EUROPEAN SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17691, 31 July 1919, Page 5

EUROPEAN SITUATION

BOLSHEVISM IN RUSSIA. FLIGHT OF REFUGEES. POSSESSIONS ABANDONED. I'ios* Aaaociation—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, July 25. Mr Wilton, in a telegram from Tustmen, graphically describes the flight of a hundred thousand refugees, who are panicstricken, before Bolshevist armies. The flight eclipses the terrible exodus of 1915. All classes are participating, and are illfed and ill-garbed, thousand being barefooted j but all are grimly determined to abandon everything rather" than endure the Bolshevists ,v presence.—The Times.

THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT.

SECURITY INCREASED. SERIOUS PLIGHT OF BRITISH \ FORCE. LONDON, July 25. Mr Murdoch writes that the recent Bolshevist military successes have considerably enhanced the security of the Soviet Government. The anti-Bolshevist commanders have now no hoge of defeating the Soviet armies before winter compels a cessation of fighting; indeed, some of the anti-Bolshevist armies urgently, require the winter interruption for reorganisation and recruiting. After reviewing the Bolshevist successes Mr Murdoch says that Trotsky has dismissed his highly-placed advisers, who advised against an offensive as a means of dealing with the Archangel expedition. Mr Murdoch declares that the extrication of the British force may be impossible, but the Bolshevists offer to withhold attack on condition that the British forces embark as soon as possible.— A. and N.Z. Cable.

ANTI-BOLSHEVISTS IN BAD WAT,

. DANGER OF EVACUATION. , ( . STRONG REINFORCEMENTS • NEEDED. PLAGUE OF MOSQUITOES. LONDON, July 25. The Times Archangel correspondent depicts the most serious situation of the antiBolshevist troops. They began to mutiny on July 6, when a battalion formed of ex-Bolshevist prisoners nlurdered their British officers and fled to the forest Others mutinied later. The newest British reinforcements are of nothing like the calibre of the elderly Scottish and Yorkshire troops, who, although heavily outnumbered for a year,/by forced marches and dashing patrol work, have bewildered and brow-beaten the Bolshevists. _ The correspondent regards the Bolshevist army as an efficient and powerful fighting machine, with well-trained artillery. J-he Bolshevist army includes many thousands of conscripted peasants. Evacuation means the certain massacre of 3000 antiBolshevists at Archangel, but the' only .alternative is and strong reinforcements.

The Times correspondent describes extraordmarv fighting in this nightless region. The English troops are so tortured by myriads of mosquitoes that death trora the Bolshevists' well-aimed shrapnel seems a relief. Every remedy which has been tried against mosquitoes has proved useless. The fair faces of the Englishmen soon become unrecognisable from the attacks of these pests. The Bolshevists put the poorest peasants into the front line lashing and terrorising them into action • but behind are splendid artillerymen who are seemingly officered by Germans. The correspondent adds that the Bolshevists are anything but the demoralised and inlenoi; fighters they are thought to be Ihe War Office announces that evacuation will be possible as soon as theDvina rises when the whole force will be withdrawn! GERMANS HELPING BOLSHEVISTS. ALLIED CRUSADE URGED. RUSSIA'S~ONLY HOPE. LONDON, July 25 Daily Mail in a leader says that German officers are staffing the Bolshevist armies, and a German engineer at Moscow II con ™:oliiiig the munition factories. If the Allies do not proceed on a crusade with the Bolshevists Russia will fall bodv and soul into the arms of the Hun, and the war. which was so gloriously won in the West will be lost in the East —A and N.Z. Cable.