ALLIES AND RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 September 1918, Page 2

ALLIES AND RUSSIA.

MANY URGENT PROBLEMS. HELP FOR CZECHO SLOVAKS, f London, August 21. The Vladivostok correspondent of the “Times” says:—The British guns have been continuously in action during the last few days, and did much to counter balance the enemy’s superiority in artillery. There will be no disposition of the American troops, the first of whom arrived a week ago, pending the expected arrival of the commander, Major-General Graves, but officers and men are anxious to get to business.

The Czechs’ concentration is being greatly hampered by the inadequacy of railway administration. There is plenty of rolling stock and a good permanent way, but the railways are overstaffed with ornamental officials and reluctant Bolshevik employees. The introduction of American experts would improve the conditions, and probably cause unpleasantness, but the Allies’ most important task is to relieve the Czechs west of Irkutsk, regardless of ruffled feelings. Rapidly-multiplying problems neeaing the Allies’ attention include the lack of currency and kind. Coin is absolutely non-existent, and has been replaced by paper of great variety, including all sorts of bonds and coupons. Postage stamps ore universally used for small change, and even theatre and Turkish bath tickets are employed to settle differences. There is much liveliness on the Ussuri front. The enemy is using- steamers on Lake Hanka, and is endeavouring to take the Allied forces in the rear. A Tientsin message states that the Chinese Vladivostock force left for Pekin on Sunday.

Mr. Falk, correspondent of the “Daily Mail,” is impressed with General Otani, and thinks he is an excellent leader. Mr. Falk states that the Czecho Slovaks are anxiously awaiting assistance. Their leaders, who are tired of dilly-dallying, have gone to Tokio and Washington to emphasise the desperate situation of their forces. There is abundant evidence of Ger man and Bolshevik complicity. The Bolsheviks’ leader recently asked Trotsky to send 1000 German Magyar officers immediately. ’A war councsj. composed of German officers is directing the campaign, and German money is financing anti-Ally propaganda, £200.000 having been brought in covertly for this purpose.

JAPANESE GENERAL AND MIS TROOPS. General Gourko, in an article in the Weekly Dispatch, says that the appointment of General Otani as generalissimo of the Siberian expedition conforms with the accepted principles of unity of command. But General Otani is unknown in Russia, and it is essential that a prominent general should be appointed to serve under General Otani to command the Russian section of the expedition. General Gourko believes that the reports of the enemy’s strength in Siberia hav.e been grossly exaggerated'. The Austrians and Germans are poorly equipped. are inferior fighters, and are likely to suffer severely during the coming winter. Some of the best troops in the Japanese Army are ging to Siberia. They are men of fine physique and hardy appearance. The rival Siberian Governments have agreed to constitute'a committee

or council of three members from, each side. The factions are over the premiership. They want respectively General Horvat and M. Lavroth, whose programmes are practically identical. They want to have Parliament convened, and desire to continue the war against the Centra# Powers, but the prospects of a coalition are not bright. , The Allies must recognise that the political side of the Far East problem is as difficult as the position in West Russia. '"■--v The Japanese Government has issued a statement in which it says that in consequence of the growing activities of the armed German and Aus-tro-Hungarian prisoners who, in conjunction with the Soviet forces, are pressing the Chinese frontier in the direction of the town of Manchull, whence the Japanese and Chinese inhabitants are fleeing, the Japanese and Chinese Governments have agreed that Japanese troops will be ordered at once to proceed to Man-

churia. ARMED BANDS OP MARAUDERS. Unconfirmed reports from Finland states that Trotsky has arrived at Helsingfors or at Reval. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Times” states that armed hands or peasants are marching on Petrograer, clamouring for food. Tne Soviet Government has issued a proclamation, declaring that the Republic is endangered, but Soviet authority is failing throughout Russia. Armed marauding peasant bands are gaining the upper hand in many districts. Bolshevlsnis doomed, but it is impossible to forecast the form of government likely to emerge from the chaos. Russian Karelia, in the north-west, is in a state of complete'amarchy. Star, vation and robbery are rampant, and the whole population is armed in seirdefence.