RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

EVENTS DESCRIBED.

FUTILE GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS. COSSACKS THE ONLY HOPE. I —— London, Nov. 9. The Daily Telegraph's Petrograd correspondent gives a vivid description of the events leading up to Lenin's conspiracy, of which M. Trotsky is the nominal head. The upheaval had been threatening for a fortnight. In Petrograd and throughout the State there was intense nervousness owing to rumors of numerous vast processions of armed workers asembling. The rumors were confirmed by bands of workmen parad-, ing the streets singing the "Marseillaise," while others went about offering rifles, resulting in disorders, wherein .10 persons were killed and wounded. But occasional murders are too common in Petrograd nowadays to arotlse notice. Sometimes the electric lights were suddenly extinguished for hours. Crowds poured into the streets to find out what had happened and dispersed when the light was restored.

M. Kerensky vainly attempted to restore public confidence. The Provisional Government paraded its armed strength, *nd armored cars and a British tank from the front impressively clattered up the Nevsky Prospect. An imposing isspeetion of a women's battalion wag arranged. The women's marching was magnificent, but the reception was frankly ribald. Only in Pctrograd would the Government attempt to fight Anarchism with a parade of tanks and women.

M. Kerensky attended a Council of Republic and made an uncompromising speech, showing clearly that (he recognised it rtas a struggle between himself and M. Trotsky. The latter is extraordinarily clever and quite unscrupulous. military Mid revolutionary committees are being established in all the larger Rusian towns. The Kharkoflf garrison has already accepted the Leninite authority, the deserters and disaffected soldiers naturally siding with the military revolutionaries who favor peace at any price. When the All-Russian Conference of Soviets, Tinder M. Trotsky's I'.iairmanship, opened, only 162 delegates attended, being a quarter of those expected. • M. Kerensky's chief source of support was the Cossacks, who yesterday sent a deputation to the Premie;- and offered to restore order if M. Kerensky promised to exercise firm authority afterwards. It is understood that M. Kerensky accepted the offer, Capital punishment is non-existent, but the Cossacks would readily invent an effective substitute. The vast majority of the population of' Petrograd and Russia are fully prepared to be perfectly loyal to any Government which ensures order. Kven If. Trotsky yesterday described liussia as a madhouse. Thus for the Provisional Government and its opponents have been chiefly engaged in slanging matches. The general tnania for word-spinning is universally condemned.

M. Kerensky on Wednesday suppressed a number of papers and closed the Neva bridges, making Petrograd temporarily two cities.

RAILWAY BROKEN

GERMAN FLEET OFF FIXLAXD. Stockholm, Nov. 0. The railway between Petrograd and Finland has been broken and telegraphic communication is stopped. i A German fleet of forty ships, mostly modern battleships and cruisers belonging to the High Sea Fleet, is anchored off Helsingfors.

THE LEADING FACTORS-

CIVIL WAR probable: London, Nov. . The Russian revolution did not sur prise London or Paris. It has been probable ever since General Korniloff's es' capade.

The National Union of Railway Servants and the UhioU of Postal and Telegraph Employees have been leading factors in the movement. They were endeavoring to force M. Kerensky to grant them huge increases in wages recently. When he refused they became definitely Maximalist. TSi« Baltic Fleet is also in sympathy with Lenin and Trotsky, particularly the men at Kronstadt and Helsingfors. On the other hand, the qntire Officers' Corps of the army, all the CosB«Sks, the Black Sea fleet, merchants, intellectuals and professional men, and officials side with M. Kerensky, and are bitterly opposed to the Maximalists. The peasantry is still an unknown factor, though the immediate handing over of proprietorial lands means the granting of the peasants' chief demand. It is likely that civil war will be necessary to decide who shall hold power. | M. Trotsky was editing a Russian Socialist paper at Vienna. On the outbreak of war fhe went to Paris and i started an anti-war daily. He was ex- ; pelled, and went to America. When the revolution broke out he tried to go to Russia, and was detained at Halifax, but was released when an outcry was raised at Petrograd. Hlb oratorial talents soon brought him into prominence at Petrograd.

PROTECTION OF ALLIED RESIDENTS.

KERENSKY'S POWERS OP PER. SUASION. Received Nov. 10, 5.5 p.m. Reuter Service.

Petrograd, Nov. 9. A meeting of Allied representatives discussed the question of ensuring the safety of Allied residents. The Telegrapli Agency states that Kerensky, on November 7 at Gatchina, addressed six thousand soldiers from the front, who were on thpir way to I'etrograd. Afterwards the soldiers decided not to proceed to Petrograd.

SOLDIERS EXHORTED TO JOIN THE REBELS.

SOVIET'S SOVEREIGNTY.

