RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 August 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA.

HORRIBLE SITUATION IN RUSSIA. BOLSHEVIKS’ MERCILESS RULE. ‘ Received 8.55 am, -LONDON, Aug. 8. A distinguished Russian who escaped from s‘e'r'vice‘ with the Bolsheviks, has arrived in London He states German Soviets are strongly established in Petrograd, and enjoy special privileges. »Lenin and the other chiefs make .the most -of the German-trained army, but still regard propaganda as the first line of attack. They are convinced of -the necessity of a world-wide revolution. They proclaim the British withdrawal as a defeat. The remn.ant of the population in Po-trognad is mercilessly controlled, working unpaid for the Soviets, and receiving one meagre meal daily. The city administration is reduced ‘to the lowest state of inefliciency. The factories are shut, except the munition works, where political committees constantly interfere with the managcmenzt. The starved workers are cruellyspeeded up. Intoxication is the sole relief, but as alcohol 'is unobtaina.bl'é"Val‘ious substitutes are used, including mixtures of gasoline, petrol, and other substitutes.