RUSSIA

Evening Star, Issue 16995, 18 March 1919, Page 6

RUSSIA

STARVING AND TORTURED UNDER THE RED REIGN. Fra.. Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 13. (Received March 18, at 9.20 mm. The Australian Frees Association learns that the latest official news from Russia reveals extraordinary demoralisation and appalling outrages to be general. The British Consul at Ekaterinburg, as a result of a special inquiry in the Perm district (the Urals), reports that the number of victims amounts to several thousand, most of whom were shot, though tortures usually preceded the murders. A girl aged 19, 'accused of espionage, was slowly pierced with a bayonet 15 limes in the same wound, and she is still alive. In other cases victims were wounded with the bayonet 15 or 20 times. Foxly-six priests out of tho 50 in the Perm district have been killed. Sixty-six children, taken as hostages, were mowed down by machine guns. In some cases the Bolsheviks took ransoms from the relatives after the victims had been secretly lulled. (Received (March 18, at 9 a.m.) News from Russia shows that the Red Commissaries are mostly ill-educated, and condemn people to death without making any accusation, while frequently they themselves assist in the murder of their victims. Starvation is giving rise to epidemics, resulting in the extermination of entire villages. The educational system is entirely disorganised by the Bolsheviks appointing teachers chosen by the students. BOLSHEVISM’S POWER WANING. DISSENSION AND DESERTION. VLADIVOSTOCK NEWS. LONDON, March 16. (Received March 18, at 9.55 a.m.) Official despatches from Russia state that M. Ducherse, formerly French Consul at Petrograd, has revisited Russia. He reports that the military and civil power of the Bolsheviks is declining. Owing to supplies failing their followers are exhausted. The paper money is valueless, and the frequent desertions of their peasant troops are demoralising the army. There are constant dissensions between the Soviets in Petrograd and Moscow and those in the provinces. The peasants refuse to bring food stocks into the towns, and are hiding their food. Official reports from Vladlvostock state that most of the commanding officers in the Red army are Germans, who are introducing German methods. The Red Commissaries are mostly Jews. In order to prevent desertion the officers are constantly watched, and their families are held as hostages. Well-to-do families live in constant fear of death. BALTIC PROVINCES. BOLSHEVIKS RETIRING. LONDON, March 16. (Received March 18, at 9.55 a.m.) Lettish troops are advancing towards Mitau (south-west of Riga), and have captured Kandau and Zabel. The Bolsheviks are reported to be retiring. LENIN SHOT AT. COPENHAGEN, March 16. Shots fixed from a house in Moscow injured Lenin’s chauffeur, bat Lenin himself escaped injury.