Massacre in Persia

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 154, 28 December 1911, Page 5

Massacre in Persia

VIVE lIUXDRED KILLED. BLOODTHIRSTY RUSSIANS. PERSIANS STUPEFIED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyrigit Teheran, December 2G. The Russian attacks on Tabriz and Resht commenced almost simultaneously. Many Government officials and twenty of the police at Resht were killed. Consular reports indicate that the attack on Resht was begun by the Russian Consul, who is now Governor Order has been restored. A mas>acre has been proceeding at Tabriz since Sunday, when 500 were killed, including women and children. The people slaughtered did not give the slightest provocation, but the massacres continue. An official telegram states that the Russian outrages at Tahrra surpass those at Tripoli. Houses were entered indiscriminately and women violated in the presence of their relatives. The artillery mowed down every living creature in the streets. Fierce 6ghting continues. The Russians are hard pressed, and many have been killed. The Persians are stupefied at Russia's attitude following upon Persia's acceptance of the second ultimatum and the of even* desire for conciliation and the establishment of friendly .relations with Russia. The police dispersed an indignation meeting convened <in the bazaar at Teheran to protest against the coup d'etat involved in the dissolution of the Mejliss. The newspagers., have been suppressed, except one named Mejliss, which supports the Cabinet. Martial law has been proclaimed.

Advices from Shiraz state that the Persian troops guarding the Kashgar roaflVat Kazerun attacked a number of In<fiftb sowars, killing one. A punitive party was afterwards sent to the hills. A hundred and liftv Russians were killed and "wounded at Tabriz. The Fidais continue stubborn and audacious. EECEXT ALLEGED ATROCITIES. ; ' DENIED BY RUSSIA. ARMED SIGHTSEERS. WOUNDED BURNT TO DEATH. Received 27, 11.50 p.m. St. Petersburg. December 27. An official telegram from Julfa, Transcancasia, reports that the Consul-General at Tabriz protests at the infamous calumnies upon the Russian troops, who are treating the inhabitants with humanity, notwithstanding the atrocities upon Sußsian. wounded and the mutilation of 'bodies. communication declares that any particular instances of the innocent perishing is solely due to the bombardment of the houses from whence a Russian detachment was subjected to a fusillade.

The commander of a detachment removed the women and children from these houses to the shelter of an encampment, and they were thence conveyed to town by peaceable inhabitants and escorted bv Russian soldiers.

The officer commanding the latter was treacherously killed. Subsequently the Consul-General informed the Governor and the Chief Mullah that disarmament of tlie people was essential to the opening of peace negotiations, adding that he would not tolerate the presence of armed spectators in the streets and on the roofs.

Placards are posted throughout Tabriz demanding the immediate surrender of arms.

Twenty Russian Cossacks, under the MSoBxBl-flenerars instructions. arc patrolling the Christian quarter?. The Consul-Oneral sent troops to the spot where a number of Russian soldiers were killed. .The bodies of the latter were found reduced to cinders, and there were indications that some of the bumed corpses ■had apparently been only severely wounded and burnt to death.

Mr. Shuster. who has just been dismissed from the sen-ice of Persia, wtis . described 'in the Home papers recently as being a remarkable man. He was recommended for appointment to the post of Treasurer-General of Persia by the President of the United States. The Times declared a few weeks ago that his name was already in the mouths of all. not only in Teheran but in the provinces. All the best elements in the country, add ill those who had no handling of public funds were naturally enthusiastic. 'Battle was, in fact, formally opened between the forces of honesty and dishonesty. Against him were the ignoble armyof peculators from high Ministers [ to petty officials. Mr. Shuster based 'hims«lf on the law of the Mejliss, the only fount of authority. He soon: stopped all illegal payments out of revenue, and was elaborating a scheme for a "Treasury gendarmerie," under European officers, to secure its proper collection. It was his action in seizing, despite the protests of the Russian Vice'.Conaul, /property belonging to one of the brothers of the ex-Shah that caused a Tupture of diplomatic relations between Russia and Persia.