12 APRIL 1919, Page 2

The official optimism about our military position in Northern Russia

suddenly changed to gloom at the end of last week. The Russian anchFinniah. auxiliaries -under General Maynard in the Murmansk region were said to be mutinous. In the Arch- angel region the Bolsheviks were reported to be preparing for an early- offensive, before the White Sea was open for navigation and our troops could be reinforced with ease. This week British. and American reliefs have been sent to Murmansk, and an appeal has been published for volunteers to serve in Northern Russia for a year or less. Meanwhile the incipient mutiny among General Maynard's native levies appears to have failed, and Bolshevik attacks have been beaten off to the south of Archangel.