CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 23, 22 March 1918, Page 5

CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA.

THE MOSCOW CONFERENCE

LONDON, March 19,

The “Daily Chronicle's” Moscow correspondent says the voting at the Congress was a mere formality. The Bolshcviki have cultivated the art of packing caucuses to an unsurpassed degree. Hundreds of delegates will shudder at the readiness with which they consented to Russian partition. Peace with Germany by no means implies peace at home. Wholesale murder is a normal feature of Russian life. Five hundred bourgeoisie were murdered in a single night at Glukov. Sailors at Sebastopol decided to execute a general massacre in two streets inhabited by well-to-do people. Their bodies were thrown into the sea. The widow of a murdered man asked a diver to bring up her husband. After a few minutes’ immersion tho diver was drawn up on the verge of insanity. He said the bodies of the murdered people had been thrown into the sea with stones tied to thcr feet. He found the throng standing upright, swaying to and fro. A German commission of control is expected in two or three days, and its presence must produce a marked change in the eternal situation.

All intelligent Russians realise that Allied assistance to Russia at the present stage of the war is imperative. All patriots would heartily support intervention clearly representing a disinterested combined movement of all Governments for Russia's liberation, and not implying domination or permanent occupation of a country having traditionally unique power of resilience. Japanese official circles in London confirm the reports of fighting at Blagf/vcstchcnsk on the Manchurian front since 6th March.

It is pointed out that nearly a hundred thousand German prisoners in Eastern Siberia arc seeking to secure arms. If successful they will precipitate a crisis.