RUSSIA'S CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1917, Page 2

RUSSIA'S CRISIS.

UKRAINE’S DEMAND. GREAT INTERNAL TURMOIL COPENHAGEN Deoember 21. Private messages from Finland indicate that the Bolshevik regime is shaking. Several leaders have -.left Petrograd. ' Lenin arrested a number of loaders of the Socialist Revolutionists, including Savinkoff, and in addition a largo number of Cadets. All wore imprisoned in the fortress of Peter and Paul. Lenin is not yet able to find Miliukoff. The chief difficulty is food, anj the poor are furious at Lenin’s failure to feed the city.

The message adds: A new revolution may be expected hourly. A Petrograd telegram says the Ukraine Assembly rejected the Bolshevik ultimatum, and is assembling and mobilising the Ukranian Cossacks. Roumanians are joining the Ukranians, General Sherbotsheff is appointed Commander in Chief of the whole of the Ukranian forces, which are within tliree versts (about 2J) miles of the Bolshevik Army. The Nkranians demand recognition of the Ukraine republic and, Ukrainion management of the south-western and Roumanian fronts with one-third of the seats in the Federal Government Assembly. No food is to he allowed to he transported before payment by the Petrograd Government, whereof onethird must be in gold, and two-thirds in bank notes.

The Bolshevik commissaries replied that au agreement was possible, if the Ukraine refused to assist Kaledin and the Cadets.

The “Morning Post’s’' correspondent thates that Petrograd is in a state of siege, duo to rapidly increasing demoralisation and widespread drunkenness.

The mob is seeking every possible hiding place for intoxicating liquor , Even the soldiers sent to restore order ! join iu the debauch. Dissension between the soldiers and the Red Guards is increasing, the soldier demanding that the Red Guard receive ordinary soldiers’ pay, instead of sixty roubles daily. German and Austrian officers who were prisoners of war, are often officering the Bolshevik forces. Tt„is reported that two army corps composed of prisoners of war under their own officers, are within striking distance of Petrograd. Jt is announced that Lenin is issuing a decree releasing the Czar all other members of the Imperial family in order that they may be able to go abroad in compliance with their requests. Kaledin had a signal victory over the Red Guards at Rostoff. Cossacks had a bloody vengeance transfixing the Red Guards on lances apd flinging them into the Don. i Bolshevik leaders tried to escape to the Black Sea Fleet; but Cossacks artillery shelled the cruiser, which went ashore.

RUSSIAN OFFER. (“reuter’s" telegram.] \ LONDON December 21. A correspondent at the American Headquarters in Franco states that officers of the Russian Army in Franoo volunteered .unanimously to serve in the United States Army. The request has been referred to Washington. and it is likely that many of their men will follow the officers.

CHAOTIC RUSSIA. (Reuter’s Telegram.) LONDON December 21

The “Daily Chronicles” Petrograd correspondent says: Drunken disorders continue in Petrograd, which is in a state of siege. * The Soviet prohibits open-air meetings, .aiid threatened to machine gun looters without warning. An important Foreign Office official informed the correspondent that the distribution of peace propaganda literature at the front is proceeding on a huge scale; and is greatly influencing the German troops. He stated that whatever the outcome of negotiations the German Army will be unwilling to continue fighting the Russian troops.

CIVIC WAR EXTENDING. f AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION <Sr REUTER. J LONDON December 21. M. Bourchier says the civil war area in .South Russia is extending The Rada, after rejecting the ultimatum, ordered a total mobilisation of the forces in the new state These will join Tcherbatcheff’s Russians from the Roumanian front concentrating between Gomel and BaJcEm&ch, while the Bolsheviws are massing at Mien a station. The railway tracks are torn up in many places. Fighting near Volochisk resulted in tfife defeat of the Bolsheviks. On the other hand the Bolsheviks were victorious near Feroshuroff, and occupied the town. The Rada forces control Odessa which is now governed from Kieff. Dutroff has mobilised all the Ural Cossacks and despatched them against Cheliabainck. A large force of Khirgiz, Kalmuk, and Bashkir Cossacks are advancing towards Ufa.

GERMANS IN PETROGRAD. r• ‘ lIEUT Kit ’s” TF.T.EGR AM. ] LONDON December 21. The “Daily Chronicles” Petrograd correspondent says: German prisoners are virtually free, and a’rc arriving daily in Petrogrd uniformed. German soldiers are met everywhere i n the streets. Undoubtedly the Germans influence was working strongly, and is believed to he concerned in drink riots, which the Soviet declares to he £he work of Cadets in order to demoralise the Soviet troops. Many hav* !»•■* ■*3* .

LENIN’S DUPLICITY. . fxnoiuijoo— HOiAuas szkix Noaxoi] AMSTERDAM December 21. Dutch information reveals that the Germans apd Lenin conspired to fool the Russians delaying the armistice negotiations until every division , and battery intended for the West Front was set in motion before Germany signed the order, thus taking advantage of the clause permitting the completion of movements. TROTSKY’S VIEWS. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & KEUTEB.J LONDON December 21. Mr. Phillip Price writing from Pet rograd says Trotsky in a speech\says Russia intends to proceed with peace negotiations, because peace is the only hope of saving the country from Russian starvation; but if Germany refuses our terms we will fight and perish together.

< The “Morning Post’s’” Stockholm correspondent telegraphs from Petrograd that State leaflets are distributed in barracks stating that German troops will shortly arrive in Petrograd ; but only to restore order. . ’ • ■* i GERMAN WITHDRAWALS. rAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] PARIS December 21. M. Joseph Reinach in the “Figaro,” estimates that the Germans are withdrawing fifty divisions from Russia and presenting half a million men to Austria. They may send to the West era front ten to twenty-five divisions, Avoiding the mistake a? Verdun, Hindenburg and Ludendorff will probably attack several sectors simultaneously.

THE UKRANIAN FRONT. NOW UNITED. (Reuter’s Telegraras.l PETROGRAD, Dec. 22, The “Pravada” states that Ukranian troops have occupied all headquarters staffs on the Roumanian and southwestern fronts, seizing the telegraph and wireless plant. The two fronts are now united into a single Ukranian front, whereof General Tehrbatchoff is the commander-in-chief.