THE RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11400, 20 November 1917, Page 5

THE RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR.

FIGHTING IN MOSCOW. DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS. (Received Monday, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. IS. The “Daily Chronicle’s ’ ’ Petrograd correspondent reports that the lighting at Moscow began on the PJth and lasted a week.

The Committee of Public Safety, consisting of the City Council and other organisations, controlled a force of 3000 pupils and officers of the training schools and a hastily organised body of students with Maxims and three field guns. Most of the, garrison troops, numbering 100,000, remained in the barracks and did not participate in the fighting. Some departed from the city and about 15,000 supported the Bolshevik’s Eod Guards, who were composed mainly of youths. The Bolsheviks, with fifteen field guns., kept up a continuous bombardment of the centre of the city, killing peaceful citizens in their homes. The Bolsheviks seized Kremlin and were expelled by the Public Safety troops. Tho Bolsheviks then recaptured it and were again expelled. The killed and wounded by Wednesday last numbered 3000, mostly civilians. The corj>ses lay for days in the doorways and stairs. The population were afraid to leave their homos and were unable to get provisions. The bombardment destroyed tho Cathedral of tho Assumption and set fire to tho Church of St. Basil. TJhis destruction is a national shame which, even Kapolcon avoided, and has, horrified both sides in the present struggle, and has resulted in negotiations for peace. It is now reported flint 20,000 Cossacks are advancing on Moscow.