THE MIDDLE EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1920, Page 3

THE MIDDLE EAST

A DANGEROUS POSITION

(By Electric Telegraph—CoDyright.)

(Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONLON, Jan. 15,

I It is stated by a high militaryy au . thority that the present situation in th Middle East is causing considerabL anxiety. The French are having con siclerable trouble in Syria and there ar also difficulties in Asia Minor. Tin whole of the Middle East is reported tc be in a state of subdued combustion, which may flame up into anything, Probably within a few months we will be faced with a great danger in -the Middle East and East, necessitating a large military. Comments in the weekly summary of operations states in this connection that the Bolshevik occupation of Transcaspia may be regarded as practically complete. Georgia and Azervaijan Republics are anti-Bolshevik, but their armed strength is insufficient to resist the threatened invasion from two sides. The position of Daghistan is even more helpless. Bolsheviks continue to pour troops into Transcaspia. Troop trains from Taskent to Askhabad only take six days, and are arriving at the rate of one daily. The new arrivals

I include a considerable number of mount- | eds and are largely led by old army officers now serving with the Bolsheviks. A number of large armoured cars have arrived at Askhabad. A party of Bolsheviks and Turks is reported to have reached Herat with two carts containing aeroplane parts and a wirelsss sit. Cars now proceed via Kandahar to Kabul, escorted by Afghan cavalry. Bilsheviks have opened a large number of cavalry schools at Tashkent, where the Oriental language will he taught and agents sent to India, China and all Moslem countries. Tashkent Soviet recently determined to concentrate its efforts first on India, and it is intended to open propaganda centres there as soon as possible,

CAUSE OF SITUATION. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 15.

The grave situation in the Middle East is mainly due to Bolsheviks successes, and Allied statesmen at-Paris are giving most serious consideration to the Red Armies progress, now realising that the Bolsheviks peril to civilization is far greater than ever before and at all costs must not be allowed to spread beyond Russia. The situation 'broadly summed up is that the Caucasus are now in peril. Bolsheviks have reached the vicinity of the Persian border and Turks are joining hands with certain Bolsheviks forces, while the tribes in the area pf British occupation in Mesopotamia are being stirred up by Rama da Shnlnsh. General MacMunn G.O.C. ip Mesopotamia sent an ultimatum to iShplash anil attacked and dispersed the latter's marauding parties. Mea'iiwib.ile, owing to Koltehak’s complete collapse the only serious military forces in the Far East is the Japanese division which is totally inadequate to stem the hi.g thrust. Moreover it is understood that Japan is (reluctant to make any heavy commitment at present'. Bolshevik's are concentrating against Deniken ip South Russia.. The latter has just won success by recovering a strong line of defence on the Don river but be is hopelessly outnumbered and stands unaided, though it is admitted that he holds the road to India. Moreover it should not be forgotten that his troops are at present suffering from influenza, and retreating hundreds of miles and the fact must "be faced that they might give way at any moment. Incidentally it may be recalled that Bolshevists are feverishly searching for a gold hoard amounting to piglity million sterling, representing Russian national Treasure which was Inst in the custody of Koltcha.k. ''

Admiral Beatty and Sir Henr v Wilson accompanied Hon. W. Churchill, and Hon. W. Long have gone to Paris to discuss the Bolshevik peril. The latest report from Odessa intimates that contrary to the renort of his supersession, Deniken is still in full commanff.