THE ROT SETS IN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 283, 26 August 1919, Page 5

THE ROT SETS IN

FIRST SIGNS OF BOLSHEVIK COLLAPSE

SURRENDERS WITHOUT FIGHTING

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Geneva, August 54. A traveller from Moscow reports hav. ing interviewed Lenin, who wu3 convinced of tho impossibility of carrying out the Bolshevik ideals, and was consulting Russian business men with a view to ending the desperate situation of tho country. Lenin told him he was willing to denationalise the. industries, convoke a National Assembly, and personally retire. It is reported that Lenin is negotiating with the anti-Bolshevili parties for the formation of a Coalition Government. Trotsky is still confident of a world wide Soviet triumph, and is devising new propaganda plans for Western Europe—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RED RESISTANCE BREAKING DOWN Helsingfors, August 24. General Blakovitch predicts that Pctrograd will be captured before October. He believes that half the lied Army is awaiting a favourable opportunity to surrender. General Blakovitch's advance awaits a former supply of war material firom the Entente Powers.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ANOTHER INSTANCE OF BROKEN MORAL. Copenhagen, August 24. The Esthonian Press Agency announces that a regiment of Red troops ill the Pedsevy district surrendered without fighting, and also that a former Com-mander-in-Chief of the Red Army in Livonia 'has surrendered to the Lettish Government,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH FORCES~ARRIVIRG AT MURMANSK

Christiania, August 24.' The "Tidenstegn's" correspondent on tho Coast states that largo British transports, laden with troops and •ammunition, are arriving daily. Tho arrivals outnumber the troops leaving .for home.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE UKRAiNM. ADVANCE London August 23., Tho Ukrainians captured Odossa after heavy fighting north of the city. Bolshevik naval detachments which were dispatched in haeto to oppose the Ukrainians deserted to tho Ukrainians. Tho Bolshevik amy on the right bank of the Dnieper is now in panic-stricken flight before Petlura's troops.—Reuter. PEASANT RISINGS HELP PETLURA. London, August 24. Peasant risings against Soviet power facilitated the rapid advuuco of Petlura's and the Western Ukrainian combined armies. The whole line is sweeping on irresistibly, and there is great rejoicing in the liberated areas.—Aus.-N.Z; Cable Assn. BOLSHEVIK COMMUNIQUE. London, August 24. A Bolshovik communique admits extensive retreats, involving the abando, nient of Minsk and Kieff, and somo <. tho provinces westward of the Dnieper, including Podolia and Volhynia. The communique claims that the Bolslioviki have recaptured Kamishin, where they recently lost 11,000 mem The recapture of tho place would be a serious blow to Denikin's right ilank.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE "TORTUREHOUSE" OF KHARKOFF FRIGHTFUL RELIC OF RED . . R-EGIME. - Paris, August 22. A correspondent in South Russia gives an account by an eye-witness of scenes in Kharkoff, following upon its recapture from the Bolsheviki. Tens of thousands of people crowded in the vicinity of a five-story "torture house," the various rooms of winch ware found literally crowded with corpses and bloodstained clothing. Tlio walls were spattered with blood, and all the victims hud been tortured. A pit Oft. deep, closc to tho house, contained forty bodies. Strips of skin hod been torn off some of tho bodies; others had nails driven into, their heads and rite. In anothoi' pit s were fifteen bodies, including one of a woman, all bearing terriblo indications of torture. One man and a woman had. been buried alive after their mouths had been filled with earth and their tongues jammed between thoir teeth. There wore terrible scenes of grief as those iu tho crowd recognised relatives among . tho victims.—Reuter. odtbagejTArhenia London, August 22. Advices liave been received that when tho Bolsheviki occupied Armavir, in Armenia, they hauled down the flag of tho Persian Consulate and shot down tho Consul, though he was wearing his official liniform, and mutilated the body. They looted the buildings, and stole a large quantity of valuables. Six hundred Persians and Mohammedans and twenty-one Christians, who had taken ehoUor in the Consulate, wero 6hot en rnasso with machine-guns—Reuter.