Troubles in Russia.

Manawatu Herald, 1 May 1902, Page 2

Troubles in Russia.

RIOTING AND LOOTING IN THE SOUTH. Reuter’s Agency reports that Little Russia, comprising the lower valley of the Dnieper and the Donetz, north of the Black Sea, is bordering on a revolution. The starving peasants in the Government of Poltava, incited by Nihilists, attacked sixty estates, destroying everything they were unable to remove, and throwing into the river enormous quantities of stored refineries.

Twenty estates were ravaged at Kharkoff, the landlords fleeing and abandoning everything. It is feared the fury of the mob will reach the towns. While some officials exhibit weakness others order the soldiers to flog the peasants wholesale. The Czar has abandoned his intention of visiting Moscow, owing to the serious agitation there. Ministers are daily threatened with death. Secret agitations are urging tbe St Petersburg factories to strike in May. The inquiry into the murder of M. Sipiaguine, Russian Minister of the Interior, revealed a wide anti-go-vernment conspiracy. Numerous arrests have been made including a Jewess who was betrothed to Baschanott, and her father who supplied the means of assassination. Baschanett, tried in vain to commit suicide when informed of the arrest of bis fiancee and her father. EXPULSION OP FOREIGNERS ADVOCATED. Russian labour agitators urge the peasants to rid the country of “ foreign devils,” whether capitalists, engineers or managers. The workmen at Moscow have asked M. De Plehwe, the newly appointed Minister of the Interior, to permit them to organise on the lines of English trade unions. RECRUITING IN FINLAND. Famine in the Poltava and Kharkoff districts of South Russia drove | the peasants to forcibly seize seed and corn. Serious rioting occurred, and an attempt of the troops to dispose the rioters resulted in eighteen thousand breaking into open revolt. M. de Plehwe, the recently-ap-pointed Russian Minister of the Interior, is proceeding South to investigate the position. Reinforcements .of the troops have been ordered to the disturbed districts. . The whole population of Finland offers a firm resistance to the attempted military Russification of the Finns. The attempt to enrol new recruits in the Russian forces produces great demonstrations. Weaklings and cripples alone present themselves for enrolment. In many centres the Cossacks dispersed even the smallest gatherings with groat brutality.