STALIN’S FEAR FOR LIFE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1929, Page 13

STALIN’S FEAR FOR LIFE

SHUT UP IN FORTRESS.

AFRAID TO WALK STREETS.

Latest newspapers from Moscow show

that Stalin, the Red Dictator, has shut himself up in the, Kremlin, says the Daily Mail. He was afraid to leave the fortress even to address meetings of his “constituents” in the Moscow election, but was elected in his absence. In October last Stalin was reported to be in a similar state of dread. He was then said to be afraid to walk in the streets and to address public meetings. This fear is produced by the growing strength of the anti-Stalin movement, which is especially threatening in the “conquered provinces,” such as the Caucasus, Siberia and Central Asia. Reports from these parts are published in the Pravda of March 1.

In the Caucasus, “the period is essentially critical owing to the acuteness of the class war.” The opponents of Stalin have become “very active.” In Siberia the moderates, who have declared a boycott and refuse to work “because they are in principle against the present policy,” have been arrested and are to be “driven froiq the Soviet Union.”

Stalinites at Samarkand, Central Asia, have decided to “organise and prepare for the forthcoming battle with the opponents of the Right and with all moderates.” Moscow has been informed that th whole province is infected with opposition, and that the leaders of the anti-Stalin movement have organised a strong force. Assistance is being asked for, and special “measures” have been submitted for approval, Kharkoff, in the Ukraine, has resolved to ask Moscow for assistance, as “the Rights have now entered upon *ery active period.” The situation is described as “critical and dangerous.”

following the various reports of opposition activities on the map, it is evident that Moscow is being gradually surrounded.