RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 July 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF CZECHO-SLOVAKS. OVER 1,000,000 MEN IN ARMS. CONTROL SIBERIAN RAILWAY. ALLIES’ HANDS STRENGTHENED. Received 9.5 a.m, LONDON, July A 3. The Bolsheviks’ power is rapidly waning throughout Russia. The most remarkable feature of the Russian situation is the Czecho-Slovaks. Many thousands-of them have deserted the Austrian army and fought with the Russians against the Anstro-German* before the, Russian front finally co\lapsed. Large bodies of Czecho-Slo-vaks then marched eastward, intending to 'reach Vladivostok and embark for America To fight with the Allies on the Western front. These have captured the larger part of the Siberian railway, routed the Siberian Bolsheviks, and now await Japanese Interventicn. Other bodies of CzechoSlovaks, who have remaiend in European Russia, defeated the Bolsheviks in the Samara district. The Czechoslovaks now control 2500 miles of main railway from Penza to Nijni Udinsk in Siberia, where they have established their own Government. The Bolsheviks control a short stretch or Siberian railway from Nijni Udinsk to Chita, the remainder to Vladivostok being in the hands of the Czecho-Slo-vaks. The remarkable achievements of thp Czecho-Slovaks, who are estimated at over a million, UaveHstrengthened the Allies’ hands. The halfi million Germano-Austnan troops on the Eastern front are of second quality. German newspapers assert it is impossible for the Allies to restore the Eastern front, compelling Ludendorff to withdraw divisions from France to fight the reorganised Russian armies and Czecho-Slovaks. The utmost Germany anticipates is that the Allied efforts will result in Lenin's overthrow and create a guerilla warfare against the German troops to prevent Germany exploiting the BrestLitovsk Treaty. NEW GOVERNMENT IN SIBERIA. PREMIER APPOINTED. Received 5.5 s.m. LONDON, July 13. Falkowan has proclaimed himself ; Premier of Siberia. The Government’s programme includes the restoration of the Allies, great re-establishment of the army, and abolition of Bolshevik decrees. RUSSIA AND FINLAND. NEGOTIATIONS FOE PEACE. STOCKHOLM. July 12 A Petrograd message states that Lenin accepted the Finnish proposal through the German Foreign Office to negotiate a separate peace. The Swedish Press learns that Count von Mirbach, the German Ambassador who was murdered in Moscow, while exercising a powerful influence over the Bolsheviks, eiTtfrtainod secret relations with the Monarchical and antij Revolutionary party. ' ALLIED TROOPS LAND AT j MUEM3LN. ■ LENIN PROTESTS IN VAIN. | Received 9.30 a.m, LONDON, July 13. The landing of a large Allied force on the Murman coast represents an effort to reorganise Russia and assist ■ the counter revolutionaries and i Czecho-Slovaks, the overthrow of the Bolsheviks and to checkmate Germany’s extensive annexation plans. The ice free ports of Murman provide the only moans by which the European allies can supply guns, munitions, and stores to Russian forces. It is expected that Japanese and American supplies will be sent through Vladivostock, which is now in the passession of the Czecho-Slovaks, who have defeated the Bolsheviks and disarmed the Russian warships in the harbour. Fifteen thousand German troops arc in Finland, mostly in the south, and it is difficult for thorn to reach Murman, as the communications arc bad, except the railway, and the terrain is difficult, Lenin’s Government, whose Headquarters are at Moscow, is protesting against the Allied landing, but is unable to interfere. The Government controls only 60,000 troops of poor quality, and indifferently equipped. GERMANY GREATLY ALARMED. LONDON, July 13. The Allies’ landing on the Murman coast is regarded as an event of the first importance. Coupled with the German news from Russia, it foreshadows that Russia will eventually be the scene of scattered and prolong, eel campaigns.

Berlin states that the Allies have’ planned attacks on two sides, with a Japanese advance into the Baikal district, where they will link up with Seminoff. Berlin regards the British expedition as most serious. It asserts that the Allies intend to advance from the north against the heart of European Russia, and “asks whether the feeble Soviet Government is capable of resisting disciplined troops with the Red Guards. Berlin admits that the Allies have already established connection with the Czecho-Slovaks, who furnish a valuable rallying point. Berlin announces that the Central Powers must intervene with armies, j because the Russian Government is! too weak to resist without help. It Is 1 impossible for the Central Powers to permit the Allies to gather a new source of strength in the East. GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION. LONDON, July 13. j News of the Allies landing an army 1 to protect the Murman district draws j attention to the gravity of events in r Russia. There are 35 German divisions and 15 Austrian divisions between Finland and the Black Sea. German divisions are approaching the Murman railway from Finland, and divisions are moving east in other directions, seriously threatening Allied interests. They have nearly reached the Volga, and gained the rich Don 1 territory, and are aiming at the Baku oilfields, the possession of which opens a route to Central Asia and the Indian frontier zone. The obscurity 1 of the Russian news complicates the I situation, but it is believed that the Bolshevik army at the maximum consists of 60,000, and is not likely to fight. ALLIED ASSISTANCE WELCOMED. Received 9.35 a.m. STOCKHOLM, July 13. The Russian Social Revolutionary j manifesto says they do not fear the Allied landing, and accepts their aid j in preparing to assist to re-establisn the East front. There must be no interference in international affairs. The manifesto urges the necessity of overthrowing the Bolsheviks, who are carying out German demands protest. Allied assistance becomes daily more urgent. i j RUSSIAN BRIBE TO JAPAN. i Received 11.50 a.m. AMSTERDAM, July 14. The Hamburgiier Fremdemblatt states the Russian Foreign Minister, speaking in the Soviet, declared they could offer Japan favourable commercial treaties as a bribe against Japanese intervention in Siberia. MIRBACH’S MURDERERS SHOT, Received 11.50 a.m. AMSTERDAM, July 14. Count Mirbach’s murderers have been shot. SITUATION IN SIBERIA TRANSFORMED, ■ Received 11.50 a.m. TOKIO, July 14. Reports show the Siberian situation has been transformed 'by the formation at Harbin of a strong anti-Bol-shevik Government, headed by General Howert, Chief of the Chinese eastern railway, supported by leading Cadets, Liberals, and ex-Ministers of the Duma. The new Government is assured of wide public support. BOLSHEVIKS DISARMED Received 9.35 a.m. COPENHAGEN, July 13 A trainload of Bolsheviks arrived at Murman, Anti-Bolsheviks captured and disarmed them and sent them back to Moscow.