'd states the .Government intends to abolish the autocracy of capitalists and ; manufacturers and also diminish pro- I fits. It is arranging that workers in each workshop elect a committee to con

trol production and labour conditions, QN THE WESTERN FRONT. BATTLE FOR MARCOING. FIERCE FIGHTING. GERMANS FORCE OFFENSIVE. (Received this .day at 12.30 a.m.) LONDON December 5. Mr. Phillip Gibbs states throughout Monday, tho enemy continued the thrust between Marcoing and La Vacquerie. They flung in at least six divisions on a narrow front not counting the cost, and never weakening the pressure even where they made no advance. We thus forced upon the enemy a battle more decisive, than any preceding. In view of Germany’s weakening man power, the Germans seem to be forcing decisive fighting on the open country, possibly for political reasons. Prisoners state they have been promised- peace if they won this battle. The struggle is as farce as the Second Battle of Ypres. The enemy has the offensive and is forcing the pace and fighting all out. Our men yield ground only after butchery of the Germans. Tlie moajt desperate resistajnee is where a body of Britishers, were temporarily cut off or outnumbered. I talked with wounded Guardsmen lying in trucks with railway taupaulins and blankets a s the only protect against the frosty blast. They told how they fought through the houses, over broken walls and in dark cellars. In such fight ing, some bodies of troops were necessarily cut off, .and they had to fight to the last to enable the others to fall back safely.

GERMAN ADVANCE STOPPED. NEARLY A DISASTER, [AUSTRALIAN &. N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] (Received. This Dav at 8.50. a.m.' LONDON, Dec. sth. Mr. Phillip Gibbs says a German battalion at La: Vacquerie advanced in dense order without attempt at concealment. The ranks withered under our own steady fire. We countered repeated attacks westward from Gonnelieu and our artillery put out of action many guns in Bantux'Ravine, where there wa's a large concentration of German artilelry. Some Britishers who were cut ott and prisonered in Friday’s fighting, are coming back. They had been hiding in the enemy’s lines. In one case forty escaped from a German barbed wire enclosure, swam tho canal and regained their comrades. i

It.is too soon to claim decisive results hut the anxiety of our defence lifted perceptibly to-day and the British commanders are breathing more easily. The Germans have struck their heaviest blows and the menace of a German success seems to have passed. The enemy’s plan was well-thought out. It was cunning, the bringing up of troop s secretly, and not launching an attack until our morning patrols had gone their rounds and reported all quiet, but after the first surprise, the enemy was punished in a dreadful manner. The grim valour of our men has now broken the assault. A LULL IN FIGHTING. ATTEMPTED ATTACK BROKEN. (Received This Dav at 12.25. n.n- > LONDON, Dec. 5 The United Press correspondent, reports . that prisoners state two new German divisions coming up, will he thrown in shortly. MeaUwwhile there is a lull in the enemy attack. British artillery broke an attempted attack between La Tacquorie and Gonnelieu, before the kick off. GERMAN REPORT. f ATTSTRAIiTAN N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. sth. German official—Enemy attacks southward of Moeuvres broke down. Negotiations for an armistice a're spreading to the Roumanian troops . We drove back strong enemy detachments, which reached the west shore of Lake Oclirida.