A TRAGIC STORY

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3560, 24 August 1920, Page 5

A TRAGIC STORY

RECENT RUSSIAN HISTORY REVIEWED. RASPUTIN AND THE CZARINA. SOME OLD ILLUSIONS DISPELLED Received 9.20 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 23. A correspondent of The Times, discussing the circumstances preceding the abdication of the Czar, traces the chain of German influences behind Rasputin, whose propaganda and vulgar charlatanism developed a hateful legend, poisoning the minds of the people by disastrously linking the reputation of Royalties therewith. The hideous slaughter of women and children before the Winter Palace on Bloody Sunday strengthened the popular hostility, though the real contrivers of the.-crime were the revolutionary committee, who were aiming to promote hatred of the Czar. Kerensky afterwards admitted that the Czar's hands were clean, and stated that there was no truth in the popular belief that Rasputin held the Empress's mind in political thraldom. Her alleged pro-Germanism was ludicrous, as she really feared and detestd Germany, and referred to the Kaiser as "that low comedian." She, however, under-rated the dangers of associating with Rasputin. Kerensky adds

that the Czar might' at once have saved the Monarchy by disassociating himself from his wife's lead, but? he found this was impossible, and always yielded to "the real autocrat of all the Russians."

The correspondent records that an attempt was made to smuggle the Czar through a long stretch of hostile country, from Tobolsk to Moscow, where, Mirbach, with the assistance of the Ludendorff party had designs for the restoration of the Monarchy. The Czar interpreted this move as an attempt to secure his signature to the Brestlitovsk Treaty, and declared that he would sooner cut off his hand "than sig n it. The Empress also was furiously angry and paced her prison like a caged tigress. She insisted on accompanying the Czar, though her health was breaking down. The journey towards Moscow was made at top speed, in the hope of evading obstruction, but the alert and vengeful Ural Soviets intercepted them and secured their reimprisonment in Ekaterinburg. The unhappy Romanoffs were now relying only on their sustaining powers and deep family affection, piety, and patience. They became the victims of prolonged cruelties and indignities, surpassing the worst experiences at Tobolsk and Ipatievs. The prisonhouse was surrounded by ma- , chine-guns, and was enclosed in a wooden screen reaching to the troof top and almost shutting out the light The screen was filled with brutal drunken guards, and there was no privacy, and no consideration for decency or modesty was permitted. Everything was done to hurt and shock the doomed prisoners, who were also semi-starved. Leering gaolers dogged their slightest, movement, till the patience and humility tef the Royalties gradually shamed and quieted the tormentors. Open disaffection among the Red Guards followed, but was soon detected, resulting i n staff dismissals and a reinforcement of the old horrors until death ended their miseries.