MOSCOW'S HIDDEN HAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18941, 12 February 1925, Page 9

MOSCOW'S HIDDEN HAND.

PLOT AGAINST GERMANY. AN ORGANISED RISING. BOLSHEVIKS ON TRIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received 8.5 p.m.) Router. BERLIN. Feb. U. The trial has begun at Leipzig of 16 Communists who arc charged with a variety of offences in connection with the building up of an organisation for the purpose of carrying out a Bolshevik rising in Germany. The police believe the accused men include the chief agents of the Moscow extremists, who are responsible for the campaign of murder, treason and robbery in this country. The most notable of the prisoners is a man named Skoblevsky. Ho claims to bo a simple mechanic, but the Public Prosecutor is convinced that he is a prominent member of the Russian Bolshevik party with vast experience of underground organisation. He is believed to have been sent from Moscow to organise a red army in Germany and take command when the moment for action should come. The trial is characterised by extraordinary precautions. An area within one miio of the Supreme Court has been placed under martial law, and machineguns arc in position inside and outside the building. The proceedings opened with farcical attempts at, destruction, oßjections by the Judges, interruptions and so forth. Four of the prisoners applied for ear-trumpets. It is expected that the proceedings will be lengthy.