A NATION'S DEAD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17984, 30 January 1924, Page 11

A NATION'S DEAD.

LENIN'S LAST LEVEE. .MILLIONS PAY SILENT HOMAGE. ,BT CABLE— PP.ES3 A3SOCIATIOJT COPTEIOBT.) (Stdket "Sun" Service.) LONDON, January 28. The Moscow correspondent of the '•Daily News" estimates that i.uuQ.OuO people viewed Lenin's body the four days it lay in state, including peasants from all parts of Russia. r It was intended that the public view should terminate at midnight on Saturday, bnt at that hour there were still two queues entering by different doors, each two miles long. No emblem of the church adorned the body or coffin, which was surrounded by large palms. Outside the building large crowds of peasants and soldiers warmed themselves at huge fires which were lighted in open spaces and all the city streets. Scores of men and women, overcome by the cold, were carried to the fires to recover. The temperature was 30 degrees below zero. On Sunday, when the coffin was carried from the Trades Union Hall to a catafalque erected in the open air in Red square, close to the Kremlin wall, the coffin-bearers were frequently relieved, as the intense cold made the carrying difficult. Deputations walking 23 deep saluted as they passed the coffin, but dared not uncover for fear their ears would be instantly frozen. Over fifty thousand people filed past the coffin.

A funeral march, compose'd by a Pole, Monetshko, was the only music which was played by numerous bands throughout the day. The uniform throbbing of the drums drew tears from thousands, which were speedily turned to icicles.

The Kremlin bells tolled, and amid the echoing sound of guns the coffin was lowered into the vault. The coffin will be always visible through the glass covering of tho vault. LENIN NEXT TO MARX. SOCIALIST VICAR'S ORATION. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, January 28. The Rev. Mr Cummings, Socialist vicar of St. John's, Hurst, preached an extraordinary funeral oration on Lenin. The church was filled, loeal Socialists replacing the ordinary congregation who, dissenting from Mr Cumming's views,, ceased to attend. Describing Lenin as "the .Hammer, of God," Mr Cumminga declared that, while 'Lenin'had.;no use for their religion, he was one of the noblest sons of men. He always seized the right way to combat the fortes of tyranny, 1 and history would place him next to Karl Marx on the highest pinnacle of fame. Following • an invitation to pay homage to a great spirit, the congregation stood with - bowed heads while the revolutionary funeral march waa played. SUCCESSION QUARRELS. NEW FIGURE ON THE STAGE. (BEDTEE'3 TELEGBAIZC.) LONDON, January 27. The death of Lenin has given rise to a complex political situation in Russia. Bolshevik chiefs are said to be squabbling behind the scenes. Trotsky is Said to be in disgrace.

Dzerzkinsky, who was in charge of Lenin's funeral arrangements, has come to the forefront. He ia strong-willed and fanatical, and feaTed by moderates, who urge the factions to drop quarrels and coalesce, in order to solve the domestic and foreign questions, especially in view of the early recognition of the Soviet by foreign Powers. This tendency favours Trotsky, without whom no reconciliation of the factions would be real and lasting. The military also are likely to side with Trotsky. In the event of reconciliation, Kalinin, president of the Executive Committee of United Soviets, will probably become President of the Council of Commissaries, but at present Kameneff and Stalin are regarded. aa likely successors to Lenin, if it is decided to replace him with one man instead of the triumvirate. "OLD GLORY" THEIR FLAG. AMERICANS BURST UP RED MEETING. •; (Sydney "Sum" Sebvice.) NEW YOKE, January 28. A body of policemen at Wilkesbarre, assisted by members of the American Legion, headed by Mayor Hart, invaded a "Bed" meeting in honour of Lenin. They tore down the red flag, compelling those wearing flags as buttonholes to throw them away and kiss the American flag.