RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 May 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

GERMAN "KINGS" ON RUSSIAN THRONES.

AMSTERDAM, May 19. regarding opportunities of obtaining a ious German Courts are most excited regarding apportunities of obtaining a throne in the East. Agents are pourneying in all directions on behalf of the competing claims. As there will be at most six thrones to distribute, and German dynasties number 22, the "Vorwaerts" suggests Ailing the thrones with Turkish princes, otherwise German unity will be imperilled. GERMAN MUTINIES. ,j. ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT/,' MOSCOW, May 19. Mutinies occurred in German regiments at Wesenberg, E'sthonia. Several officers were killed. The German high command sent trustworthy troops and arrested 200 of the mutineers, 10 of whom were immediately shot. Another mutiny occurred in a German regiment at Dvinsk. PETROGRAD'S LAST DEFENCE GONE. Received" 8.45" a.m. PARIS, May 20. "Le Matin's" Stockholm correspondent states the Russians have evacuated the fort which is the last defence guarding Petrograd. SWITZERLAND COAL SUPPLIES. PRANCE TURNED DOWN. Received 8.45 a.m. PARIS, May 2XT. It is officially announced that Prance offered Switzerland 850,000 tons of coal monthly at 150 francs per ton against the German demand of 180 francs. The Swiss Government originally welcomed the offer, but ultimately, under German pressure, refused it and made fresh arrangements with Germany. Notwithstanding" this France still keeps the offer good in order to avoid the factories closing, resulting, in misery for the workpeople. France denies Germany's assertion that she is threatening an economic bar on Switzerland.

SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO -'•''■ ASSIST RUSSIA. JOFFRE'S SUGGESTION. '■■' " r -' Received 9.35 a.m. NEW YORK, May'2o. ' The New York Times says Americans from Europe say the Allied' Government officials fear the situation on the West front may reach a deadlock unless something is done to stop German progress and domination in ]Russia. Marshal Joffre nine months ago urged that an Allied expeditionary force be sent to Russia to help expel the Germans. Joffre pointed out that Germany might extend her control to the Siberian coal, oil, and mineral lands. TROUBLE FOR GERMANS IN UKRAINE. PEASANTS GETTING EXASPERATED. GUERILLA BANDS FORMING. FOODSTUFFS BEING DESTROYED, Received 9.25 a.m. LONDON, May 20. Russian wireless: Skoropadskyhas been declared an imposter in various places in the Ukraine and his decrees are disregarded. A peasants' assembly at Kieff, numbering 20,000, was closed by the Germans. The population are exasperated, and the district assemblies decided to burn all bread and other provisions; landowners are declared outcasts. Koropadsky has no troops except a bodyguard of one hundred men. The country is groaning under hunger, misery, and slavery. Everybody is endeavouring to free Great Russia, and guerilla bands are forming. Members of the Rada are regarded as traitors. Almost the whole population is armed and attempts to disarm are resisted to the death. Towns and villages are aflame. The Germans everywhere are appointing their own officials and exporting to Germany all the provisions they can seize.

GERMAN RULE IN KIEFF. BERNE, May 19. Several attempts have been made of late at Kieff against the occupying authorities, and street fighting has occurred. The German command, in conjunction with, the Divisional Government, has decreed a state of siege, arrested many members o'f the revolutionary committee, and sent them for trial by military courts.

GERMANS STILL POSHING ON. MOSCOW, May 19. The Bolshevik Press Bureau has published a secret circular, which the German Government has addressed to all the newspapers in Germany, stating that the German commissioners have convinced toemselves that the dearth of supplies of cereals in Uk'raine is owing to insufficient sowings last year and small owners secreting supplies. The peasants in the Ukraine were nearly all armed against the Germans. Possibly greater supplies would be discovered with a furti*r advance by the Germans, and better , majf.yibe: obtained by ar,nied fforce, but iim.any case hope for improvement of Germany's food suppTtes was exceedingly problematical. : n-GER/V'N&vPJSREGARp, AG&E&MENTS. LONDON, May IC. A wireless Russian official points out that the Germans, despite tlie agreement for cessation of hostlities, are still engaged in military operations in the Don region. The Government has communicated with von Oirbach, pointing out that there was no justification for refusing an armistice, and requested Von Oirbach to expedite a reply with a view to restoring peaceful conditions. The People's Commissaries have sent a message to the provincial councils ordering compliance witbin a week, with the decree for the' creation of united Red« Army, to defend the Republic from internal and external enemies. TEUTONS CAPTURE ROMANOFFS. LOSS OF SEBASTOPOL SEVERE BLOW TO RUSSIANS. HUNS DISAPPOINTED IN FOOD SUPPLIES. Received' 11.15 a.m. LONDON, May 20. The Morning Post's Zurich ~corre. spondent states there is much rejoicing in Germany and Austria at the capture of the Dowager Empress of Russia and three Grand Dukes. ; ' ' j The Nieu Frie Press says the Central Powers will not illtreat' them, though.all, especially the Commander-in-Chief Nicholas, 'merited punishment. ■•-*"'; .'>tg*| Newspapers state' that until the arrival of the Germans the Russian Imperial famiiy~were allowed only ordinary soldiers' rations; and had neither meat nor sugar. The Grand Duchess Olga had to do housework and wash clothes, and had to sell some clotnes in order to pay her bookseller's bill.

The fall of Sebastopol was a severe blow for the Bolsheviks, who had been lighting in bodies of two thousand and five thousand strong, with plenty of artillery and macbine.:guns. -. The.. ; toa£ tie often lasted two or three days, and the fighting-made great demands upon the armies of the Central Powers, which had to cover vast distances. The Bolsheviks always evaded defeat by flight.

There is German disappointment regarding the food supply from Ukraine, due to the large sums of money which the small fronts amassed in the early part of the war owing to the extortionate prices secured for corn. When the BolshevilTregime commenced farmers hid their money and lived on hidden stores of grain. Thus far they have not even tilled the soil.