RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

RUSSIA'S DESPERATE POSITION. DANGER OF RELAXING PRESSURE. A REMAKABLE CONFERENCE. POLITICAL LEADER'S PLAIN TALK. Received May 15. 8 p.m. London, May 14. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent states M. M. Miliukoff, Skobe,leff and Kerensky held a remarkable conference with delegates from the fighting front. Replying to questions, Professor Paul Miliukoff declined to publish the treaties with the Aliles, which would reveal military secrets. Regarding Russia's renunciation of annexation and indemnities, the question was so bound up with the right of nations to determine their own fate that nothing definite could be said. As regards contributions, the Allies hold that the nation which suffered must be' rehabilitated by the power which ruined it. Uniting the three Folands into one and the return of AlsaceLorraine to France was not annexation. Russia had relinquished all claims to the Dardanelles. The fate of Constantinople depends upon the views of the Allies.

Received May 15. 9.30 p.m. London, May 18. , Professor Miliukoff continued: "It is untrue that Japan is preparing to bring an army to Russia. America lias civet* ns a loan at three per cent, and has offered to put the Siberian railway in order, supplying us with vast quantities of ammunition." M. Skobeleff condemned the soldiers fraternising at the front with the enemy. The army must be ready to advance.

The speech of M. Kerensky (Minister for Justice) was a grave warning, ft emphasised the tremendous danger of Russia. "It may be the time is near when it will be impossible for us to provide you with the bread and ammunition you need. This won't be the Government's fault. Russia may play a decisive role in the world's history, hut firganisation and patience are necessary. Surely Russia is not a nation of rebellious slaves. My strength-is failing. 1 no longer feel my former courag;. It is said Russia has no longer need ot an army because her soldiers are fraternising with the Germans. If our soldiers are fraternising in Russia, the Allied soldiers are not fraternising on the French front. The enemy there is being thrown upon the Anglo-French front, where the Anglo-French advance has already been stopped. There is no such thing as a Russian front. There is only a general Allied front. If the desperatehess of the situation is not realised our dream of liberty will be thrown back for decades, and we may be drown, ed in blood. We have tasted freedom, and are becoming intoxicated. No.w we need the greatest possible sobriety and discipline."

IMPUDENT GERMAN PRO-. POSAL. PROMPTLY REJECTED. Petrograd, May 15. Two German officers bearing white flags approached the Russian lines, and were taken to Dvinsk blindfolded, where they interviewed General Dragomirov. They suggested fixing a neutral zone for the purpose of peace negotiations. General Dragomirov bluntly rejected the proposals, adding that they involved treachery to the Allies, and sent the mission back to its own lines. INTOLERABLE CONTROL. RESIGNATIONS RESULT. Copenhagen, May 14. General Korniloff resigned the military governorship of Petrograd because the delegates of the Council of Workmen and Soldiers demanded that his orders to the troops should be first submitted for their approval.

Reuter Service. Petrograd, May 13. M. Kutchkoff has resigned his portfolios as Minister of War and Marine. In a letter to the Premier he explains that his resignation is due to conditions affecting the Government authority over the army and navy which threatened to prove fatal to the country's defence, and even to its existence. He refuses to share the grave, crime that is being committed against^Russia. •FIGHTING AGAINST THE TURKS. Wireless, per Admiralty. Received May 15, 9 p.m. Petrograd, May 14. [Russian official: We repelled a Kurd attack near Belurner. Under superior Turkish pressure we retired to the left bank of the Diala.