GUNFIRE HEARD

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1930, Page 7

GUNFIRE HEARD

RUSSIAN REVOLT RUMOUR .STORIES STILL CONFLICT 'WHOLE REGIME MAY TOPPLE’ TALK OF STALIN’S FLIGHT DISINTEGRATION OF O.G.P.U. By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Rec. 8.10 p.m. London, Nov. 24. News from Russia continues to be of a conflicting character. The Morning Post's Paris correspondent despatches what he claims to be an authentic announcement of serious revolts recently at Kazan, Borispol and Kharkov. ‘’Should the movement develop as it is likely to do next spring .after the melting of the snow," the correspondent adds, “it may bring the whole regime toppling. In the event of Stalin losing Moscow he will retire to Tajekistau, 'where millions of pounds have been expended on roads and erection of a modern citadel and where safe refuge and a large reserve of gold await him. Hia immediate flight from Moscow is not expected but the situation is distinctly menacing. “Rumour that Stalin has been assassinated is baseless but the OG.P.U. (secret police) is beginning to disintegrate. This is the most significant happening in. Russia for years, as it means the basis of the whole Bolshevik tyranny is being sapped. “Advices from Riga confirm that dwellers on the frontier heard gunfire in the Ostroff-Pskoff district. Travellers report that an armoured train is standing at Pskoff, canvas-covered in order to conceal it from the people.” A Berlin message states that many wild rumours continue to reach the Berlin newspapers, which publish a story of a Russian sea captain to the effect that Rykoff has revealed to Stalin a conspiracy by which the officers of the corps wished Rykoff to take the lead and overthrow the dictator. In consequence hundreds of officers have been arrested.

Reports from other sources indicate that Red Army troops have been withdrawn from Moscow, which is in the sole charge of O.G.P.U. troops. A Russian, broadcast has been picked up by several centres wherein General Voroshiloff, War Commissary, speaking at Moscow, appealed to the people to remain quiet and loyal to the Government. He promised more extensive food rations to civilians and new privileges to soldiers of the Red Army. This is the first admission by the official Moscow wireless of any trouble in Russia.