WAR WITH BOLSHEVIKS

PERIL TO ODESSA

While the Bolsheviks continue to meet with severe defeats in the Baltic Provinces, especially in the vicinity of Riga, the situation in other parts of Russia is by no means satisfactory from the point of view of those elements who are opposing the brutal and sanguinary regime of Lenin and Trotsky. Yesterday Reuter’s Agency learned that official despatches received in London report a critical state of affairs at Odessa. No confirmation can at present be obtained of the report that the town is actually being evacuated by the Allied troops, but the statement is not denied. During the evening the Wireless Press circulated the following Russian official radiogram: “KIEFF, Monday. The Petlurians have reached the Romanovka Station, on the Kazatinradzivilov line. Their main forces are retiring along this line viâ Schepetoff and Preskuroff, towards Tarnopol. Reports have been received here to the effect that the Soviet troops have again secured a victory in the direction of Odessa. Mixed detachments of the White Guards, consisting of Denikin’s and Petlura’s partisans, made great efforts to defend the approaches of Odessa for the purpose of covering the complete evacuation of the city. The Red troops have defeated the enemy, who is retiring towards Odessa.” Another Russian wireless despatched from Kieff on Saturday last states: “In the direction of Odessa, in the Korotovka-berezovka region, fighting is proceeding between the Red troops, White Guards, and Anglo-french. The enemy, who assumed the offensive yesterday, was repelled by our counter-attack, and is retiring towards the Berezovka.” The Berezovka is a tributary of the Ingul, which enters the Black Sea about sixty miles to the eastward of Odessa, and some thirty-five miles north-west of Kherson, an important seaport, which, according to a wireless message received at Stockholm from Moscow, has been occupied by the Bolsheviks, the town being evacuated by the Entente troops after a stiff fight. The Bolsheviks also claim the capture of Zhitomir, ninety miles west of Kieff, and various small towns and villages in the same area. On the other hand, the Soviet troops have sustained a fresh defeat west of the Urals, and have been forced to evacuate Ufa, capital of the province of that name. With reference to the position at Kherson, the following telegram from Reuter’s correspondent at Salonika, was received last night: The following official communiqué has been issued by the Greek General Staff: “According to a despatch received from the General Commanding the Second Division, the Greek troops in Russia have won a brilliant victory at Kherson over Bolshevik forces four times their number. The Divisional Commander states that the Greek soldiers won fresh laurels. According to official information, the Bolshevik troops were well organised and equipped with artillery and machine-guns. They were commanded by German officers, a great number of whom took part in the battle. Greek troops advanced 20 kilométres (12½ miles), taking a number of prisoners and considerable booty. Although the Bolsheviks received reinforcements, they were not able to reorganise.”