RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA.

THE FATE OF PETROGRAD. YUDENITCH BADLY DEFEATED, AT THE GATES OP THE CITY, By telegraph.—Preu Assn.—Copyr"gM. Received Nov. 9, 11.15 p.m. London, Nov. 6, TWille the Bolshevik claim to have surrounded Yudenitch is unconfirmed, it is at least certain that Yudenitch has been badly defeated at the very gates of Petrograd, and the menace of an envelopment is not yet averted.

The immediate cause of Yudenitch's general retreat was the Bolshevik capture of Lnga, on the Petrograd-Bukoff railway, threatening the rear, as any delay in retirement would have endangered communications, . perhaps the yery existence of the whole army. The War Office announces that Yudenitch's left is still in touch with the 'JSsthonians operating in the Gulf of Finland, who are holding their original Jine. : Yudenitch, who reached a point within four miles of Petrograd, is now twelve tniles from the city. Experts express the opinion that any fresh offensive against Petrograd must he supported by an fittack from the north. Deniken, in a wireless communique, Says:—We secured fifty-five thousand prisoners and many machine-guns in the last ten days.—Renter. REVIEW OP THE OPERATIONS. BOLSHEVIKS GOING FORWARD. PLANS FOR THE WINTER. Received Nov. 9, S3 pjn, London, Nov. 8. The. Australian Press Association learns that the Russians in the Onega sector should he able to securely hold their present lines throughout the winter. The Bolsheviks are still pushing forward on Yudenitch's extreme right, and probably now possess the whole of the Gatchina-Pskoff railway. The situation in Southern Russia during the week was somewhat stabilised, but the map shows a balance in Deniken's favour. Winter is not considered likely to stop operations in this area. The position on the eastern front has taken an unfavorable turn for Kolteh:.k, and the fruits of last month's offensive have already been lost. The Bolsheviks in this region have regained their morale.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ATTACKS ON LIBAU. TWO ONSLAUGHTS FAIL. Received Nov. 9, 5.5 p.m? • Copennagen, Nov. 0. Tiw Lettish Press Bureau states:— German troops, presumably Bermondt'a, supported by artillery and armoured trains, strongly attacked Libau on the 4th inst. They were repulsed by Lettish troops in Libau, supported by British artillery. The Lettish positions were bombarded throughout the day, and a fresh violent iO'. easive launched in the evening, with ISlfavy losses.—Reuter. ADVANCE BY LETTS. IMPORTANT BRIDGEHEAD TAKEN. Received Nov. !), 5.5 p.m. ' Copenhagen, Nov. 8. The Letts, supported by a bombardment from the sea, advanced and captured an important bridgehead on th? Dvina. The Russian Soviet has warned neutrals that participation n the blockade « will he regarded as a hostile act, —Aus.Cable Assn. ATTITUDE OF FINLAND. REASONS FOR NOT FIGHTING. Received Nov. 9, 5.5 p.m. Stockholm, Nov. 6. The Finnish Premier, in an interview, stated that the Government had decided that conditions did not warrant intervention in Russia, particularly in view of the fact that no promise had been given regarding the recognition of Finland's independence; also the' impossibility of relying on the Entente's assistance against Petrograd, and the likelihood of an insufficiency of ammunition. Foreign financial support amounting to £35,000,000 in order to maintain the army on a war'footing and resist the Bolsheviks in the event of Deniken and Koltchak pressing them back towards Finiand.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A BOLSHEVIK DIVISION ROUTED. -COLTCHAK WITHDRAWING. deceived Nov. 9, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 8. Deniken, in a communique, announces l smashing victory on the Don, where the Cossacks overwhelmed a Bolshevik division eastward of the Khoper River, taking 3300 prisoners and sixteen guns. The retreating Bolsheviks blew up two armoured trains.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The State Department is advised that General Koltchak is withdrawing from ■ Omsk shortly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.