REVOLT OF RUSSIAN PEASANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11952, 29 April 1902, Page 5

REVOLT OF RUSSIAN PEASANTS.

SERIOUS RISING IN THE I SOUTH.

RIOTING AND ROBBERY.

LANDLORDS FORCED TO ABAN-

DON THEIR HOMES.

A WIDESPREAD AGITATION.

THE MURDER OF A MINISTER.

By Teiesraph.-Press Association.-Copyright.

St. Petersburg, April 27. Famine in the Poltava and Kharkoff districts, in Southern Russia, drove the peasants to forcibly seize seed and corn, and serious rioting occurred. The attempt of the troops to disperse the rioters resulted in 18,000 breaking into open revolt. M. de Plehwe, the recently-appointed Minister of the Interior, is proceeding south to investigate the position and reinforcements of troops have been ordered to the disturbed districts. (Received April 28. 10.40 p.m.) London, April 23. . Renter's Agency reports that Little Russia is bordering on revolution.

The starving peasants of Poltava, incited by Nihilists, have attacked 60 estates, destroying everything they were unable to remove and throwing into the rivet enormous quantities of stored fineries. Twenty estates have been ravaged in Kharkoff, and the landlords are fleeing, abandoning everything. It is feared the fury of the mob will reach the towns. While some officials exhibit weakness others order the soldiers to flog the peasants wholesale. The Tsar has abandoned his intention to visit Moscow owing to the serious agitation there. Ministers are daily threatened with death. Secret agitators are urging the operatives in the St. Petersburg factories to strike in May. An inquiry into the murder of M. Sipiaguine, late Minister of the Interior, revealed a wide anti-Govern-ment conspiracy, Numerous arrests have been made, including a Jewess, who was betrothed to Boschanett, the assassin, and her father, who supplied the means for the assassination. Boschanett vainly tried to commit suicide when informed of their arrest. St. Petersburg, April 28. Russian labour agitators urge the peasants to rid the country of foreign devils, whether capitalists, engineers, or managers. The Moscow, workmen have asked M. De Plehwe to permit organisation on the lines of English trade unions.

The condition of things in the agricultural districts of Southern Russia has for a long time past, been deplorable, owing to the successive failures of cereal crops and the widespread ruiit which in consequence has overtaken landlord and peasant alike. Excessive taxation, too, has intensified the. distress, and of this combination of misfortunes has been born a spirit of unrest and discontent, which is easily kindled into revolution. The Russian empire seems at present to be passing through a somewhat critical phase, for riotinjt or revolutionary disturbances have occurred at St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kieff, Odessa and many other places. Writing on March 16, the St. Petersburg correspondent of the London Times says "Disquieting reports are received here almost daily from various parts of the country. It is stated" on good authority that soldiers who were ordered to fire on some strikers belonging to the small aims factory at Tula flatly ret used to do so, and mutinied when the officer in charge attempted to secure obedience by cutting down one of the non-commissioned officers: One of the Grenadier regiments is said to have been removed from Moscow, as it

could not be trusted to fire on the people in case of need. Rostoff, on the Don, has been the scone of a groat demonstration, which passed off ]>eacefully, as the police were not strong enough to interfere with it. But perhaps the most significant of all the disturbances is that which occurred at Poltava about a fortnight ago. Poltava is a small, peaceful place of no particular importance, situated in the south-west not very far from Rieff. It contains no university and no factories, and is one of the last places in Russia to be expected to join in such a movement. Yet a couple of weeks ago there was a disturbance at the theatre. During the darkened scene in the play, " Tho Power of Darkness," cries of "Long live Tolstoi I and " Down with despotism 1" were raised, and revolutionary proclamations were distributer! among the audience. Many arrests were made, and those arrested were taken to tue prison. But hero they succeeded in winning over tho prisoners and causing a not. The warders were overpowered and all succeeded id making their escape after broking tho windows and doing other damage.