The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-08
ANTI-REDS WIN
OVER BOLSHEV|KI
Aided by Chinese Mercenaries,
Reds Try to Stem Tide.
Halt Negotiations With Soviet
and BOmbardment Started.
RElNF0RCEMENTS ARE RUSHED
Moscow Sends General Budeny
From South Russia.
Poles Believe Revolution Re-
ports Greatly Exaggerated.
lNFORCEMENTS ARE RUSHED
{By the United Press,


Russian revolutionaries, according
to Scandinavian reports today, have
strengthened their hold on Petrograd
and the surrounding territory.
The Red troops sent to the region to
meet an expedition of $1,000 sailors
and workers from Kronstadt were re-
ported driven back by heavy shelling
from the naval forces and a captured
battleship.
One of the most magnetic Moscow
orators, Gregory Zinovieff, has gone
to the front to bolster tho Bolshevik
morale but reports said his task ap-
peared hopeless.
The loyalty of garrisons outside
Petrograd was questioned. They were
taking part in the firing today but
because of fog it could not be de-
termined which faction they would
support. 1t was believed there are in
rebel hands.
The revolutionists were reported to
have killed or captured every Bolshe-
vik commissary in Petrograd.
London, March S.-All Bolshevik
commissaries in Petrograd have been
killed or taken prisoner by revolution
aries, according to foreign office ad-
vices today. Dispatches from Helsing-
fors confirmed reports that all Petro-
grad, except the fortress of Saints
Peter and Paul, was in rebel hands.
Copenhagen, March S.-Alexander
Kerensky, premier of the Russian pro-
visionaI government, which was over
turned by the Bolsheviki late in 1917,
is said in advices received here to be
at Kronstadt, the Russian fortress
near Petrograd, reported in revolu-
tionary hands.
Kerensky it is declared, is directing
the revolutionary offensive against
Petrograd with that fortress as a base.
Helsingfors March S.-Red troops
tempted to stem a rebel march on
Ptrograd at Waschostrow late yes
terday but were repulsed by heavy fire
from the battleship Petropovlovsk.
The dreary wintry region about
Petrograd resounded today to heavy
firing. The most severe bombardment
occurred between Petrograd and the
island fortress of Kronstadt. Firing
between those two points began last
night after the breaking off of nego-
tiations. the nature of which was OBJ
Scure.
thorities remaining in Petrograd had
thoriteis remaining in Petrograd had
suggested the negotiations, sailors at
Kronstadt agreeing. The soviet lead
ers were said to have broken the truce
by opening artillery fire. Another
report, widely accepted, was that the
occupants of Kronstadt issued an ul-
timatum and began firing when there
was no response.
A force estimated at $1,000 men was
reported to have been dispatched from
Kronstadt. Red forces were supposed
to have been sent to intercept this ex-
pedition but were routed by fire from
the guns of the Petropovlovsk.
Vigorous fire was reported from the
system of fortifications surrounding
Petrograd but because of heavy fog
it could not be learned which faction
they were supporting.
Red Reinforcements Rushed.
Warsaw, March S.-Strong detach-
ments of Russian Bolsheviki cavalry
commanded by General Budenny are
being rushed from South Russia to
Moscow to crush the insurgents. who
are said to be gaining in power daily
in the Russian capital.
Reports declare that many units of
tn Bolsheviki infantry divisions are
disloya1 but the Chinese mercenaries
in the service of the communists are
standing firmly by their soviet lead
ers.
Announcement was made here yes
terday, however, that no steps had
been taken by government officials to
interrup the negotiations, Polish au-
thorities considering reports of the
Russian insurrection as being greatly
exaggerated.