Vladivostok, Mar. 16.
News has just been received by telegraph to the effect that Gen. Fepelaicy's forces have been com-letely defeated and dispersed by the Soviet Government troops 200 versts from Yakutsk. The civil! governor of that territory, Mr. Kulikovsky, who was appointed by Mr. Merkuloff, has been taken prisoner. This is the last chapter in the history of an expedition sent to Yakutsk by Mr. Merkuloff, under Gen. Pepelaiev in the summer of 1922 with the object of establishing "White" authority in the far northern territories and of obtaining possession. of large quantities of valuable furs, which were alleged to be stored in the region of Viliousk and Alan. The expedition numbered about 800 men, mostly ex-officers recruited in Harbin. he scattered remnants of this force are reported to be surrendering in large numbers.
It is learned from ai reliable source that representatives of a number of American firms are about to leave San Francisco for the purpose of visiting Kamtchatka. Japanese firms are evincing unusual anxiety to obtain timber concessions and to purchase and ship "timber.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.