RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16434, 30 January 1919, Page 7

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS

ALLIES RTJTIRE IN THE NORTH

(By C::ble.—Pross Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N./. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 27. Tho Archangel correspondent of tho "Morning Post" reports Bolshevist attacks occurred 275 miles south-eastward of Archangel on the front luninlv held by the Americans. Fully 1800 shells have fallen on our lines. The result as yet is unknown. A British North Russia official message states that the Bolshevists continued their pressure on the Shenkursk front in considerable forcos, and attacked on January 22nd and 23rd, after three days' bombardment. Our forces, consisting principally of Americans and Russians, withdrew to the Shcnkursk defences, to avoid being outflanked bv superior numbers, and later evacuated the town and its defences, taking up a shorter line to the northward. SUCCESS CLAIMED. NEW YORK, January 2S. Tho British and Americans drove off the Bolshevists on the Tulgas-Dwina River front. FINNS TAKE NARVA. COPENHAGEN. January 26. Finnish volunteers have captured Narva. Tho Rod Guards plundered tho city before it was taken. They murdered all the bourgeoisie who could not escape, and also killed tho entire population of tho neighbouring villages owing to their inability to pay the heavy taxes imposed. The Bolshevists are now advancing on Libau, which a British squadron has decided to defend. P ATRIAR CH' S~DENUNCI ATI OX. COPENHAGEN, January 26. The Patriarch of All Russia, in a scathing denunciation of the Bolshevists, based on tho text: "They who live by the sword shall perish by the sword," declared that the Bolshevists had forcpd the country into unheardof fratricidal strife. All lived in terror of inquisition, plunder, rapine, imprisonment, and death. Hundreds of defenceless innocents were mado to rot for months in dungeons, or die on the pcaffold without trial. Bishops, priests, and nuns were slaughtered on vague charges of counter-revolutionary actions. The Bolshevists taught the ignorant masses open, bare-faced robbery. Famine menaces towns and villages. ROYAL FAMILY"BUTCHERED. LONDON, January 26. Count Tolstoy, giving further details of tho Czar's death, states that the Czar was living at Ekaterinburg in tho house of an engineer named Ignatiev. it. was rumoured that the Czechoslovaks were coming to set the Romanoffs freo, whereupon tho Red Guards held a council and dccided to execute the Czar and his fnmily. The j men did not wait for the written authority, and manifested barbarous joy. stamping and cheering. They rushed tho engineer's house. The Czar and Czarina had gone to bed, but. bearing the noise, they hastily donned their ciothos. Tho Grand Duchesses came in, and the Czar helped his son into his uniform. Then the family knelt in prayer. They boy was overcomo with emotion, and the Czar was forced to interrupt the prayer and go to his son's assistance. The Czarina was on her knees when the door was "burst open. The leader, with a fiendish grin, said, "I see that you have already prepared yourself." The Czar replied, "I am ready." Tho leader retorted: "We are also going to wipe out your wife and family." Turning to the men, he said, "Oqt with them, and no pardon!" The Red Guards jostled the royal exiles through the door, the Cznr hearing his fainting son. His wife followed. .praying softly. Then came the Grand Duchesses and the Baronness Bnxherdcn. All were in tears._ Thus they rbnehod the. cellar of a neighbouring house. On the way they met a batch of friends going to execution, including Dr. Bogkin and Prince Dolgouriki. Tho Czar greeted them with, "And you also." Tho Red Guards' were afraid that tho bullets would, rebound in such a confined space, and shot the victims point-' blank with revolvers. The Cznr was murdered last. AID FOR SIBERIAN ARMY. (Received January 29th, 8.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 27. Despatches from Omsk state that a small Anglo-French force will be sent to aid General DutofF, who is holding Oldenburg against superior Bolshevist' forces. Other messages report that tJic Bolshevists have captured Ufa.