RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA.

ODESSA OCCUPIED. AFTER HEAVY BRITISH BOMBARDMENT, By Telecraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Aug. 27, 1.15 a.m. London, Aug. 26. A Bolshevik wireless message states that thirty British warships bombarded Odessa for two days, and then a landing was effected and the town was occupied —Aus.-N.Z. üble Asan.' THE PETROGRAD OFFENSIVE. FINNS AND ESTHONIANS HESITATING. Received Aug. 26, 10.13 p.m. Helsingfors, Aug. 20. It is improbable that the Finns will participate in the Petrograd offensive. The Kathonians decline to assist'unless the Allies recognise their independence. The Bolsheviks have begun a counteroffensive in the Pskoff region, and also claim to have developed their success at Kamishiu and captured villages and river craft—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FATE OF THE CZAR'S FAMILY. KOLTOHAK'S POSITION IMPROVED. Paris, Aug. 24. Mr. Wilton, writing from Oui.sk, states that a detachment of Koltchak's soldiers secured the bodies of the Grand Duke Sergius, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and other Romanoffs murdered near Perm last year. The latest evidence collected at Ekaterinburg confirms the story that the corpses of "the ex-Czar and his family were cut to pieces after their murders and thrown into an iron pit and burned. The body of a pet dog belonging to one daughter was found in the pit above the charred remains. Koltchak's position no longer warrants anxiety. The Reds have now retired some distance from Todol, where Koltchak is now concentrated. Diterich is strenuously recruiting, aiming at placing an army, mainly of volunteers, on a basis like Deniken's. An interesting innovation is the formation of semi-religious fraternities of the Cross, pledged to take up arms and set an example of discipline and blameless living. The priests arc fervently promoting the movement like mediaeval crusaders.-Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. A BOLSHEVnC REPORT. Received Aii£. 26, 8.15 p.m. London, Aug. 26. A Bolshevik wireless message states that Koltchak is evacuating Omsk and preparing an entrenched position opposite the town. Insurgents are besieging Vladivostok, which is full of refugees. A Japanese squadron has arrived off the port.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.