RED SAVAGERY INTENSIFIED.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1925, Page 1

RED SAVAGERY INTENSIFIED.

SOVIET GLOATING OYER CRUELTY

LONDON, September 2G. For some months past there lias been a recrudescence of brutality and terrorism by tbo Soviet disciplinary authorities in Russia, believed to be due to the expression of resentment by the civil population against savagery of the administration of the local commissars. Six weeks ago the Cheka (the despotic counter-revolutionary organisation) of Petrograd, who rule the cuy at the point of the bayonet, ordered 3S executions in the yard of tho police office in tho Gorokhovaya-street, and lias since, as an act of discipline, ordered the deportation of the wives of 200 citizens to concentration camps at Archangel and in Siberia.

Tho policy of renewed terrorism by the Soviet administrators is being rellected in the official publications of the Russian Government, in which accounts of recent outrages are being given with the object of warning the people of the terrible power of their rulers. TO COAV THE PUBLIC.

For the purpose of cowing the public the columns of the Soviet magazine, “ Red Novelties,” have been specially selected. This publication, the title of which, literally translated, is “ Our New Regime Under the Soviets,” is produced in Aloscow at the Government printing office. In consequence it is allowed to state that it reflects only realities, and it has to pass through the sieve of official censorship. The current number of the magazine to which the factory workers are compelled to subscribe, contains an article entitled “In the Cellars of the Cheka,” with the purpose of restraining and intimidating readers. A series of incidents is related, of which tho following are tlic least offensive:— The inquirer Prichvine, thin and iieshless, in torn hoots, His face crossed by a scar, was examining a prisoner. The eyes of the latter! Eyes full of terror, sheep-like eyes, wore fixed on th mouth of PricTivTne; the man constantly seized his head in his hands and his lips moaned always the same “ ou-ou-ou ” as though’ he wanted to frighten a baby. “ YOr’Lli BE SHOT YOURSELF.”

A dim lamp was burning. The young Mit-ka a “ nngan ” (type of firearm) in liis hand, stared with tired look at- flic dying light. When tho prisoner was marched away, groaning as if into his pillow, Mitlca asked the inquirer, “ When is Karpova going to ho shot?” “Don’t- know; why do you ask?” AJitka glanced at Prichvine, then lowered his look. “ Just so ” ho snapped his fingers—“ she’s a fine peasant girl!” He smiled, showing his white teeth. But the next moment his laugh vanished under the stern look of Prichvine. Tho inquirer made a gesture a.s if cutting something and shouted, “Look hero! No jokes, you’ll be shot vourself.”

Suddenly he turned towards Pougatslioff. who was pacing alongside the wall covered with little whitish hits of dry human brains. A man clad in a dark shirt was brought- in. Prichvine called out “ Korovinc.” Silently the man stepped to the wall, threw his head hack, crossed himself, and answered “ Present.” Tie was a naval officer. Hidden by the obscurity Pougatshoff in his comer lifted the 11 iiagnn.” After a shot the skull was heard splitting like a walnut. In the next room, someone began tu howl, prolonged],v, terribly.