UNREST IN RUSSIA,

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 15

UNREST IN RUSSIA,

A BRUTAL CHARGE BY COSSACKS. DISTURBANCES AS THE RESULT OF FAMINE. ST. PETERSBURG, April 21. Because a number of youths were jeering the police at Helsingfors (Finland), the C'o->«aoks brutally charged and knouted them, injuring many women, children, and cripple-. The crowd refund to di-pcr-p until the burgomaster persuaded the Cossacks to withdraw. A corporal lias beim sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for printing a Socialist manifesto for distribution in the garrison on a machine belonging to tlu headquarters ~taff at Sebastopol. April 23. A majority of the Finui-s-n recruits having failed to appear, an Imperial Russian rescript ha.s been addressed to the Governor of Finland granting a delay, and threatening the abolition of the Finnish Constitution in the event of .a further evasion of service. The Czar, at the instance of M. Pobypdonosteff, Procurator-general of i the Holy Synod, refused to sign a bill to modernise intermediate education and lessen the study of classical language^. M. V.umovsky, Minister of Education, thereupon resigned. M. Vannov-ky has endeavoured continually to remove grievance-, and wean students from the revolutionary movement. All elates, especially- students, regret the resignation. Aprd 24. The =ilk and cotton operatives in Moscow juavp struck for higher wages and shorter houib. They looted the shops and rioted. The infantry and cavalry were requisitioned, and many were killed and injured on both sides. ! Additional mansion-, were pillaged in the Pultava di trict. The offenders, when caught, were flogged. Strike riots occurred in the Kieff district. M. Zenger, Assistant Minister of Education, is making energetic conciliatory efforts in connection with the students' revolution. He has the loyal support of M. Vannovski, whom he sifcceed-. i A reign of terror prevail** in Finland, and emigration i- greatly increasing. April 20. A. document found ia the j?Oifc»Sfcion of

i ! Balchanett, the murderer of Sipiaguine, shows tha,t M. Pobiedoncstzoff's assassination was simultaneously intended. April 27. The famine in the Pultava and Charkoff districts drove the peasants tc forcibly seize the seed corn. Serious disturbances occurred on the attempt of the troops to disperse the rioters, and finally resulted in 18,000 peasants breaking into open revolt. M. De Plehwe, the recently appointed Minister of the Interior, is proceeding south to investigate the position. Reinforcements of troops have been ordered to the disturbed districts. The whole population of Finland offers firm resistance to the attempted military Russoficatioii of the Finns. The attempts to enrol new recruits for the Russian forces produce great demonstrations. Weaklings and cripples alone present themselves for enrolment. In many centres the Cossacks dispersed even the smallest gatherings with great brutality. LONDON, April 22. The peasants destroyed the Duke of Mecklenburg's chateau at Poltava. Man 3' of the provinces to the south of Moscow are in a state of turmoil. April 24. The entire Trans-Siberian railway, since the 14th inst., has been reserved* for the transport of thousands of Cossacks eastwards, April 28. Renter's Agency reports that Little Russia is bordering on a revolution. Starving peasants in Polltiva, incited by the Nihilists, attacked 00 estates, destroying everything they were unable to remove, and throwing into the rivei enormous quantities of stored refineries. Twenty estates were ravaged in Kharoff. The landlords are fleeing, abandoning everything. It is feared the fury of the mob will reach the towns. While some officials exhibit weakness, i others order the soldiers to flog the , peasants wnolesale. j The Czar has abandoned his intention of visiting Moscow, owing to the serious agitation there. Ministers are daily threatened with death. Secret agitators are urging the St. Petersburg factories to strike in May. An inquiry into the murder of M. Sipiaguine revealed a wide anti-Govern-ment conspiracy. Numerous arrests Have been made, including a Jewess (betrothed to M. Baschanett) and her father, who supplied the means for the assassination. M. Baschanett vainly tried to commit suicide when informed of their arrest. Russian labour agitators urge the peasants to rid the country of foreign devils, whether capitalists, engineers, or managers. Moscow workmen have n<ked M. Plehive to permit an organisation on the lines of English trades unions. PARIS, April 23. At Ruga's instigation, the Paris police searched the residences of 15 Russian students, and found correspondence relating to Sipiaguino'.s assassination. The students will probably bi extradited from France.

LONDON, April 23. Six bearers of documents signed by Kerok, the rebel leader, ordering the assassination of the Manehu officials, have been arrested at Canton. It has just been discovered that Russia is building a railway, leaving the Siberian line 70 miles- we=t of Khailar, to Kalgan, which is within 100 miles of Peking;. The line runs mostly through Mongolian territory. April 24. The C 'linese rebels surrounded Nanine-fu, and occupy the river banks. The navigation i-. interrupted. April 25. The Chinese Imperial troops defeated the rebels at Nanning-fu, wounding and, capturing the leader, Hunt: Yuna Heafc.