“REDS" IN PERSIA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10614, 12 June 1920, Page 8

“REDS" IN PERSIA

MOVE UPON TEHERAN MENACE TO BRITISH INTERESTS. B.v Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, Juno 10. “The Tallies.’’ commenting on the Bolshevik occupation of Resiti (on tji£> Caspian Sea), infers that the Reds intend to make a detinue move noon 'Teheran. Tito small British toreo in Kcsht; was withdrawn UUy-iwo miles to a position in mo -uenjii Pass, guarding tho Teheran road. The oilier British troops scattered mcttecuve»y over North Persia are probably endangered. Tho whole position is übooure, owing to the lack or official iniormatiou; hut there is apparently nothing to prevent Persia tailing an easy prey ui tho Bolsheviks. Tho Government is weak, and is honeycombed with intrigue, cuarossolcaky s Cossack Division, quartered at Teheran, is now anti-British, and is duality tainted with Bolshevism, ivutehik Khan, a notorious freebooter, and loader or the Persian revolutionaries, lias become the head of a Provisional Government. formed ru Resht and will probably encourage the Red advance upon Teheran. ' The British Government has still not defined its policy regarding Persia, though' its interests are immediately threatened. Simultaneously a dangerous position is developing in Asia Minor, owing to the increasing co-operation of tho Turks and Bolsheviks.’ THE REPORTED BRITISH RETREAT. Published In "Tha Times." LONDON, June 9. The War Office states that it has no information regarding the reported British retreat from Itesht. to Bagdad, reported in a Moscow communique (which appears in an earlier cable message to-day).