THE ROMANOFFS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1920, Page 4

THE ROMANOFFS.

A GRUESOME STORY

(.The Times;. LONDON, Aug. 21. The correspondent discussing the circumstances preceding the abdication of tho Czar, traces the chain of German influences behind Rasputin whose propaganda of vulgar charlatanism developed the hateful legend of poisoning into the minds of the people, disastrously linking the reputation of the royalties therewith. The hideous slaughter ol women and children before the Winter Palace on tho bloody Sunday, strengthened the popular hostility, though the real contrivers of crime were the revolutionary committee, aiming to promote hatred of the CV’.ar. Kerensky afterwards admitted that tho Czar’s hands were clean and states there was no truth in the popular belief that Rasputin held the Empress’ mind in political thraldom. Her alleged pre-German-ism was ludicrous. She really feared and detested Germany, and referred to the Kaiser as that low comedian. She, however, under-rated the dangers of her association with Rasputin, and the Czar might once have saved the monarchy hy disassociating himself from" his wife’s lead, hut lie found this impossible, and always yielded to the real autocrat of all the Russians.

The correspondent records the attempt to smuggle the Czar through a long stretch of hostile country from Tobolsk to Moscow where Mirbach, with the assistance of Ludcndorff’s party, had designs for the restoration of tho Monarchy. The Czar interpreted this move- Us an attempt to secure liis signature to the Brest Litovsk Treaty, and declared he would sooner cut off his hand than sign. The Empress also furiously angry, paced her prison like a caged tigress. She insisted on accompanying the Czar, though her health was breaking down. The journey towards Moscow was made at top speed, in t-l/e hope of evading obstruction, but the alert vengeful Ural Soviets intercepted them and secured their reimprisonment in Ekaterinburg. The unhappy Romanoffs, now relying only on the sustaining powers of deep family affection, pity and patience, became the victims of prolonged cruelties and indignaties surpassing the worst experience at Tobolsk. Tpatiov’s prison house was surrounded hy machine guns, enclosed in a wooden screen reaching to the roof top, almost shutting out the lights. It was filled with brutal, drunken guards. There was no privacy, and no consideration of decency or modesty permitted. Everything was done to hurt and shock the doomed prisoners, who were also semi-starved. Leering gaolers dogged the slightest movement. The patience and humility of the Royalties gradually shamed them and hhey quitted tormenting. Open disaffection among the Red Guards followed, but it was soon detected, resulting in staff dismissals and the reinforcement of the old horrors until death ended their miseries.