RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

THE FLEET NOW READY. .SOLDIERS ABSOLVED PROM ALLEGIANCE TO CZAR. Times Service. Rc'ceived March 30, 1.53 a.m. Petrograd. March 20. The revolution of the Baltic Fleet cost 34 victims. The ships are now ready to fight. The new heads of the Church have absolved the soldiers, from their oath of allegiance to the Czar, so that the last doubts of the legality of the revolution are thus removed. AUTONOMY FOR FINLAND. NOTHING TO PEAR FROM RUSSIA. Stockholm, March 2S. 31. Miliukoff announces that the new regime will give Finland complete autonomy and a legal constitution. M. Miliukoff adds that Sweden will therefore have nothing to fear from Russia, and there is nothing to prevent cordial relations being established The Russian Government announces ■that an amnesty has been granted to three thousand young Finns, who, desperate at seeing their country oppressed by Czarism, entered the German army, A VAST BOG; GERMAN PLANS UPSET. • New York, March 28. ' The Petrograd correspondent of the New York World states that Hindenburg's plans have been thwarted by the sudden thaw, which has converted the Riga district into a vast bog, and gives the Russians time to prepare their defence. DANGER OF DISORDERS PAST. TRANSFORMATION PRODUCES STARTLING RESULTS. 1 London, March 28. The Petrograd correspondent of the Daily Chronicle says that reports from the front indicate that the first danger of disorders is past and the troops are entering into the spirit of the new regime. The War Office is pushing forward important reforms with great speed. The old regime offered almost insuperable obstacles even to obvious necessities. Ideas, which were never lacking, are now finding scope. The reforms now being carried out will immediately bring the army organisation into line with that of the Allies. The transformation has already produced startling results. The work of combating German espionage has been greatly simplified, and there is every prospect of an early solution oE the food problem. The peasants are cooperating. Reports from many centres announce that hoarded corn is being hastened to the railway stations. Meanwhile many large towns are introducing rations. DESPERATE FIGHTING. , ON EASTERN FRONT. ' " . AEROPLANE RAIDS ON TURKEY. Received March 29, 8.40 p.m. London, March 20. A Russian official message states:— German attacks past Illux, north-west of Postavy, were repulsed. A night attack upon Boguchi, north-west of Kreva, occupied part of our trenches, but an immediate counter-attack restored the situation. We attacked with gas on the Stokhpd river in the region, of Boarovno, on the Riopian front, south of the river Tchabariocha. We are fighting for positions lost on March 23. Enemy attacks south of the river Ussa, south-west of Macinesti, occupied part of our position, after desperate fighting. A Russian seaplane squadron raided Vorkos, 25 miles north-west of Constantinople, and dropped 50 'bombs on the aqueduct supplying Constantinople with water. Another squadron bombed Tulteha. - ' 1 ■ K REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT. ! VOTES TO WOMEN. Received March 29 a 11 p.m. Petrograd, March 29. M. Keren ski, interviewed, believes that the mass of Russians will declare for a, republican form of government, and expects that the Finland Government will resemble that of the British colonies. He opines that votes for women will be agreed to with little diffioulty. | ESCAPE OF THE OZAIR TO SWEDEN. Received March 29, 10 p.m. New York, March 29, A message from Berlin states that the Czar is reported to have escaped to, Sweden. ' -T