THE PRISONER OF YALTA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 254, 22 July 1919, Page 5

THE PRISONER OF YALTA

BOLSHEVISTS AND GRAND DUKE

NICHOLAS

A WEEK OF TERROR

("Times" Correspondent.)

Milan. Since his landing at Genoa the Grand Duke Nicholas has'been staying at an hotel. He keeps mostly to his apartment, silent and dignified, avoids companv, and declines interviews. The story of {lie hardships and sufferings he has endured goes back to March 28, 1917, when, by order of the Revolutionary Government, he left his headquarters and started in a special train for Yalta, in the Crimea, where he owned a villa. At Ivielf ho was joined by his brother Peter and other members of his family. He arrived at Yalta with only one trunk, and waited in vain for the rest of his luggage, which remained at his viceregal residence at Tiflis. The local Soviet had thought it better to requisition and burn it.

Having lost their lands and everything they possessed, the Grand Ducal family lived at Yalta a dull, miserable life, amid privation, suspicion, and threats. During the. first month the Grand Duko passed the time in reading and in writing his diary. Ho never stirred beyond his park. His brother Peter worked at painting and sculpture. In May the Soviet of Yalta declarad | them all prisoners. Tho Dowager Empress, who stayed at another villa, was conducted to the villa of the Grand . Duke, because the Soviet did not want to employ too many guards. Life then, became harder. Twenty-five soldiers were stationed constantly round the villa, nobody was allowed out or in, and no correspondence and no papers were permitted. Their diet was restricted to unpalatable vegetable soup;, with no meat, and bad bread. In April, 1918, the Grand Dukes and the Dowager Empress thought their last hour' had come. Tho local Soviet, having heard of the approach of the Germans to tho Crimea, and foreseeing the necessity for a hasty retreat, decided to get rid of the Grand Ducal family by wholesale execution. Oho morning a. motor-car with soldiers and machine-guns stopped at tho gates of the villa. Orders and counter-orders were given, followed by on excited discussion, but finally the car moved off. Tho rest of the day passed quietly. The prisoners were anxiously listening and waiting. Late in the evening servants approached the guards and learnt that soldiers who had arrived in a car had wanted to enter the villa to execute tho family, but that the 25 guards had refused them, admission. When the would-be executioners came tliey had protested, "Why kill him? Why anger people by an unpardonable crime? Let us not compromise ■the revolution. You shall not pass." On /the following morning the car appeared again, and again was turned back. For eight days the struggle between the enemies and defenders of fhe Grand Duke went on, until at last the Germans arrived. Then Bolshevist brutality was replaced by the deceitful kindness of the Germans. The general in command wished to win over by .peaceful methods the exleader of the Russian armies. He presented himself at the gales of the'villa, offering his protection. The Grand Duke sent word by a servant thnt the Germans could enter tlie villa only by force, and during the whole time the Germans remained at Yalta the Grand Duke never went out and never saw one of them. Tn October. 11)18, Ihe Germans also withdrew. The Allies arrived, and with I hem liberation.