RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA.

TERRIBLE SUFFERING IN | PETROGRAD. I I KALEDLN T 'S MASTER STROKE. THE MOSCOW MASSACRES. Received Nov. 20, 0.30 p.m. London, Nov. 10. The Paris Matin says that the suffering in Petrograd is 'terrible. General Kaledin'a refusal of grain and coal supplies is possibly a master stroke. The massacre of the Cadets, and the murder of Father John and other priests, added to the fearful news from Moscow'. These atrocities horrified oven the garrison, REDUCING BREAD RATIONS. LENINIST MINISTERS RESIGN. Petrograd, Nov. 19. The bread ration in Petrograd ha? been reduced to %lb every two days. The Ministers of Food, Labor and other prominent members of Lenin's Government have resigned, considering it necessary to come to terms with the other Socialists. SITUATION STILL OBSCURE. EXTREMISTS IN POWER. COALITION PROPOSALS NOT. SETTLED. Received Nov, 20, 6.30 p.m. London, Nov. 10. In the House of Commons, Mr. Balfour announced that the situation in Russia wr.s still obscure. The British Ambassador was remaining at his post. The extremists were in complete power at Petrograd and Moscow. The propca! to establish a coalition government had not yet v;svH»d in a settlement. KERENSKY'S FLIGHT. BOLSHEVIKS' ASCENDANCY CONFIRMED. 'PETROGRAD'S FOOD SUPPLY ALMOST EXHAUSTED. Received Nov. 20, 10.40 p.m. London, Nov. 10. Ilnpr.randa telegrams report that Kercnsky's private secretary arrived at Tornea with alleged false passports !:i the name of an English arrc?pondent. The secretary confirms Kercnsky's flight, but denies knowledge of 'lis whereabouts. He says the Bolsheviks are in complete ascendancy in Petrograd, riu'. havr even sent forces to Moscow, whore heavy fighting proceeds. Tko secretary denies that Korniloff participated in the fighting, but is still imprisoned. The secretary does not think the Bolsheviks desired to arrest Kcreusky, owing to the fear of his supporters. He concluded by stating that a Coalition Socialist Government had been formed. '..•!. had broke- up. Other travellers roport that the lack of food in Petrograd is growing worse, as General Kaledin is stopping all supplies for the capital, viilo/ cannot hold out for more than a few days.

RIOTS IN SIBERIA Tokio, Nov, ID. It is reported that thorn is severe rioting in several Siberian cities, Many Jap n nesc have fled to Japan A SKETCH OF KERENSKY. Ab:;ander P. Kerensky, v.'ho since the Revolution has "been the most eonspicu--8119 figure in Russia, has several times been described as "a young Jewish Socialist." Careful inquiries in., the Russian official colony in New York, however, according to the New York Times, r.pprar to make it certain that he is a Russian Slav by birth aild airc:,'.ry, the S3u of a schoolmaster in the town of Saraloff on the Volga. Kerensky early manifested oratorical gifts of a high order, and was elected a member of the Duma from one of the constituencies between the Volga and the Siberian border. He particularly interested himsplf in Labor questions, and defended Labor cases in the law courts, so that he soon came to he regarded as one of the leading advocates of Labor interests in the Duma. As Labor organisations were forbidden in Imperial Russia the workmen, seeking to protect their interests, were induced to join the Socialist Party in large numbers. It thus happened that the Socialists were the best organised and most numerous body in Pctrograd when the Revolution brok« out, and their Council of Workmen's Deputies immediately became prominent, uekiug to dictato the domestic and foreign policies of the Provisional Government (formed of 'Duma leaders), and even interfering disastrously with the discipline of the army. The organisation of debating committees in each unit of the army was the work of bis Council, and was the source of the worst demoralisation of the Russian army. The proposal to confiscate the property of the landowners emanated from the same source. While Kerensky called himself a Socialist, he has, during his Premiership, done all that lay in his power to reverse the action of the Petrograd Socialists. He has insisted upon the continuation of the war, has first limited and then forbidden the army debating clubs, and has restored the deatli penalty ,for insubordination in the army. The ■ latest turn of the revolutionary wheel threatens to undo whatever Kerensky may have done to place Russia's affairs on a steady foundation, and to introduce a further period of dreadful internecine strife, with the incidental opportunity for Germany to complete her plans for the acquisition of the rich prize I that awaits the hand strong enough to [hold it. I DISORDERS IX RUSSIA Describing the condition of Russia in a 'recent article Dv, E; J. Dillon said: — '■There are several authorities, one Cabinet, various councils, many Ministers, and no Government in the lam!. In the

G'orba'tofTsky district violent troubles have broken out in connection with the eviction of landowners. In the Stavropol district of the Province of Samara the peasants seized and put to death the village elder and the secretary, and were also about to make away with all the well to-do inhabitants when some militiamen providentially arrived and put a temporary end to the disorders. The newspaper columns a|c filled with telegrams from desperate landlords vainly calling on the authorities to protect them. Thus Count Keller telegraphed: 'The village is subjected to a pogrom. I em arrested. My' house has been gutted.' In Kakhetia magnificent forests are being cut down by the peasantry. In the Knighinin district. the crowd attacked the Zvantsovo estate, took the people on it prisoners, and drove away tli-» cattle. Everywhere the peasants have recognised the principle of confiscation.. In Uie Province of Penzit the Peasants' Council passed a resolution in favor of cocialising all land, and is showing its determination to have that decree executed. The representatives of the Provisional Government have been driven away, and the marshal of the nobility ,urested. In Bielozerye, Province of Simbirsk, the peasants' convention decided to seize without compensation all lands I belonging to private owners, with 'the exception of 100 dessiatines, which each one may keep for himself and .till] or, if he prefer it, let, but not for more than 3ix roubles a dessiatine."