GENERAL ADMITS UTTER FEEBLENESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 5

GENERAL ADMITS UTTER FEEBLENESS

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association, (Received October 19, 12.20 a.m.) I LONDON, October 18. Tho “Alorning Post’s” Pctrograd correspondent states that in an interview with General Alc.xicff, tho General made a remarkable statement. He said he would not attend the Paris Conference unless he was enabled, to speak on behalf of the fighting army. Tho war was a struggle between the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon races. “Tho Russians arc only lay figures. England will never end! the war without victory and tho utter exhaustion of Germany. America’s entry decided the issue independently of Russia, whose weakness has merely postponed victory. It Russia does not pull herself together, put forward a real fighting army, tho issue for her will bo lamentable. I think that if at the Conference our utter feebleness is disclosed, Japan must enter upon tho Russian stage of this European war. She will requpo compensv? tion, and naturally the weakest must pay.” SPREAD OF ANARCHY BIOTS, LOOTING AND AIURDER REPORTED. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. PETROGRAD, October 17. The Constituent Assembly elections will be held on November 25th, and the Assembly will meet on December 39th. The campaign is now beginning. Anarchy is spreading. There are agrarian riots, with looting and murder, Food! riots have occurred in many towns, and bands of soldiers are marauding at various points behind tho fighting line and in tho interior. Additional confusion is caused by the extremist Bolsheviks insisting on summoning the All-Russian Congress of Soldiers’ and! Workmen’s Councils on November 2nd, with tho object of overthrowing the Government and placing tho power in tho hands of the Councils. RUSSIANS PRESSED BACK TOWARDS MOON ISLAND TOUGH WITH FOEOEB ON OESEL COMPLETELY LOST. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received October 18, 5.5 p.m.) ! LONDON, October 17. A wireless Russian official message states; The enemy pressed us back in tho direction of Moon Island, interrupting land communications between Oosel and’ Moon Islands. We ‘have completely lost touch with our forces in Oesel. An eyo-witness reports that an enemy Dreadnought rpn into a minefield on Friday. After the explosion the warship proceeded to the coast. Her fate is unknown. A GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renterdeceived October 18, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 17. A wireless German official message states: We are in full possession of Oesel Island. Naval encounters north of Oesel Island, and also in the Gulf of Riga, have been in our favour. Naval airships bombed Pernau, causing largo fires. Pornau is a fortified seaport in Livonia, 99 miles N.N.EI of Riga. The population is something over 14,000.