PEASANT GIRL OR DUCHESS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1928, Page 3

PEASANT GIRL OR DUCHESS

ANASTASIA'S CLAIM. TO TSAR'S FORTUNE, iAustralian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Feh. 10. The war correspondent, Mr F. A. McKenzie, in an article in the “Daily News.” declares that the peasant girl claiming to lie* the Duchess Anastasia is an impostor. Her claims were originally advanced in 1923. when they were rejected liy leading Romanoff survivors. Mr MaeKenzie twice visited Ekaterinburg and saw the scene of the Tsarist murders, and examined the Communist records which stated that the Duchess Anastasia was fined, but the soldiers accompanying the murderers, smashed her head in with rifle huts. The “Daily Mail."’ in view of the possibility of Anastasia’s claim to the Tsar’s fortune, points out that besides the considerable amount the Bolsheviks confiscated, several millions are Iving in foreign hanks, including English and American. The Tsar’s income was from all sources, in 1913 estimated at six millions sterling. His private fortune, inherited from his father, was increased hv judicious investments. The “Daily Mail’s” Berlin correspondent says that supporters and opponents of Anastasia will meet f,u e to face next week at the bearing of a libel action by the editor of the extreme Nationalist paper “Nachtaus,rabo.” against the editor of the “Tagnee Ruclnscham.” Herr Stresemann's organ. The “Nachtaiisgabe,” in a series of articles favoured Anastasia, but suddenly recanted, declaring that she was merely a Mecklenburg taim j,j r l. The ••Tagliche Rundscham.” which consistently championed Anastasia. immediately declared the “Nachtaiisgabe’s" volte face 1o be due to a handsome payment to a member of the staff by the Grand Duke of Hesse, the late Tsar’s brother. The “Tagluhe’s” editor announces that he will bring evidence proving that the Duke ol Hesse actually made a payment. BY SOVIET AUTHORITIES. MOSCOW. Feh. 8. The Soviet authorities ridicule the story persistently circulated that the Grand Duchess Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the Tsar, is still alive. They state that the whole Russian Royal Family is extinct. 'Hie official list of those executed at Ekaterinburg in 101 S includes Anastasia.