BOLSHEVISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17713, 26 August 1919, Page 5

BOLSHEVISM

LENIN SAID TO BE TIRING. TALK OF A COALITION. GENEVA, August 23. A traveller from Moscow reports having had an interview with Lenin, who is convinced of the impossibility of carrying out Bolshevist ideals. He has been consulting business men with a view to ending the country's desperate situation. Lenin told the traveller that he was willing to denationalise industries, convoko a National Assembly, and personally retire. It is reported that Lenin is negotiating with tho anti-Bolshevist parties for the formation of a Coalition Government. Trotsky is still confident of a worldwide Soviet triumph, and is devising propaganda plans to cover Western Europe.— A. and N.Z. Cable. IN NORTHERN RUSSIA. BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS. CHRISTIANIA, August 23. The Tidens Tegn's correspondent on the Murman coast states that large British transports laden with troops and ammunition are arriving daily, and the arrivals outnumber those leaving for home.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE CAPTURE OF ODESSA. PRECEDED BY HEAVY FIGHTING. LONDON, Augnet 23. Tho Ukrainians were engaged in heavy fighting before the capture of Odessa. Bolshevist naval detachments, -which were despatched post haste to oppose the Ukrainians, deserted to the latter. The Bolshevist army on the right (west) bank of the Dnieper is now in panic-stricken flight before General Petkrara's troops.—Renter. THE UKRAINIAN ADVANCE. A BOLSHEVIST ADMISSION. LONDON, August 24. Peasant risings against the Soviet power facilitated the rapid advance of General Petloura's and the Western Ukrainian combined armies, the whole line sweeping on irresistibly. There axe great rejoicings in the liberated areas. _ A communique admits extensive retreats, involving the abandonment of Minsky, Kieff, and some of the provinces westward of the Dnieper, including Podolia and Volhynia. The communique, however, claims the recapture of Khamishin (on the Volga), where the Bolshevists recently lost 11,000 men. Its recapture, if true, will bo a serious blow to General Deniken's right flank.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

&ECAPTURE OF KHARKOFF. A TORTURE-HOUSE FOUND. PITS AND BOOMS FULL OF CORPSES. LONDON, August 22. Renter's correspondent in South Russia gives eye-witnesses' accounts of the scenes in Kharkofl following its recapture from the Bolshevists. Tens of thousands of the people crowded the vicinity of a five-storey torture-house, various rooms of -which were found to be literally crowded with coroses and bloodstained clothing; while the walls were spattered with blood. All the victims had been tortured. . A pit bft deep, close to the house, contained 40 bodies. Strips of skin had been torn off some of these bodies, while others :had nails driven into their heads and ribs. In another pit were 15 bodies, including that of a. woman. All Dore terrible indications of torture. One man and the-woman had been buried alive, after their mouths had been filled with earth, and the tongues wiere jammed between the teeth.

Terrible scenes of grief occurred as members of the crowd recognised their relatives among the victims. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

OUTRAGE IN ARMENIA. MURDER OF PERSIANS. LONDON, August 22. Advices have been received that -when the Bolshevists occupied Armavir, in Armenia, they hauled down the flag of the Persian Consulate and shot down the Consul, thongh he was wearing his official uniform. They mutilated his body and looted the buildings, taking much valuable property. They also machine-gunned 600 Persian Mohammedans and 22 Christians who were sheltering in the Consulate, killing and wounding them en masse.—Renter. LETTISH OPERATIONS. SURRENDER OF "RED TROOPS."

COPENHAGEN, .August 22. The Esthonian Press Agency announces that a regiment of Red troops in the Padsevy district surrendered without fighting; 'also fche former Commander-in-Chief of the Red army ha Livonia has surrendered to the Lettish Government.—A. and NZ Cable. GENERAL BLAKOVITOTS PREDIC- * TION. EARLY CAPTURE OF PETROGRAD. HELSINGFORS, August 22. General Blakovitch predicts that Petrograd will bo captured before October. He believes that half the Red army are awaiting a favourable opportunity to surrender. His advance awaits the arrival of further war material from the Entente.—A and N.Z. Cable. "