THE ROMANOFFS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160736, 24 August 1920, Page 5

THE ROMANOFFS.

INHUMAN TREATMENT M REDS. GERMAN INFLUENCE BEHIND RASPUTIN. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received Aug, 24, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 21. A correspondent discussing the circumstances preceding the abdication of the Czar, traces the chain of Gorman influences behind Rasputin, whoso, propaganda and vulgar charlatanism developed a hateful legend, poisoning the minds of the people and disastrously linking the reputation of royalties therewith. Tha hideous slaughter of women and children before the Winter Palace on “Bloody Sunday” strengthened the popular hostility, though the real contrivers of the crime wore the revolutionary committee, aiming to promote hatred of the Czar. Kerensky afterwards admitted that the Czar’s hands were clean. The correspondent states that there is no truth in the popular belief that Rasputin held the Empress’s mind in political thraldom. Her alleged pro-Germanism was ludicrous. She really feared and detested Germany, and referred to the Kaiser as “that low comedian.” She, however, underrated the dangers of association with Rasputin. He adds: The Czar might once have saved the monarchy by disassociating himself from his wife’s lead, but he found this impossible, and always yielded to the real autocrat of All the Russians. The correspondent records an attempt to smuggle the Czar through a long stretch of hostile country from Tobolsk to Moscow, where with the assistance of flio Lndendoxif party had designs for the restoration of the monarchy. The Czar interpreted this move as an attempt to secure his signature to the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, and declared that he would sooner cut off his hand than sign. The Empress was also furiously angry, and paced the prison like a caged tigress. She insisted on accompanying the Czar, though her health was breaking down. The journey towards Moscow was made at top speed in tho hope of evading obstruction, but alert and vengeful Ural Soviets intercepted them and secured their reimprisonment in Ekaterinburg. The unhappy Romanoffs were now relying only on sustaining their powers, the prolonged cruelties and indignities to which they were subjected surpassing their worst experiences at Tobolsk. Ipatiov’s prison-house was surrounded by machincguns, enclosed in a-wooden screen and reaching to the roof top, almost shutting out the light, and was filled with brutal drunken guards. No privacy and no consideration of decency or modesty was permitted, everything being done to hurt and shock tha doomed prisoners, who were also semi-starved. Leering gaolers dogged their slightest movement. Tho patience and humility of ll«a Royalties gradually shamed, and quieted their tormentors. Open disaffection among the Red Guards followed, but, was soon detected, resulting in staff dismissals and tha of the old horrors until death ended their miseries.