RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

PROTEST AGAINST ADLER'S SENTENCE. MESSAGE TO AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN SOLDIER'S. * DEMOCRACY'S STRUGGLE FOR PEACE, Wireless, per Admiralty Press. . Received May 25, 5.30 p.m. Petrograd, May 24. The executive'' of the Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates have sent a message to the Austro-Hungarian soldiers stating that the democracy of the neutral Socialists is protesting against the death sentence on Dr. Adler, and adding that the democratic forces, after three years of carnage and fratricide, have entered upon a struggle for universal peace,, and that the life of every champion of peace belongs to the whole of humanity, ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE SEIZED. London, May 24. Advices from Odessa state that the men of the Black Sea Fleet examined the premises occupied by Royalties living in the Crimea, and the whole of the Dowager Empress' correspondence was seized. FATEFUL WORDS. « CZAR'S FINAL ORDEAL. I have been able to obtain a full and authentic version of the events attending the' Czar's abdication (wrote the Petrograd correspondent of The Times, London). It appears that Nicholas 11., nn reaching Boiogoe station (halfway .between (Petrograd and Moscow) was advised not to proceed to Petrograd, and wisely did not attempt to enter the capital, preferring to go on to Pskoff (General Russky's headquarters, about 220 miles due west of Boiogoe,. and-half way between Pgtrograd and Dvinsk), and there learn his fate. To the members of his suite lie said: "The revolutionary wave will probably sweep over the Monarchy." He was then already prepared for the worst. M. Alexander Gutchkoff and the Conservative Deputy M. Shulgin ware commissioned by M. Rortzianko to go to General Russky's headquarters. They arrived on Thursday. The ill-fated"mon-ii'ch received them in ,a dimly-lit room. He looked pale and careworn, but was perfectly calm and self-possessed. ' Addressing Gutchkoff, he said; "Tell me the whole truth. "

"Wo come to toll you that all the troops in iPetrograd • are on; our side. It is useless to send more regiments. They will go over soon as they reach the station." , "I know it," replied the Czar. "The order has already been given to the front." Then, after a slight pause, the Czar asked: "What do you want me to do?" "Your Majesty must abdicate in favor of the Heir-Apparent under the Regency of the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch. Such is the will of the new Government, which we are forming under Prince Lvoff." /

"I cannot part with my boy," ret nlied the monarch, with emotion. "I •shall hand tho Throne to my brother." Then, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone, he said: "Have you a piece of paper?" Then and there the manifesto was drafted. Count Fredericks, Minister af the Imperial Household (whose brother was arrested at Petrograd), and the Czar's aide-de-camp assisted their master in his final ordeal. Soon tho document lay on the 'writing table, Before signing it he wrote out orders appointing Prince Lvoff 'Prime Minister and the Grand Duke Nicholas Generalissimo. Then, bowing his head for a {civ- moments, he dipped his pen, and without a trace, of emotion, for the last time appended his signature as Czar of all the Russians to the writ of abdication. The whole scene occupied only a few minutes, Remorseless fate pursues Nicholas 11. Even before his abdication ho knew his children were all seriously ill with measles, and that his beloved only son was in serious, danger of death.