SOVIET RUSSIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1923, Page 3

SOVIET RUSSIA.

- UNDER SOVIET RULE. | "The Times” Se it vice.] (Received this day at 10.11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 24. According to the latest official Soviet census, there are mote than 1! million waifs and strays in Ukraine, only tourteeii per cent of whom receive attention from relief organisations, tlm remainder being left to their own device-. Nearly thit'tv thousand crimes were committed bv waifs under thirteen years ol age, registered in Ukraine. During the lasi six months, 111,0(1) wails and strays were registered in Odessa and Niknl aiev. A majority of the vagabonds gain a livelihood by begging and thieving. They also commit graver crimes such as murdering and plundering. Epidemics are raging among cliildion in the bigger Ukraine towns. The police frequently discover the bodies of persons who have died of starvation, or disease.

A BOLSHEVIK HORROR. (Received this day al 10.-11 a.m.) LONDON. Aug. 28. Tile “Morning Post’s’’ Helsingfors correspondent says the Pravada publishes a horrifying account of the trial of a group of Bolshevik officials at ParIngrad who were convicted of a long series of abominable ( rimes against the population under their charge, including murders and executions without trial, and robberies. In one case Nikitelik (President of the Soviet Executive Committee of SlnvianUa) and three militiamen abducted a a Imol mistress and then carried her llirough a village naked, alter being tarred. When Nikitenk beard the woman intended to denounce the outrages lie bad the school mistress arrested and strangled. The defence was that the existence ol civil war left the olficinjs no time to study law books, but the Court refused til accept the plea. Nikilenko and five others were sentenced to (hath and twenty militiamen to imprisonment.