LEAVING PETROGRAD

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1918, Page 2

LEAVING PETROGRAD

A GENERAL CLEAR OUT. Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, March 12. The aily Chronicled’’ Petrograd correspondent states the Ministries have nearly all gone to Moscow. The population is flocking from the capital. Queues of thousands are waiting for permits to leave. Over-crowded trains are departing all day long. Others arc using sledges and many are trudging through the snow. Everything is quiet, and the city is becoming a desert. Trams are running with difficulty owing to coal shortage. Factories are closing and cabs are disappearing, most'of the owners'having sold their horses for meat. Underfed horses are dying in the streets daily. The theatres are mostly empty. Motor lorries were commandeered for the evacuation. There is no panic and no excitement A widespread gloom has taken their place. Meanwhile ' Petrograd knows little of the outside world.' Even Russian news is hard to get.

A TRAGIC ACCOUNT. RUSSTAS ABANDONED FLEET. < (Received, This Davat 8.50. a.m.) t PETROGEA]}, Afarch 12. The Soviet has received a tragic and significant description of the abandoned Fleet at Helsingfors. The crews melt. ?d away till only one watch on each ship was left. . j The Dreadnoughts ate going to Kronstadt, and the others are left to the care of Finland, which is practically in German hands. The Aurora and Diana' were dismantled. and the sailors looted the moveables. I The Bolsheviks declined to adopt the title of “The Russian Communist Party,” and to extend the policy on an international basis. i