RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8161, 19 June 1906, Page 5

RUSSIA.

THE RIELOSrOK RIOTS. Reoeived June 18, 8.33 am. ST. PETERSBURG, June 17. Retaliatory disorders have commenced at Bielostok. Bands of Jews hidden in houses ■and on the roofs are firing revolvers and rifles at passers-by in the streets. THE MASSACRES INTENDED TO PUNISH THE JEWS. Received June 18, 9.26 p.m. ST. PETERSBURG, June 18. The newspaper Novoe Vremya admits that the massaores at Bielostok were intended to pnnish the Jens tor the murder of a popular police •officer. The Jews declare that they are innocent of the murder. A fortnight ago the Jews appealed to the Governor of Grodno to take precautions, but he replied that nothing would happen. Though there are five infantry regiments besides dragoons and many police in Bielostok the authorities did not intervene until two days bad eiapsed, allowing almost con tinuous butchery. Every shop and house in the «even principal streets have been wrecked by the mob. Six thousand Jews have fled to the forests.

Order is now reported to have •been restored.

MASSACRES ARRANGED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES. TIOIIMS ESTIMATED AT FROM 700 to 2,000. .JEWS IN MAN? TOWNS PANIC STRICKEN. AN APPEAL FOR FOREIGN INTERVENTION. Reoeived Jane 18, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, Jane 18. The anoensored reports of special •correspondents, representing the Polish papers published in Austria, atate that the massacres at Bielostok were arranged by the local an thorites. The viotims are variously estimated at from 700 to 2,000. The Jews in many other towns are panio stricken, believing that the Bielostok massaores are tbe beginning of an organised series of massaores. Four Jewish members of the Duma have made an appeal for •foreign intervention in order to =avert a terrible catastrophe. IN THE EVENT OF AN UPRISING. Received June 18 9.30 a.ii. ST. PETERSBURG, June 17. It iB reported that the Grand Duke Vladimir's approaohing visit to Berlin is connected with negotiations with Germany and AustriaHungary for joint action ia the •event of an uprising in the western .provinces.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. Reoeived Jane 18, 5.40 p.m. LONDON, June 18. The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent reports that the politioal situation is nearly desperate. The authorities are powerless, the troops are mutinous, there is anarchy everywhere, and the Duma is on the point of being extinguished. , . Brokers prediot oertam financial ■disaster unless the Government yield to the Duma. COSSACKS REFUSE TO FIRE ON STRIKERS. Received Jane 18, 9.40 p.m. LONDON, June 18. The Cossaoks at Odessa refused to fire on a meeting of strikers who cheered and hoisted the red flag, whioh the Cossacks, however, insisted should be removed.