RUSSIA.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14642, 21 February 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

FiCHTJNC IN THE UKRAINE.

GHASTLY SLAUGHTER AT KIEFF.

OVER 2000 KILLED

REPORTED DEFEAT OF ALEXIEFF,

("The Times.")

London, Feb; 19.

"The Times' " Petrograd correspondent says that extraordinary stories are coming from Kieff, describing the recent fighting between the Bolsheviki, Ukrainian and Cossack forces. Over 2000 were killed and 9000 wounded.

A lurid picture includes street battles, bombardment from both banks of the Dnieper, an artillery attack on Petchorsky Monastery, and Bolsheviki aeroplanes bombing indiscriminately. Simultaneously wholesale looting went on in the shops and residences by armed hooligans and soldiers.

The Jewish quarter particularly suffered.

The Bolsheviki twice captured Kieff. The second time ttey were .reinforced by six infantry regiments, and two divisions of artillery and cavalry from the south-west front.

The artillery raged over the walls of the Petchorsky Monastery, in which Ukrainians, Cossacks and Cadets" re sisted for three days. Then tie Bolsheviki ontered and made the garrison prisoners.

. The Ukrainians fought in tho' centre of the town until their ammunition was exhausted and they were suffering severely. They tr. en surrendered.

Two days later detachments of Ukrainians and Cossacks re-formed and hid, and re-opened a violent fire in various parts of the town.

During the two days of terror 400 residents were killed.

The Bolsheviki report states that the massacre reached its climax by a raur<ierous Cossack bombardment on the •workers' quarters. Ultimately tie Ukrainians and Cossacks were driven out. They took refuge in the Kievopetcherar Monastery, in the suburbs, using artillery, but were surrounded on all sides.

The Bolsheviki heavily defeated Gevh eral Alexieff fear Veronees. Alexieff retreated to Novocherkask.

The Cossacks are forcing mirers at Taganrog to snpply coal exclusively to the towns Jn ire Don region, and railvaymen refining to handle coal ar« being shot.