The New York herald., 1921-02-20
REDS ORGANIZING
BLACK SEA FLEET
TO SEIZE BATUM
Two BOlshevist Cruisers
Are Smelling. Sochi on the
Eastern Shore.
SOVIET NOW IN TIFLIS
Georgian Government Said
to Have Fled From Cap
ital to Kutais.
DRIVE IN PERSIA FEARED
Moscow Forces Appear to Have
Overrun Completely Re-
public of Georgia.
DRIVE IN PERSIA FEARED
BIZ the associated Press.

CoNsTANTINoPLE, Feb. 19.-The Boil
sheviki are organizing a Black Sea
fleet. Two Bolshevist auxiliary cruisers
are shelling Sochi. on the eastern shore
of the Black Sea- in support of cavalry
columns operating against the Geor-
gians.
A provisional Soviet Government
has been set up in Tiflis. which is
threatened, if not already occupied, by
the Bolsheviki
Bolsheyist troops appear to have
overrun the Republic of Georgia, COM
pleting the junction Of the forces of
the Moscow Government with the
Turks. The Georgian Government,
which fled from Tifiis before the So
Wet advance, is reported to have
halted at Kutais, on the railroad be-
tween Tifiis and Batum.
Skirmishes which have occurred be-
tween Sochi and Gagri. on the Black
Sea. are taken to indicate a general
Bolshevist advance on all sides, with
Batum as its ultimate object.
seau has left Constantinople for Batum
Charles II. Moser, American Com
missioner, formerly stationed at Tifs
has reported from Batum that so far
all Americans are safe. 1t Is feared
however. that the rich warehouses and
palaces at Tifis will be looted.
Among the Americans who were in
Tifis were John Randolph and Hooker
A. Doolittlc. respectively American
Consul and Vice-Consul; Messrs. Grit
fn, Smythc and Pericardis. American
trade agents: Capt. and Mrs. Ernest
a. yarrow and three children of BIZ &
hamton. \. y. the Rev. and Mrs Har-
rison A. Maynard and four children Of
Topeka. Kan; Miss Ferguson and
Messrs. Elmer and Gilan. Near East
Relief workers. Capt Yarrow was di-
rector of the Near East Relief for
Transcaucasia.
Belief Is expressed here that Moscow
desires to hold Tihis as a base from
which the Soviet Government can d.
rect the advance of troops through
Persia
The work of establishing o Soviet
regime in Georgia is said 70 have been
relatively easy. The intentions of Mos
COW toward Georgia have appeared TO
be unsettled during recent months. and
it was declared she wished to keep the
little republic as a neutral trading
point with the Allies.
The Bolsheviki. however. sent ennis
saries into Georgia, among them being
NJ. Shiemann. whose PLANS collapsed. his
failure resulting in his expulsion from
Georgia last month. In addition the
Eleventh Bolshevist army, with which
Moscow had intended to occupy Georgia.
had to be withdrawn to cope with up
risings in Dagestan and Baku.
The advance upon Tiflis was osten-
sibly caused by a controversy over a
neutral zone in the Borchalon district.
between Georgia and Armenia. De-
mands were sent by Armenia to Georgia
asking that the latter withdraw its
forces from tife neutral zone on, Febru-
airy IA. it being declared that Georgia
was bound to do this under an old
agreement
Georgia refused to meet this demand
and then the Armenians advanced a few
troops which were attacked by the
Georgians. The Russian Soviet Govern
mont then ordered its forces forward
TO assist its ally, Armenia.
The Georgian Government was not
composed OF mcn with the fighting tenn
permanent. II IL said. and mobilized its
troops in an inefficient manner. Whom
the Soviet forces advanced the Govern
ment fled. abandoning Tiflis TO the
noIsheyfst elements