RUSSIAN CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 January 1918, Page 5

RUSSIAN CRISIS.

SWEDISH ARMIES THREATENING FINLAND. LONDON, December 31. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says that Swedish armies are concentrating on the Finnish frontier, and are daily expected to advance on Finland, nominally for the defence of Swedish rights which the Bolshevik troops have violated. Chinese tfcoops hav|e mobilised jon the borders of Turkestan, and are preparing to enter Russian territory. The Russian army in Persia is retiring, the Bolsheviks hoping that it can be used against the rear of General Keledin's Cossacks and the Ukraine. THE CHINESE .OCCUPATION OF HARBIN. LONDON,- December '3l. ■ The Exchange ; Telegraphs Q Peking correspondent states'' that 'everyone ,-was - delighted at' ; 'the-excellent manIner, of the. Chinese ; tr6ops' ; ih' dealing with the situation at The Bolsheviks, '■: are (coming ltd realise that ,Harbin does ; not belong to Russia. , FAVOURS CESSION.. TO GERMANY. LONDON, December 31. A Haparanda telegram states that Courland's Parliament has declared in .favour of Cburland's early cession to Germany. Information has been sent to Berlin asking the Germans to make 1 the resolution known at Brest : Litovsk . The 1 Russian troops in Esthonia are dispersing and returning home. CIVIL WAR IN SIBERIA/ • LONDON, December 31. Mr. Ransome, the V Daily News" Petrograd correspondent, interviewed Trotsky at Senolny Institute. Trotsky said "The German Government, wiser than most, has thrown aside grandoise plans of conquest, and accepts peace, wherein neither is conqueror nor conquered. '' Mr. Ransome adds: "The city is 1 more orderly than for months, owing to Bolshevik control. The people don't like the Bolsheviks, but obey orders with startling alacrity. The only reason why the assembly is not open : ed is that four hundred delegates are necessary for a quorum, and only 301 have been elected. These include 123 Bolsheviks, and 204 Social Revolutionaries, of whom Ealf support Lenin and Trotsky. Any attempt to turn out the present Government forcibly would only result in anarchy favourable to the Germans." "The People's Commissionarics have issued a decree prohibiting bargaining in houses and land. They also intend to nationalise insurance companies.' "Reports from Southern Siberia indicate that the civil war is rapidly growing. There were eight days' continuous fighting at Irkutsk, civilians and Cossacks opposing Bolsheviks, Regulars and artillery were used mercilessly and whole districts were demolished. Troops in the Ukraine are operating successfully against the Bolsheviks. SHIPMENTS TO RUSSIA. STOPPED BY AMERICA. TOKIO, Dec 30. The United States has stopped all shipments to Russia. An American steamer returned to Tokio from Vladivostock with a caTgo of railway material undischarged. Vessels en route to Vladivostock are being diverted to Japan. | Pretty and useful articles that will always remind the wearer of the giver at H. D. vour Jeweller.— Advt. :