RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 January 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA.

FREE LOVE BUREAU SET UP IN .PETROGRAD.

PETROGRAD, Jan. 5. The Northern Communp, including Petrograd, is enforcing the nationalisation of women between the ages of 18 nnd 45, who are being forced to accept husbands chosen by the State. Children do not remain under family control, but arc to be brought up by the State.

Lord. Denbigh has forwarded a copy of the Bolshevik decree, which declares every woman of 18 years, 'and over to be national property. All women must register at the “Bureau of Free Love,” where both sexes are compelled to assemble monthly for the purpose of selecting husbands and wives. Those selected have no right of refusal.

AMERICANS DEFEAT BOLSHEVIKS

Received 9.5 a.m

NEW YORR, Jan. 6

Dispatches from Archangel state the Americans drove backjhe Bolsehviks near Radish after desperate fighting. American officers report that the Bolsheviks mutilated American soldiers.

A DEPLORABLE SITUATION LONDON, Jan. 5. Accounts „from Russia show that a great mass of the population is starving upon an ounce to four ounces of black bread and a little fish daily. The Bolshevik army now numbers half a million. The men fare well fed and are receiving £6O sterling monthly. The situation in the provinces is worse than in Petrograd or .Moscow. Local Soviets, called the committee of the poor, consist of illiterate ruffiians, often possessors o? a criminal past, and supported by bauds of brigands, who pillage the people. These committees have sometimes so angered the peasantry that the latter burned them alive. The Bolsheviks then wiped out the peasantry, being afraid to requisition food from the peasants for fear the latter would hide corn] Accounts say that active help is required from the Allies, particularly in the Caucasus, to rehabilitate the country.

PEASANTRY UNDER THE BOLSHEVIK HEEL. LONDON, Jn. 6. Under the B'olshevist's, the revolt of the peasantry continues, though ruthlessly repressed. In despair, the peasants raided railroads, thus stopping food transport. There is no fuel in Moscow. Labourers who moved into palaces are suffering bitterly from the intense cold, as their old homes have fallen to pieces as repairing was stopped when they moved. As many factories have stopped working, the Soviet Government ordered the men to do any work provided, without the right to strike. This compulsory labour decree has aroused intense discontent. The Soviet. Government meanwhile has assigned 61 million roubles to the revolutionary propaganda fund for activity in foreign countries.

A delegation, representing ail moderates, including Socialists, have reached London, via Odessa. They tell of the critical situation created by the Bolsheviks in Northern and Central Russia, which threatens general starvation and the annihilation of Russian civilisation. All newspapers except Bolshevist arc suppressed. Justice in the Law Courts doe s not exist. For the most part, youngsters of eighteen have replaced the dismissed magistrates, People are frequently shot by their guards while being taken from one prison to another. The Soviet'is flooding the country with woi'thless paper-money. The national food supply i s based on the principle that only the Bolshevist is entitled to regular food. BOLSHEVIKS EMPLOYING CHINESE. LONDON, Jan. 5. The Bolsheviks in Esthonia are' employing 7000 Chinese, who are robbing, burning, and assassinating everywhere

BOLSHEVISTS ADVANCING TOWARDS BERLIN..

NEW YORK. Jan. 6

A United Press message from The Hague states that despatches from Berlin report that the Bolshevist troops are steadily advancing towards Berlin.

FIGHTING- AT RIGA,

COPENHAGEN, Jan. 5,

A wireless from steamers off Riga with refugees states: The Bolsheviks have entered the town. Pierce street fighting is proceeding.

bolsheviks splendidly

EQUIPPED

LONDON. Jan. (i. Advices from Berlin detail terrible

.street fighting at Riga, where there have ‘been many murders. The Bolshevists control the district. They are splendidly equipped, including artillery. They have levied a four and a

half million roubles indemnity. British warships landed guns and ammunition at Reval and Riga and bombarded the Bolshevists at Riga, where they number 40,000. Latest London telegrams announce that British warships are bombarding the Bolshevist quarters at Riga.