EX-CZAR'S EXILE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1917, Page 5

EX-CZAR'S EXILE.

UNNECESSARY HARDSHIPS, Petrograd, Sept. 2. Accounts received from Tobolsk show that the ex-Tsar and his family are suffering uircciM-'ary hardships. " The socalled Governor's Palace in which they are quartered .3 a crude dwelling, devoid of elementary comforts and conveniences. It is situated in the centre town, and there is no place for tho exiles to take exercise or to get; a breath of fresh air. The young ex-Cesarevitch is unwell. Tobolsk.—-August 31.—The ex-Imperial family, while awaiting the completion of the arrangements for their installation in the Governor's palace, remained for fivp days on board the steamer which conveyed them from the railway terminus to Tobolsk. For five days the steamer remained at anchor iu midstream, only approaching the shore to enable the ex-Tsar and his family to walk along the river bank. These walks always took place at a distance of some miles from the town. The cx-Tsaritsa rarely left the vessel, and both she and the ex-Cesarevitoh suffered much. On the morning of August 20 the party was transferred to the Governor's palace. Tho ex-Tsar wont on foot with his son and three of his daughters, while the Tsaritsa followed in a carriage, accompanied by her eldest daughter, the Grand Duchess Olga. The party was escorted by a detachment of soldiers who had accompanied them from Tsarskoo Selo. jThe- detachment was composed of soldiers who had "been to tho front an<\ received the Cross of St. George. At midday on the same day the Prior of the j Church of the Annunciation came and j blessed the house.

The party occupy the first floor of the Governor's palace, consisting of 14 rooms. One is reserved for the ex-Tsar, ons for his son, one for the qx-Tsaritsa, and two for her daughters. One serves as a dining room, another as a reception room, while tho remaining rooms are utilised by the members of the suits and the servants. The building is entirely surrounded by a fence which screens it from the view of the neighboring dwelling-houses. The daily life of the family is the same as at Tsarskoe Selo. At 10 a.m. breakfast is served, at 1 o'clock luncheon, at 6 p.m. dinner. Only the ex-Tsar and his wife are under detention. The children are in the charge of their mother, who is responsible for their religious instruction. —Renter.