RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1920, Page 2

RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

i"AUSTRALIAN ifc N.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION! IN SIBERIA. LONDON, January 13. Tlie latest news confirms the reports showing that she Soviet forces and Siberian Revolutionaries now hold all towns to the west of Lake Baikal. The Americans are leaving Siberia, and all other Allied forces except the Japanese. There are no reports as to the Japanese advance. CAPTURE OF IRKUTSK. NEWS CONFIRMED. HELSINGFORS, January 13. The Bolshevik delegation who are negotiating at Dorpat, with border States have now received an official wireless from their Government advising them that the Bolsheviks have captured the city of Irkutsk, on the western shore of Like Baikal in eastern Siberia. Tlie message odds that the Soviets have made prisoners Koltchak and his entire staff.,

LONDON, January 13. A later Moscow Soviet wireless message is considered to be proof of the falsity of the assertion that the Bolsheviks have reached Lake Baikal and captured Irkutsk city. The message shows the Bolsheviks are now actually advancing "beyond Krasnoyarsk (which is over 500 miles west of Irkutsk.) j If Koltchak is a prisoner as reported lie is probably held by the Social ReI volutionary Mensheviks at Irkutsk who i arc heading a local revolt against the anti-Bolsheviks.

PEKIN, January 13. News arrived here on the Bth that ifhe isocilat revoliftionaiibs l held I r * kutsk. „

They took possesion after Semenovs troops were driven out of tlie railways station, the latter leaving 170 dead. Fighting has been reported at Verkenhinsk. The Allied Commissioners have now reached Missovaia at Lake Baikal.

There are foreigners at Irkutsk. They are attempting to leave Irkutsk but are prevented by the lack of locomotives. They are now, however, protected by Japanese troops. AMERICAN TROOPS WITHDRAW. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, January 12 The New York “Times” Washington correspondent states that Mr Lansing has informed Japan that United States troops in Siberia totaling nine thousand will be withdrawn, probably before the middle of Mareh.

BOLSHEVIK AIMS. fLONDON TIMES SERVICE —COPYRIGHT] (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 13. In view of the prospects qf Bolshevik imperialistic aggression, interest attaches to a Moscow wireless proclamation declaring the whole strength of Soviet Russia is now turned towards economic ar.d social organisation, and is labouring for plenty of transport ans machinery.