RUSSIAN CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIAN CRISIS.

- CIVIL WAR PROBABLE. STRONG PARTIES SUPPORT KERENSKY. LONDON, November 9. The Russian revolution did not surprise London or Paris. It lias been probable ever since Kprniloff’s escapade. The National Union of Railway Servants and the Union of Postal and Telegraph Employees have been leading- factors in the movement. They have been endeavouring to force Kerensky to grant huge increases in wages recently. When he refused they became definitely Maximalist. The Baltic fleet is also in sympathy with Lenin and Trotzky, particularly the men at Kronstadt and Helsingfor. On the other hand, the entire Office ers’ Corps of the army and "all the Cossacks and the Black Sea fleet, the merchants, intellectuals, professional men and officials side with Kerensky, and are bitterly opposed to the Maximalists. The peasantry still form an unknown factor, though the immediate handing over of large proprietorial lands moans granting the xmasauts their chief demand. It is likely that civil war will be necessary to decide who shall hold power. Trotzky was editing a Russian Socialist paper at Vienna on the outbreak of war. He then went to Paris and started an anti-war daily. He was expelled and went to America. When the revolution broke out he tried to go to Russia. He was detained at Halifax, but released when an outcry was raised at Petrograd. His oratorical talents soon brought him into pro niincnce at Petrograd. The “Daily News” Petrograd correspondent says that the Bolshevik coup. d ’tat has taken the place of authority. Petrograd is now in the hands of the Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petrograd Soviet. All Government institutions, including the Provincial Council, arc occupied by the Committee’s troops. Kerensky managed to escape from Petrograd in a train for the front, where he wiil endeavour to gather troops to fight the Committee.

"The Cossacks refused to support the Provincial Government The fate of'the Ministers is unknown. Several transports ..>yith .sailors from Kronstadt mriyed to support the Maximalists. • The "Daily News” states that Lenin, addressing the Petrograd Soviet on Wednesday afternoon, said that the second revolution was accomplished. The Government was now in the hands of the people. The first problem was to end the war.

We shall,” he continued, "offer peace acceptable to the proletariat in all countries publish all secret treaties take all the land from the landlords, and establish control-by workmen over industry. The consequence will be the accomplishment of a third : social re - volution.”

Perfect order prevails in Petrograd. The .public seem indifferent to ■everything.. Order is also./due .to the fact thqt, the Military Committee posted proclamations that in the event of disorders and excesses offenders would be wiped off the face of the earth. Reuter s Petrograd. correspondent cables that a meeting of Allied representatives discussed the question of 'ensuring the safety of Allied residents.

The Telegraph Agency states ...at M. Kerensky on Wednesday, at Gatchina, addressed six thousand soldiers from the front, who were on the way to Petrograd. Afterwards the soldiers decided not to proceed to Petrograd. Reports from German sources state that Kerensky has been arrested.

WHAT GERMANY EXPECTS. AMSTERDAM, Nov. 10. Berlin expects from the Leninites an offer of peace on easy terras, if they remain in power

IMMEDIATE ARMISTICE PRO POSED: PETEOGRAD, November 10. The Soldcls Congress, in a manifesto states that it intends to propose an immediate armistice on all fronts It proposes to make a free return of all private and ecclesiastical lands to the peasants. Committees will establish workers’ control over production and arrange for food supply. The Congress is persaudod that the Revolutionary army will be able to project the Revolution against all the Imperialists’ efforts. The new Government will take all necessary measures to provide ’the army with everything it requires by an energetic policy of requisitions: Taxes will be imposed on all the moneyed clascs. The Government will likewise improve the economic position of the families' of the soldiers. PETEOGRAD, Nov. 10. The staffs of the Russian Minister ies of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Finance have struck at Petrograd.