RUSSIAN CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 August 1918, Page 6

RUSSIAN CRISIS.

THE SITUATION OBSCURE. " : f JAPANESE ACTIVITY. - K ~' LONDON, August 14. The Russian situation remains sinisterly obscure. News from The Hague and Stockholm states that the Lenin Government is tottering, and the anti-Bolsheviks are expected to .march on Moscow and precipitate a local revolution. The reported flight of Lenin and Trotsky has not yet been verified, une report says that they are constantly surrounded by a Bolshevik bodyguard, and charge their quarters every night, fearing assassination. The Frankfurt Zeitung's Berlin correspondent says that the seriousness of the .Russian crisis is indicated by von Hintze's and Helfferich's presence at General Headquarters, where the crisis is being earnestly discussed.

The Tokio correspondent of the Times states that the Government is despatching a diplomatic mission headed by Count Mutsu Daira, late Con* sul of Tientsin, with an expeditionary force" to ensure smooth relations with the Russian .authorities. Britain has taken similar measures. Mr Aston, councillor of the Legation at Pekin, las already reached Vladivostock. Japanese • war correspondents accompany the force. The British and French 'victories on the west front have profoundly impressed Japanese opinion and quickened the national war spirit, the press pointing out that if Germany is driven back in the west she -will make a move in the east, thereby increasing the menace to Japan.

Advices which have reached the American Department of State say that Bussian sailors had seen Lenin and ITrotsky at Eronstadt. The sailors declared, that they would not obey the Bolsheviks' order to give up the "warships to the Germans, but would fight rather than surrender the navy, or it, GERMANS GLOOMY DEDUCTIONS Eeuter's representative at Amsterdam states that the German newspapers, discussing the Russian situation, anake the gloomiest deductions from ■the removal of the German Embassy to Pskoff. They state that when Dr. Hclfferich went, to Moscow he found the Bolshevik rule tottering, and fled before the staff of the Embassy left, because he was afraid of his life. The papers describe both /Moscow and Petrograd as vigorously patrolled by police. Troops with guns and machineguns were everywhere in anticipation of a coup d'etat. The Russian menace to Germany is the theme of comment in London, where the opinion is expressed that the task of forcibly holding down the people will soon necesitate strong German reinforcements, if that has not aready been done', as the fall of Lenin ad Trotsky, if confirmed, may provide a. rallying point for the nation and , help the Entente. BOLSHEVIK GOVERNMENT. COLLAPSING.

News from Russia is scrappy rand confused but it is clear that the Germans' Bolshevik system of government is everywhere collapsing before the country-wide but mostly- disorganised counter-revolution, the effects of which jwill probably be felt in the Baltic provinces, and possibly even in Rouraania. The correspondent of the Times at The Hague says that Berlin telegrams depict the menacing situation in Moscow and Petrograd. The public squares and gardens an dthe street corners are "bristling with guns and machine-guns. Troops and police incessantly parade the streets, arresting everybody who <lces not possess the Soviet .passes. The Government excused Dr. Helfferieh from paying a ceremonial visit, ■ fearing that he might be assassinated in the street.