STALIN’S FRIEND

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1934, Page 5

STALIN’S FRIEND

ASSASSINATION ANNOUNCED. [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] MOSCOW, December 1. The assassination is announced of one of 'the leading Communists of Russia, Sergei Mironovich Kirov. The announcement states he was assassinated “by a murderer sent on behalf of enemies of the working classes. ’ Korov was 48 years of age. He was a member of the inner circle of the Communists’ rulers, and a friend and co-worker of President Stalin. He was regarded in some circles as Stalin’s probable successor.

SHOT IN STUDY (Recd. Dec. 3, 1 p.m.). MOSCOW, December 2. Kirov’s assassin is Leonid Vallilievich Nicolaev, aged 30, an ex-employee of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspection Bureau. Nicolaev burst into Kirov’s study at Smolny Palace, and shot him with a revolver. Kirov was a notable orator, and a stern Leninist. Ho helped to defend Astrakhan in 1918, and to rout Deniken and re-establish the Soviet in the Northern Caucasus. The Press extolls him, and all Russia mourns him. All the theatres are closed, and the body is lying in state. LATER. Nicolaev. .after the assassination, shot himself, although not seriously, after which bystanders seized him. MORE FOOD AND WAGES. MOSCOW, December 1. The population are delighted at the abolition of food cards, and bread rationing. Plenty of food is now available at reasonable prices. Wages are being raised by an average of 10 per cent., the small salaries jinereasing more than lhe large.