RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA.

BOLSHEVIKS REPULSED. AMERICANS ON TRANP-SIBERIAN RAILWAY. Received March 22, 5.5 p.m. Washington, March 10. Despatches from Archangel say that the Bolsheviks attempted to cut the lines of communication between the Allied and American columns on the DwinaVaga front, but the enemy was heavily repulsed. Despatches from Vladivostock say that Americau troops are taking up strategic positions along the trans-Siberian railway from Vladivostock to Chita, in connection with American supervision of the railway in that region.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. STARVATION THE BOLSHEVIKS' WEAPON. SITUATION BEGGARS DESCRIPTION. Received March 25, 5.5 p.m. Berne, March 15. M. Odier, the Swiss Ambassador, has returned from Petrograd. He states that the Bolsheviks, recognising that famine is the best weapon, now systematically destroy food after supplying them-selves. As an example, lie saw great quantities of eggs dashed on the pavements when delivered at the railway stations. The peasants like to barter, owing to the worthlessness of money, Kerensky's bank notes being sold in bagfula by weight. The general situation in Russia beggars description. Petrograd has become a vast deserted metropolis. The remnant of the middle-class are filled with despair as the result of the Entente's failure to rescue them. M. Odier believes that a moderate relief force would easily defeat the Bolshevik mercenaries.—Times Service. t PLAN TO INVADE GERMANY. WAR PRISONERS TO BE ENROLLED. Received March 23, 5.5 p.m. Helsingfors, March 16. Trotsky has ordered the organisation of a special force of 150,000 to invade Germany through Poland, East Prussia, and Courland, at the end of April or in May, to assist the Spartaeists. The details of the plan are attributed to a German renegade, Major Busch, who is serving in the Communist army at Moscow. It is intended by the invaders to enrol thousands of Russian war prisoners, who are at present not allowed to leave Germany.—Times Service.