RUSSIAN REVOLT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1921, Page 1

RUSSIAN REVOLT

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

KRONSTADT REVOLTERB BEATEN. HELSINGFORS, March 18. Some of the batteries in Kronstadt are still in action. They are trying to cover the retreat of the revolters, and to save the fugitives from the Chinese. The defenders blew up the battleships Sebastopol and Petropavlovsk before they left harbour. Five thousand rebel refugees have already arrived in Finland. Fifteen thousand more of them are expected. Alnny have collapsed on the journey. Finnish troops are assisting in rescue work. LONDON, March 18. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Times” confirms the fall of Kronstadt. He states Trotsky personally led 60,000 Red troops, who combined in a final attack on Kronstadt. They captured the outer forts, and turned the guns against the garrison, over the heads of the attacking troops. Thousands of spectators lined the Finnish shore and watched the progress of the Red advance. A desperate resistance was made. There was tremendous cannonading. Dawn saw the Reds, wearing white overcoats, vainly, hut repeatedly, attempting to storm the forts which held out. When the first deserters crossed into Finland they stated the garrison was exhausted. They had served the ■ guns for three days, without being relieved. REBEL LEADER CLEARS OUT. LONDON, March 19. A later message states that all the rebel leaders, with 8000 followers, have reached the Fnnish coast. Tt is announced that the capitulation of the remainder of the garrison lias taken place. , Fifteen thousand are remaining >*“- hind.' . Th,, leader of the insurrection. Koslmvsky. is among the refugees, who have gone to Finland. EX-TSARISTS DIRECTED REVOLT. LONDON, ALmh 19. A Moscow Soviet wireless re-asserts, with the deaths, that ex-Tsarist White Guard officers, disguised as sailors and as Red troops, directed the Kronsta-.i rising. FINAL CONQUEST OF KRONSTADT. LONDON, Alarcli 19. Latest Helsingfors telegrams report the final conquest of Kronstadt by the Soviets. This occurred at two o’clock on Fridav al't-r the distribution ot the last rations and munitions. Though nearing exhaustion the sailors fought on until their ammunition gave out. Then they cleared to Finland. The rebel leader, Koslowski, who escaped to Finland confirms the destruction by the rebels . of the fortresses’ guns and the blowing up of the warships Retropavovsk and Sebastopol, prior to Kronstadt s fall. the refugees. LONDON, March 19. The American Red Cross lias taken over charge of 12.500 Kronstadt refugees in Finland. It is housing them in a former German concentration camp. The majority of the refugees, despite Kronstadt’s fall, predict the overthrow of the Bolsheviks in the spring, the sailors declaring their motto to be s victory to death. GERMANY AND RUSSIA. BERLIN, Alarcli 18. A semi-official communique announces the conclusion of a treaty between Germany and Russia. • -t