RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 September 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

LEAVES FROM THE EXhTSAR’S DIARY. Received 9.15 a.m. LONDON, Sept 24. An interesting picture of the late Tsar’s life' after his abdication has been gleaned from fuller accounts from his diary, which have .been published in a Bolshevik newspaper. It records his sorrowful arrival''at Tsarsfcoe Selo in 1917, where sinister-look-ing non-coms, were ’occupying the , great court of the Palace. He found his .children lying ill with measles in a.lightless room, He mentions. burning papers and sorting his possessions in view of his proposed departure to England, and shows how reluctantly lie submitted to Kerensky’s request only to spend his meal times with his family. The ex-monarch expresses his disgust at the soldiers’ studied insolence, and mentions “our idiots’ decision to celebrate May Day processioning and fed flagging.” Other entries are made in a tone of resignation and sorrow over Russia’s dark pects. Finally he records joyfully and thankfully in 1916 the news of the successful offensive on the. southwestern front. UNBELIEVABLE HORRORS IN RUSSIA. SEVEN MILLIONS DOOMED TO STARVATION. Received 8.45 a.m^ LONDON September 24. An almost impenetrable veil 'hides the chaos in Russia from the rest of Europe. News comes only fragiiicntarily and intermittently from the Allies,official agents and occasional' refugees reaching Scandinavia, after ’abandoning their belongings and bribing their way into security. This gives ’ few details of the dreadful horrors being enacted but enough is known to show ■that Russia has sunk into the depths of ! ’anarchy, wherein incendiarism, murder and infamy of all descriptions are running a mad riot. Reliable accounts estimate murders in Petrograd alone at 500 daily. There is no sign of the appearance of any stabilising element land the prospect is terrible. Anarchic disorders, already far exceeding the worst French and other revolutions, is pocccding unchecked. It is estimated in Paris that se : cn million Russians are doomed irretrievably to starvation during the coming winter, wherein there is an absolute breakdown is distribution. The lack of coal and firewood promises be one of the lesser evils.

Copenhagen reports state Pctrograd is subsisting mostly upon rats, dogs and mice. This may be an exaggeration, but there is no doubt unbelievable horrors are being suffered perpetuated by the worldess and foodless populations. The British are striving to ■ secure the release of Nationals, including Lockhart. Received 8.45 a.m. WASHINGTON, Sept 24. . The State Department has received confirmation of the appalling conditions in Russia. There is a ruthless slaughter of officers and leading citibens, who are shot in cellars at night, with guns muffled by silencers. The Franco-British consul-generals at Moscow have been arrested. JAPANESE SUCCESS. LONDON, Sept 24. The Press Bureau reports: The Japanese military attache states that Japanese cavalry occupied Blagovistchensk and Alexolevsk on the 18th. Two thousand Austro-German prisoners surrendered at Kokha, on the right bank of the Amur.