WAR TO CONTINUE IF PEACE NOT ARRANGED. A PREMIERLESS CABINET OF ANARCHISTS. Received Nov. 11, 5.5 p.m. Lohdon, Nov. 10. The Daily Chronicle's Petrograd correspondent states that .the military revolutionary committee has appointed commissaries at every important railway station to exhort soldiers advancing to Petrograd to obey the Provisional Government, At the All Russian Conference the Soviets (Council) declared itself to be the sovereign power, and resolved that if its democratic peace terms, hereafter to be formulated and offered, were refused by Germany, the war is to continue. The soldiere at the front are exhorted, meanwhile, to stay in the trenches till further notice. It was also resolved that workmen should control the factories, and that the Soviet should grapple with the food problem. It is stated that the Bolsheviks (anarchists) are forming a Cabinet without any premier, members of the Cabinet taking their turn to preside. After the capture of the 'Winter Palace tile Council of Workmen and Soldiers learned that twenty-four hours earlier Kishkln, who is now in gaol, had been appointed dictator.

A RIGA EPISODE.

RUSSIAN* DIVISION SURRENDERS. OFFICERS BOUND AND PRESENTED AS PEACE OFFERING. KAISER'S ASTUTE MOVE. OFFICERS SENT HOME AND MEN PUNISHED. Received Nov. 11, 5.30 p.m.

London, Nov. 10. The Morning .Post's Petrograd correspondent r-.rrates the following astonishing episode in the attack on Riga: An entire Russian division brought in their officers, hound, as a peace offering to the conquerors. The Kaiser immediately ordered their release owing to the Jiml-effects of such an action on the discipline of his own army. He ordered every fiftieth Russian to be shot, released the officers, returned their swords, and permitted them to return to their homes. The remainder of the Russian surrenderors were flogged or punished. Tho Kaiser also ordered the prisoners not to use a prayer for Provisional Government, and restored the old form of prayer for the Czar.

The Kaiser's action is being published broadcast in Russia, and has greatly impressed the Russians, who do not realise that it is merely a pose in th« interests of the' 'Hohenzollern dynasty. Wiser heads see in the Kaiser's action significant evidence of what is to bo the fate of the revolution if the Germans capture Petrograd.

FINLAND'S FOOD SHORTAGE.

AN APPEAL FOR SUPPLIES.

Received Nov. 11, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, Nov. 10. Professor von Wendt, the Finnish Government's delegate, has written to Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Asquith, and President Wilson appealing for food supplies to prevent starvation due to the country's isolation and the failure of the crops. i

JAPAN AND CHINA 1

WILL GWE ACTIVE HELP SIS JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS. Ohristcihurch, Nov. 10. Referring to the Russian crisis, Sir Joseph Ward remarked to a Press reporter to-day: "I quito agree with the views expressed by Mr. Massey. I feel quite confident that the mien who are governing at the centre of the Empire, and who have got ahead of every difficulty, however great, up till now, won't be deterred by the great side step of Russia from their fixed intention of ieontinuing until a triumph for freedom and civilisation is gained by a positive j. victory. The whole of the Russian trouble will assuredly prolong the war and throw much greater work on a section of the British navy, at least in the Mediterranean. That inflexible spirit of determination and grit that has enabled Great Britain and Iher valiant allies to meet every breach of treachery and intrigue that has found a weakness in some of our allies will in the end ensure the complete defeat of the enemy." Sir Joseph proceeded: "Before we loft England there was a feeling, one might say a belief, that only a miracle could save Russia from being removed as a powerful ally in association with us and our allies in helping us to win the war, and the evidence of the cables now discloses that the masterful minds conducting the war have not heen asleep in the interval. Both Japan and China will probably now be active coadjutors on the battlefield with Great,.Britain and her allies, who should demonstrate to tho enemy that though the war in Russia is to make her an impossible associate for effective work, yet the dropping out of so many millions of fighting men will be more than made up when the armies of the United States, China, and Japan get to work in active hostilities in conjunction with the Allies."

PETROCRAD HELD BY REBELS

KRONSTADT SAILORS ARRIVE. THE LENINITE PROGRAMME. ORDER PREVAILS. Received Nov. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 0. The Daily News Petrograd's correspondent says that the Bolchevik coup d'etat has taken the place of authority Petrograd is now in the hands of the military revolutionary committee of the I'etrograd Soviet. All Government institutions. including the. Provisional Council, have been occupied by the committee's troops. , Kerensky managed to escape from Petrograd in a train for the front, where lie will endeavor to gather troops to fight the committee.

The Cossacks Jiave refused to support the Provisional Government. The fate Df Ministers is unknown. Several transports with sailors from Kronstadt arrived to support the Maximalists. 1 The Daily News states that Lenin, addressing the Petrograd Soviet on Wednesday afternoon, said the second revolution had been accomplished, and the Government was now in the hands of the .people. The first problem was to end the jwar. We shall oifer peace acceptable to the proletarian in all countries; publish #ll seeret treaties: take nil the land from the landlords; establish control by workmen over industry, and as a conseiquenoe will be accomplishing a third social revolution. Perfect ord_er prevails at Petrograd. The public seem 'indifferent to everything. Order is also due to the fact that the military committee posted proclamations that, in the event of disorders and excesses, offenders will be wiped off the face of the earth. The Council stopped all troops and armored cars. Anti-aircraft guns were permitted in isolated areas. ATTACK ON THE PALACE. The besiegers, at 8 o'clock, gave Ministers twenty minutes to surrender, but the latter were defiant. The Peter-Paul guns were trained on tile Palace, which was surrounded by a detachment of revolutionaries, who attempted to storm it, hut were driven back by the fierce machine-gun fire. The Palace Guards, Cadets', and Women's battalions were fighting finely. A cruiser and two destroyers anchored in t'"< Neva, and armored cars in Morskava street heavily shelled the palace, but the defenders still frrnglit desp- ratcly. The continuous rattle of machine-guns, shells and riftea was heard for some time.

