RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1919, Page 6

RUSSIA.

..RED GUARDS EXCESSES... | \ DEFENCE OF IJBAIJ. . *

Copenhagen. Jiifl. 28-

Finnish volunteem captured Narva. The Red Guards plundered the city before it was taken- They murdered tlu bourgeoiaie who could not escape, and also killed tiie entire population of neighbouring villages owing to their inability to pay the heavy taxes imposed.

The Bolsheviks are now advancing or, Libau, which the British squadron has decided to defend.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Accn.

ALLIED EVACUATION-OF SHENKURSK.

London, Jan. 27. A British North 'Russia official message states that the Bolsheviks continued the pressure on the Shenkursk front in considerable force and attached on January 2-2 and 23. After three days' bombardment oor forces, consisting principally of Americans and Russians, withdrew to Shenkuruk defences to avoid being outflanked by superior' numbers. Later thev evacuated the« town and defences, taking tip a shorter line to the northward*—Aits.'JiZ«-CSMO. : Assn.-acd Renter,

ACTIVITY ON ARGBANGELLondon, Jan. 27. The Morning Post's Archangel correspondent sava the Gororaor-Senetat "Jia» rightly forbidden the publication of the text of President Wilson's proposal for a conference with the 'Bolsheviks, which was adopted by tho Paris Conference, owing to fear of the effects on the Russian population. Russian military elements oppose the proposal, describing it as the abandonment of Russia to the Bolsheviks by President Wilson. They threaten to rejoin the Siberian army if the Allies leave Archangel. The position of the Bolsheviks is strengthened by the conference invitation, which encourages them, to believe that the Alii?-! are yielding. Strong Bolshevik attacks occurred 275 miles south-eastward of Archangel on a front mainly held by Americans. Eighteen hundred sheila have fallen on our lines. The result is not yet known —Aus-N.Z Cable Assn.

IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP FIGHTING. London, Jan. 28. M. Tehitcherin, the Russian Peoples* Commissioner, wirelessed the newspaper Le Populaire begging for exact information with reference to the improbable story of an intention to get the Powers to confer with the Russian Government. He says that meeting on a solitary land made true publicity impossible, but a territorial arrangement might be brought about if a conference with tho Russian Government were conducted by arbitration brought about through a third Powsr. It is impossible to stop fighting.—Aiw.-M'.Z Cable Assn.

TOLSTOI'S STORY. . OF ROMANOFF'S ENDLondon. Jan. 28Count Tolstoi, giving further details of the Czar's death, states that the Czar wa,: living at Ekatej'inburg in the house of an engineer named Jgr.atielT. Xt was rumored that the Czecho-Slovass were coming to set the Romanoff's free, whereupon the Regulars' Head Council decided to execute, the Czar and hii family. The men didn't wait for written authority. They manifested hat barous iov stamping end cheering. They rushed the enginecr'a house. The Czat and Czarina had gone to bed Hearing the/noise thev hastily donned clothe? and the Grand Ducheis came in. Ths Czar helped his son into his uniform, then the family knelt m prf.ver. The hoy was overcome with emotioe. The Czar /'as forced to .nterrupt tho praver and go to his son's assistAr.ee- Tha (•.'znrina wa-; on he: - knees whe-n the door was burst open- The leads/ with a fiendish grin said: —"I ,iee V l a have a!' ready prepared yourself" Tlw Czar replied' ''l am ready.'' Th* leade:- ietorted: '"We are al;-o ,«;oing to. wipe out your wife and family." Turning to the men he said- "Out wii.li t-hem and no pn rdon."' The Red v!-,tarda jostled the Royal exiles throush the door, the Czav bearing his fainting 30». His wife followed, praying softly, and then came the Grand Dnehess, and the Baroness Bu.therden all in tears Thus they reached a cellar m the neighbourhood of the house

On the way they met a. watch of friends going to execution, including Dr. Bogkin and Prince DolguruVy. The Czar greeted them with: "And vou al,;o." The Red Gnardg, afraid that the bullet-' 1 , might rebound in sv.ch r. confined space, shot t'he victims point-blank with revolvers. The Czar was murdered iiist —Aui.-NZ. Cable Assn.

FRENCH VIEW OF INVITATION TO BOLSHEVIKS. London, Jan. 11 The Morniijg Post's special Paris correspondent states that practically the whole of France regards tiie invitation to the P>olsheviks as a diplomatic triumph for Lerin. who will demand the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Allies, particularly with London, and thus enable Litvinofi to resume hi* activities .i>. South IWalea and on the Clyde.

BOLSHEVIKS DRIVEN OFF Received Jan. 29, 5.5 p.m. New York, Jan. 28. The Anglo-Americans drove off the Bolsheviks in a battle on the Tulgas—■ Dwina River front.— Aus. and N.Z, Cable Assoc.