THE MIGHTY FALLEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 257, 20 January 1928, Page 1

THE MIGHTY FALLEN

FORMER LEADERS EXILED DECISION OF SOVIET LONDON, Thursday. The first official news regarding the banishment of members of the Soviet Opposition was issued at Moscow yesterday in the form of a statement by the Toss Agency. It is alleged that after the disintegration of ..'the Opposition bloc, supporters of Trotsky developed illegal and anti-Soviet activities, and attempted to create a secret organisation to prepare a series of actions and establish connections abroad. For this reason it was found necessary, in the interests of the proletarian State, to deport Trotsky and the other persons named. For the purposes of punishment the Soviet has divided the Opposition leads into three groups—incorrigibles, penitents, and non-penitents. Trotsky, Rakovsky and Radek head the non-penitents, who will be drastically punished. Rakovsky and Radek have been ordered to Ustsesulsk, on the border of the Archangel Province. Trotsky’s destination has been changed from Astrakhan because his doctors say he has tuberculosis. Kameneff and Zinovieff head the penitents. They have confessed their errors. Kameneff has been ordered to Penza and Zinovieff to Vologda. They have been assigned to educational posts. Sapronoff heads the list of -the incorrigibles. He was opposed even to Lenin when the latter was alive. He has been banished to the remotest spot in Siberia, under errest. The remainder have been ordered to leave Moscow and to report to the Ogpu (secret police) upon arrival at their destinations.—A. and N.Z.