IN RUSSIA

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1937, Page 5

IN RUSSIA

MORE ARRESTS. (United Press Association—Ry Electric Telegraph—Copyright). M 0 SCO W, X Ma y 17. There has been a touch of grim humour added to the latest Soviet purge, by the bringing of ai charge against Vladimir Kirshon, who has been arrested, in addition to those already cabled as under arrest. It is alleged that Kirshon, who is the most popular dramatist in Soviet Russia and is also the manager of the Playwrights’ Union, has collected four million roubles, this money representing royalties on the works of longdead authors, and has distributed the money among his henchmen. Kirshon is also accused of behaving “like a Czar, dispensing roubles and rations with a generous hand to his favourites.” Meanwhile there is a union which ha r « been organised by the writers’ wifes, in order to protect the rights of the.wives against their immoral husbands. This union is demanding an investigation of the authors’ “scandalous lives.”

NOTED AVIATOR SHOT. MOSCOW, May K 5. ' An eighteen-year-old watchman forgot to demand the password, when a squad of Red Army soldiers entered the flying field, where the oraclt para-, chutist and inventor, Commander!Pa-; vlov Silvansky, was about to perform. The watchman lost his head >and’ opened fire ;after the soldiers passed, killing instantly Silvansky, and wounding the entire squad. The watchman will he charged with the wanton killing of. Silvansky, and the flying field officials, will he charged with complicity.