IN RED RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 5

IN RED RUSSIA

A TERRIBLE STORY

DESPERATE PLIGHT OF ALLIED RESIDENTS

London, September 25. A . dispatch dated August 14 has j readied London from "Tho Times" ' correspondent (Mr. Dobson), who has ' not been heard of for some months and whose present whereabouts and fate is unknown. The belated story vividly depicts tho liorror and completeness of Russia's anarchy and tho -terrible plight of the British, Americans, and French. But it is feared that tho situation hag beoouio greatly worse since, as Mr. Dobson states: "During August the Bolshoviki vrero doing everything possible to work up the fury of tho mob apinst the Allied civilians, whose condition is altogether deplorable. The British are singled out for the worst treatment. They are disqualified, outlawed, and arrested, and their property and bank balances have been confiscated, reducing tliem to absolute penury. Their homes and belongings are searched daily. Imprisonment and worse hangs over our heads, like tho blade of Damocles. Fanatical Hatred of Britain. • "Tlio Bolshoviks' fanatical hatred of the British is due to the belief that British polioy controls the whole war. The official Bolshevik newspapers toem with a (Mounts of general uprisings in India, rebellions in Ireland, strikes in England. and the collapse of the Empire. These papers'accuse the English troops in Russian territory of slaughtering Russians, and looting, ravishing, and robbing. Every wall and housefront in Petrograd is plastered with gigantic mobilisation proclamations calling on tjio workmen to enlist to save the Re-' public from British and Freribh rapacity. Russia is practically cut off from the outer world. Only the Murman line is working', ; but the telegraph officials are instructed' to refuse Britisl; official and private wires. Any civilians who attempt to escape by the Murmansk and Archangel railways are shot cr arrested. The British Consuls and staffs in Petrograd Moscow are in equally perilous condition, and have been warned to be prepared for every emergency. Two hundred British subjeets were arrested in Moscow, but wore subsequently released. Cholera and Starvation. "Tho situation in Petrograd is terrible. Anarchy, famine, - pestilence, murder, and robbery have become the common terrors of everyday life. Men and women beg and drop dead in the streets from cholera and 'starvation.' Tho deaths from cholera have reached 900 a day. Thore is insufficient wood for coffins, and corpses, •carted to thp cemeteries wrapped in newspapers, laid miburied lor days, till the stench was so frightful that tho gravediggers refused to go near them. Thereupon the Bolsheviki issued orders for tho hated Bourgeoise class to dig the graves, and the Red Guards promiscuously oommaudoorcd groups in the streets, marched them to the cemeteries surrounded by men with fixed bayonets, and compelled them to dig graves and inter the putrefying and naked corpses. Many doctors, nurses, and sisters succumbed to cholera as medicaments were unobtainable. The Lazarettos and hospital wards are in a state of indescribable filth and disorder. The outbreak started through tho consumption of lialfrotten fisli.

•sTha food situation is increasingly alarming, but the Bolsheviki persuadod their dupes that the .increasing shortage was due to the advance of the British, FrciWi, and Czech troops. Do l mestic animals aro clisappearing. Dogs die of hunger, in the streots, biting tho dust and gnawing the kerbstones. Dead horses found in the streets are chopped up and used for human food. Thorn is much sporadic and internecine fighting and rioting in the country districts. Becently trucks of. dead soldiers killed by peasants wero sent to Fetrograd by -train." In a brief postscript dated August 20j Mr. Dobson says: "All the British feel great anxiety for their eventual fate."—"Tho Times."

TEN THOUSAND KILLED IN ONE DAY INDISCRIMINATE SLAUGHTER OF OFFICERS. (Rec. September 25, 8.80 p.m.) Copenhagen, Soptember 25. Advices from Potrograa state that it is estimated that tho Bolsheviki killed a total of ten thousand ' people in Potrograd in one day. They ordered the execution of seventy-two officers, without, specifying tho names. A number of British and French officers liavo taken rofuge in the American Consulate, under Norway's protection. The Bolsheviki posted guards round tho building and demanded the surrender of the officors, but did not enter the Consulate.—-Routor. AMERICAN CONSULAR OFFICER. SAFE. Washington, September 25. The Stato Department has received advice from Holsingfors that Mr. Moore (American Consular Service) has'arrived safely from Moscow. Tho advices do not mention the French and British Consular officers, who were detained at Moscow by the Bolsheviki.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. BOLSHEVIK ENVOY LEAVES (Rec. September 2G, 7.25 p.m.) London, September 25. , M. Lit,vinoff, tho Bolshevik envoy, is leaving London for Russia to-night. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.