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT'S ACTION.

'Meanwhile, the Provisional Government draited another proclamation stating that the Government would only hand over power to the Constituent Assembly, and refused to surrender, but placed itself under tho protection of the people and the nrmy. The Government telegraphed for assistance, and the general headquarters replied they would dispatch troops. The Government then issued a further statement that the situation was still favorable, and that tlje Municipal and Peasants' Councils were supporting tho Government.

MINISTERS CAPTURED AFTER FIERCE FIGHTING.

Pierce fighting continued in the vicinity of the palace, the warships and armored cars shelling till one in the morning.

During the evening four destroyers, a mine-layer, and several mine-sweepers, with landing forces, were brought from Helsingfors and participated with the revolutionary forces. They succeeded in entering the palace at two o'clock. While the battle went on a large audience attended the Norodnydom Chaliapine singing opera.

The captured Ministers were sent to their own homes, where they were detained. THE REBELS' PROPOSALS.

The Soldiers' Congress, in a manifesto, states ft intends to propose:

An immediate armistice on all fronts. The frtffe return of all private and ecclesiastical lands to the peasants. Committees will establish workers' control over production and arrange for fnod supply. The Congress is persuaded that the revolutionary army will be able to protect the revolution against all imperialistic efforts.

The new Government will take all necessary measures to provide the army with 'everything it requires, by an energetio policy of requisitions. Taxes imposed on all the moneyed clashes will likewise improve the economic position of the families of soldiers.

KERENSKY AT FRONT.

RUMORED ARREST. j Received Nov. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 9. M. Kercnsky entrained for the fighting front, and hopes to persuade the troops to oppose the revolutionaries. German sources report that Kerensky lias been arrested. 'A DOUBTFUL MESSAGE. Amsterdam, Nov. 9. A German message from Petrograd States that troops belonging to the Russian Northern Army have joined tl» Maximalists and are marching to Petrograd. COSSACK REPUBLIC. Paris, Nov. 9. The Matin's Goneva correspondent states that th 0 Kuban Cossacks, comprising the Ukrainians and the mountaineers, have proclaimed a separate republic, to he incorporated as an independent State in a confederation of Rus-. sian republics. They have confiscated estates and selected Colonel Felomonoff as President. The Don Cossacks, including the whole of the Volga steppe, mountain districts and the Caucasians, have decided to form a Cossack Federation under General Alexieff, establishing a war government of all the same parties in Russia. A section of members of the preliminary Parliament has joined the movement.

RESISTANCE TO KERENSKY URGED.

ENDEAVOR TO BLOCK TROOPS. Router Service. Received Nov. 11, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 10. The staffs of the Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Finance struck at Petrograd. The Telegraph Agency states that the Congress of Soldiers and Peasants and the Congress of All Russia practically unanimously decided to appeal to the workmen, soldiers, and peasants of 'Russia, stating that the parties of KornilofF, Kerensky, Koledri, ftnd others were endeavoring to move troops to Petrograd, but that several detachments of Kerenskty's troops already sided with the revolting people. The appeal urges the soldiers actively to resist Kerensky, who is a partisan of Korniloff, and it also urges the railway men to stop the forces that Kerensky is sending to Petrograd.

REBELS MASTER PETROGRAD.

BARRICADES ERECTED

United Service. [Received Nov. 11, fi.s p.m,

London, Nov. 10.

The Smolny Institute, where the All Russia Congress of Soldiers and Peasants sat, was the revolutionaries' hoaduarters, from which orders were Issued. Among the prisoners taken were Cavo/,dev and Prokopoviteh. The latter was arrested in a motor car in the street with his wife. Under tile Council's strategy the troops mastered the various portions of the city, until the Winter Palace alone was unßubducd. During tho height of the fighting the city presented a historic spectacle. Gardens of houses and the neighboring woods were etrijiped of timber for the barricades which were erected, barring all bridges in all thoroughfares for traffic. GERMANS OCCUPY ALAND ISLANDS. Received Nov. 11, 5,30 p.m. Stockholm, Nov. 10, German troops landed on the Aland Islands (Finland) and occupied the group. GERMANS AT HELSINGFORS. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Nov. 11, 11 p.m, Copenhagen, Nov. 11. The Berlingake Tidende states that German troops landed at Abo and Heljmigfors, and occupied both places. It is rumored that there are some Finnish detachments amongst the German soldiery. GERMANY'S EASY TERMS. (Received Nov. 11, 5.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Nov. 10. Berlin expects to offer the Leninites peace on easy terras if they remain in powef.