RUSSIA

Taihape Daily Times, 16 August 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA

BATTLE ON THE VOLGA. SOVIET AGAINST SLOVAKS. ■AMSTERDAM, August 14. The Soviet farces seized all the Czecho-Slovak vessels on the Volga, cutting off the Czecho-Slovaks from their headquarters at Simbirsk. A battle is now raging on the Middle foiga, where the Soviet army numbers 150,000. German papers state that the Soviet’s General Executive Committee has appointed a dictatorship, consisting of Lenin, Trotsky, and Binovieff, empowered to take all measures to crush their enemies. GERMANY’S PEREMPTORY DEMAND TO FINNS. TO ADVANCE AGAINST ALLIED FORCES. Received 9.15 a.m. WASHINGTON. August 15. The State Department has received reliable unofficial advices from Stockholm, saying that the Finnish Government has been given two weeks by Germany in which to prepare an army to advance on Murmansk, where the Allies have established a military base. ALLIED CONSULS WANT SAFE CONDUCT. FROM MOSCOW TO ARCHANGEL. Received 9.15 a.m. WASHINGTON, August 15. In consequence of the Russian situation three Allied Consuls at Moscow have asked for safe conduct to Archangel. BOLSHEVIK REIGN NEAR ITS END. .PEASANT RISINGS SPREADING.'. GERMANS MARCHING ON PETROGRAD. ■••• - Received 9.15 a.m. ;<i STOCKHOLM, August 15. Advices from Helsingfors state the Russian situation is steadily becoming worse. The Bolshevik reign is near its end, and the peasant rising is increasing. Armed bands have been organised to fight the Bolsheviks, and the movement is spreading. Lenin’s and Trotsky’s reported flight is apparently true. Other reports state the German march-to Petrograd has; begun. CANADIAN FORCE FOR SIBERIA. Received 9.5 a.m. OTTAWA, August 15T Recruiting has been * ''opened throughout Canada to secure a force intended for despatch to Siberia. LENIN DECLARES WAR. WASHINGTON, August 14. It is officially announced that Lenin has declared Russia at war with the Allies. The American Consul at Moscow destroyed all codes and records, and turned over American affairs to the 1 Swedish representative. CZECHO-SLOVAKS IN PERIL. VLADIVOSTOCK, August 15. The Czecho-Slovaks in Siberia are in a dangerous position. They are liable to be cut off. Their force is distributed over 3000 miles of railway, from Vola to Baikal. They are unarmed and deficient in equipment, clothing, artillery and ammunition. The whole region is cut off from the Far East. The Czechs here are pathetically anxious for help from their compatriots, and contemplate fighting their way from the Manchurian frontier to Baikal. They are poorly equipped and likely to meet with disaster unless the pressure of the Allied troops disheartens the Bolshevist and prisoner forces. The Czechs desire to relieve their compatriots before the Siberian winter. This is impossible without Allied co-operation on a larger scale than has been arranged. Bridges ahead have been broken and rolling stock removed. Th% enemy is busily enforcing the enlistment of the local population. Prisoners are liberally mixed with all units. German officers are commanding. GERMANS CONSCRIPTING RUSSIANS. LONDON, August 15. A correspondent at Vladivostock states that the Germans have commenced conscripting Russians from 18 to 45 years of age, trying and shooting those refusing to mobilise. The conscripted units are officered by Germans.

GERMAN PRESS PESSIMISTIC. AMSTERDAM ,August 14. The Pan-German “Kreuz Zeitung” warns its readers that the situation In the East is graver than was supposed. It canont be long before another Eastern front exists. The journal blames, England for creating this new peril. The influential “Cologne Gazette” admits that pessimism abounds, but exhorts the people to emulate the spirit of the people of France, who, despite sufferings and sacrifices only ,talk of-victory. - • . \ -■ f J 4\\* m f ’■. ■ ... BRITISH TROOPS AT BAKU. Received 11.25 a.m, NEW YORK, August 15. The British troops have reached Baku on the Caspian Sea. OPERATIONS IN SIBERIA. JAPS TO STRIKE WEST. —— • Received 11.25 a.m. NEW YORK, August 15. American troops have linked up at Yladivostock. ‘ It is understood the Japanese troops will strike westward from. Harbin in order to rescue the Czecho-Slovaks in Lake Baikal region. COLLAPSE OP THE SOVIETS. PEASANTS MARCHING ON MOSCOW, Received 11.20 a.m. AMSTERDAM, Aug. 15. Reports from Sweden state the flight of the Soviets from. Petrograd to Kronstadt is due to peasant bands in the neighbourhood marching on the capital. The “Izvestia,” the official organ of the Bolsheviks, admits the Soviet organisation has collapsed, and no longer possess any authority.