“MUST PAY WITH THEIR HEADS”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20639, 30 January 1937, Page 11

“MUST PAY WITH THEIR HEADS”

FATE OF SOVIET PLOTTERS MASS TRIAL NEARING END FURTHER SENSATIONAL ARRESTS United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright MOSCOW, January 28. Applause greeted the public prosecutor, M. Vishinsky, when, at the conclusion of a five-hours’ address, he demanded that all seventeen men who are accused of plotting against the Soviet should be shot. The prisoners heard the demand without emotion.

Vishinsky, who described Trotsky’s followers as a gang of highwaymen, concentrated his attack on Piatakov, Sokolnikov, and Radek, whom he described as a "gang of bandits, incendiaries, spies and forgers.” He declared that the entire history of the Trotskyist political activity consisted of foul deeds against the working class. Vishinsky taunted Radek, as he quoted from a letter written by Radek during the Kamenev and Zinoviev trial. "Radek, you exclaimed that people who betrayed their country must pay with their heads. Do you remember that, Radek? You are right. The Soviet law knows how to deal with traitors like you.” It is officially announced that M. Trotsky’s son is accused of industrial wrecking, which is a capital offence, but officials are still unwilling to confirm his arrest. THIRD TRIAL FORECASTED NOTABLE BOLSHEVIKS ARRESTED United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph —Copvrtght (Received January 29, 11 p.m.) LONDON, January 29 The Warsaw correspondent of “The Daily Mall” says that reports from Moscow indicate that a third Soviet trial is foreshadowed in April, with M. Bukharin (ex-editor of "Izvestia”), General Putna (ex-military attache in London), tyl. Rakovsky (ex-ambassador in London and Paris) and M. Rykov (ex-Premier), as the accused. The arrest of Marshal Tukachevsky, the "brains” of the Soviet Army, is also expected. “THOSE WHO DISAPPEAR”

DISTURBING FEATURE OF SOVIET JUSTICE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrlgbt (Received January 30, 1.8 a.m.) PARIS, January 29 M. Kerensky, commenting on the Moscow trial, the like of which is usually arranged on the eve of economic difficulty, says: “Stalin is detested by the old Bolsheviks. He is simply getting rid of dangerous competitors. Those who confess are tried. Others, far more numerous, just disappear.”