The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-16
MOSCOW HARD HIT
Soviet Capital Now Faces Big
Food Famine.
More BOlshevik Troops Ordered
Against Kronstadt.
REV0I IITInNISTS REINEnRcED
REVOLUTIONISTS REINFORCED
Anti-R Forces at PetrOgrad
Swelled by Red DeSerters.
Gen. Yudenitch Re-enters Field
in Southern Russia.

Berlin. March 16.-Authoritativ
dispatches from Moscow today de-
scribed the city in a critical condition
due to food scarcity. BolsheviSi
authorities were exerting themselves
to quiet threats of a general strike by
extension of food and clothing rations
Order Troops to kronstadt.
Moscow had few reports of the sit
uation near Petrograd. but it was as
serted Minister of War Trotzky had
ordered troops with artillery to ad-
vance upon Kronstadt by way of
Oranienbaum.
Disconnected workers were said to
rely upon an uprising in southern Rus
sia to aid their movement. They had
adviceS that movement was under
way to sweep the Red armies there
into their own revolutionary organ
ization.
General Yudenitch in Field.
1t was also stated in rebel circles
that General Yudenitch had organized
another army. this time in Esthonia.
and was prepared to move westward
at the first opportunity.
Unofficiaily, it was stated that
Trotzky's ultimatum to the Kronstad DIT
rebels, demanding immediate surren-
ers were said to have set aside their
scruples in destroying Russian bat
tleships and other property held by
the rebels and to contemplate a strong
attack.
Red Deserters Executed.
1t was reported severe losses were
sustained yesterday when Chinese and
other mercenaries attempted to ad-
vance on Kronstadt.
Other rebel leaders declared forty
four Red aviators attempted to desert
the soviet forces yesterday but were
betrayed, all being executed.
| Rcyolutionists Stronger.
Copenhagen, March 16-Fifty thou
sand men have been gathered at the
| Russian fortress at Kronstadt, and
this number is increasing daily, says
Helsingfors dispatch quoting ar
| American Red Cross worker, who has
| just arrived there from Kronstadt.
| An organization of Russian. emf
grants in this city has been informed
in a wireless dispatch that Kronstad,
is receiving necessary provisions and
has sufficient ammunition for three
years. Victor NJ. Tchernoff. who was
minister of agriculture in the Keren-
sky cabinet in 1917, was the organizer
of the counter revolution, it is de-
| clared by the Politiken.
| He is reported negotiating with the
right wing of the Bolsheviki with a
view to making the methods of the
soviet government more democratic.
Denies Pctrograd Fallen.
| Leon Trotzky, Russian soviet wal
! minister, declared in an interview
| given in Moscow that "all talk If ar
uprising in Petrograd and a lombard
ment of the town is silly fiction" say
a wireless dispatch from the Soyiei
capital today.
"Petrograd is just as impreSnaba'
| against a counter revolutionary CuuI
d'etat as it is to the Kronstadt fort
ress." Trotzky asserted.
| Liquidation of the uprising ha.
been dragged out because we wish tc
| avoid severe losses, not only % oul
troops but to the insurrectionists il
the Kronstadt garrison Up 20 fh'
present our losses have been insignifi
can't
Trotzky charged Russian emigran
centers abroad with fomenting th'
revolutionary movement in order Il
break up peace with Poland and rh'
agreement with Great Britain for th'
resumption of trade relations.