RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER. RUSSIAN FORCES STARVED. STATEMENT BY RUSSIAN LLOYD GEORGE. Received April 24, 11 p.m., Petrograd, April 23. The Daily Express' correspondent was granted an interview with M. Kerasky, who is the Lloyd George of Russia, dominating the political situation. He said: "Our people went- to war to defend themselves, and are now determinod to wage only a defensive, not an aggressive, war. We desire no annexations. Jl" President Wilson is expressing The will of. the people <vh"ii he says (hat America is not merely making a diplomatic move, then f am in complete sympathy with his statement regarding the objects of the war. I have no objection to the principle of compensation in order to give reparation to Poland and Belgium. '

"The British people are held in great esteem in Russia, but their connection with Czarism, as evidenced by happenings after the overthrow of Czarism, hai given America, a popularity Britain lias rarely enjoyed. If Czarism continued wheii Germany commenced her spring offensive, the defeat of Russia would be inevitable. The Russian troops in January were intermittently deserting from their regiments. Tlie armies had only two days' food, supply. Many of the soldiers were starving. Only 70 per cent, of the blast furnaces were working, whilst the output of minerals had fallen to one-quarter of the normal production: The' workmen are now all striving to increase the output." 4

I GERMANY'S DESIGNS, .'r REVELATIONS OF A SECRET DOCUMENT. , Received April; 24, 11.3 p.m. London, April 23. The Daily News'. Petrograd correspondent Baid the Government possessed secret docunlerlts showing'that the Germans were' debasing whether to attack Russia immediately or wait until the internal disorders should put Russia at Germany's mercy.

RIGA FRONT FLOODED. OPERATIONS IMPEDED. Petrograd, April 23. Inundations on the Riga front sep> urate the adversaries and righting is impossible. There are heavy German concentrations below (Riga. CONSTITUTIONAL OPPOSITION NO DUALITY OF POWER. Petrograd, April 23. Tho situation as between the Provisional Government and the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates was explained in a speech by the president of tho latter body, lie declared that there was no duality of power. His council was simply a sort of constitutional Opposition, which ,iwas necessary as a check on every Government. GLASS BULLETS, 'i , London, April 23., A wireless Ruseiai pfiicial message says: The Germans used glass bullets in the region of the Aa River. The Kurds have increased their ac*. tivity against us in Persia. Arabs attacked a squadron at.Cheraben which was escorting an English military agent. The squadron forced a passage.