RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

UNHAPPY RUSSIA. .. TERRORISED-.BY ARMED BANDS. Received 10.20. LONDON, November 6. The Morning Posts' Petrograd correspondent states it is time to tell the truth about Russian conditions. Whole regions of European Russia are terrorised by armed bands, known as "Tovarisci" who are laying waste the countryside. Horses and cattle arc be;Dg slaughtered and the carcases left rotting in the fields. Breadstuffs arc deliberately set alight and spent stores; burnt. The peasantry have joined these bauds and share in the pillage. Debauches of drunkenness, are alarmingly increasing, thousands .drinking; methylated spirits; others are institut ' ing private stills. The Moscow revolt in 1905 fizzled out in a pandomonium of drink and vice, and it looks as if the Petrograd revolt is doing the same thing. The "Tovarisci" wearing uniforms of soldiers, are acting like criminals. Several hundred robberies, with violence, arc reported daily at Petrograd, though many su'f ferers do not trouble to lodge complaints. Murder is committed with impunity. Gangs of Tovarisci openly and in daylight rob houses and shops, carrying off the proceeds on motor lorries. Yesterday a score of Tovarisci held up the main thoroughfare and robbed every passer-by of money and valuables. Occasionally the crowd lynches a few of the robbers. All the shops are clearing the goods into the cellars oj .private houses'. As G'erj many is importing into Russia arms and agents capable of becoming leaders of revolt it is not strange that Petrograd is in a perpetual state of alarm and confusion.

PETROGRAD'S ALARMS. LONDON, Nov 5. The "Times" Petrograd correspondent sa3's:. The city is subject to daily alarms, expecting a Maximalist rising and "massacres.' The dregs of the race seem gathering in the city for expected loot Delegates representing peace after hearing a speech hyj Trotzky; '■ the, Maximalist .leader, voted for a proposal that the Maximalists should demand the seizure of power. It is believed < a majority of the army support the Government, which is exchanging telegrams -with the army commanders. General Toumanoff has taken over the Ministry of War in place of Verkhovsky . GREECE. VENIZELOS IN CONFERENCE . WITH ALLIED PREMIERS. "'"•'' Received 11.20. ROME Nov 6. Venizelojs is conferring, with Allied Premiers and generals. LONDON Nov 6. The "Daily Chronicle's" Athens correspondent says: A lurid light is thrown on King Constantine and his wife's activities by the publication of forty-nine deciphered despatches between the ex-King and Queen "and the Kaiser through Theototis, the Greek Minister in' Berlin. The correspondence began in December, 1915, and i relates to the German forty million francs loan to Greece and Constantine's suggestion that Germany should attack Sarrail's army, the proposals of which Skouloudis (tlfen Premier) was aware. The plan failed owing to Hindenburg's veto. . Most of the despatches emanate from the Queen ; whose role in connection wtih the formation of bands in the neutral zone arouses the keenest indignation.

GREEK QUEEN'S TREACHERY. A MODERN JEZEBEL. Received 11.25. ATHENS, Nov 6. Ex-Queen Sophia's correspondence is as wireless telegrams are missing.' Sophia described -the bloody events at Athens on Ist Decomber, as a splendid victory over four great Powers. The King, when German and Bulgar forces were sufficiently reinforced, would take the offensive against the Entente.' The Kaiser replied, urging Constantine to atack Sarrail. The Entente's blockade followed.

The Queen telegraphed the Kaiser, saying there was no food or munitions to enable Constantine to attack Sarrail, and again imploring him to hasten to the Greeks with some assistance. The Kaiser replied with a blank refusal, and when the Crown Council met at Athens it was finaly forced to accept the Entente's ultimatum. Sophia telegraphed the Kaiser that the Allies were infamous swine. These telegrams will be used at the impeachment of the Gounaris, Skcu leudis and Hambros Cabinets.