RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA.

PEfROGRAD BURNING. , Indiscriminate Massacre., Proceeding in the Streets. Received Sept. 12, 9,20 p.m. Washington, Sept. 11. The American Legation at Christiania telegraphs it is reliably informed that ■Petrograd is burning ia twelve different places. Indiscriminate massacre is proceeding in the streets—Reuter.- ' Received Sept, 12,' 9.20 p.m. i London, Sept. 1L Tie Daily Express states that the Bolsheviks murdered the Tsftritsa and her, four daughters. Sailors rescued the Dow-i ager Empress. REPORTS UNCONFIRMED. . BUT 'ANiYTEBfQ ■■MtN~W&&m. Received Sept. 13,12,35 ia.m. London, Sept'. 12!, The Foreign Ojjßce is unable to '.am; firm the reports reaching America of fires and massacres in Petrograd, but. as" the position is critical sensational developments would not be surprising. The Daily Excess states that Red Guards tried to seize the Dowager at' Yalta, but the sailors of 4,the Black Sea fleet intervened. The fighting lasted for a week, aiid ended in the retreat of the Red Guards.—AM.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, SANGUINARY FIGHTING. A GERMAN GARRISON WIPED OUT. Received Sept. 12, 7.50 p.m. Stockholm, Sept. 11. Advices front Kieff state that sanguinary fighting took place at Brusilooka between well-armed peasants and Germans, The peasants occupied the village and wiped out the German garrison, a large number, of Germans teeing killed.— Reuter. . m,. RUSSIAN WAR INDEMNITY. FIRST PART SENT TO BERLIN. Received Sept. 12, 7.45 p.m. Copenhagen, Sept. 11. The first part of the Russian war indemnity has been sent from Moscow to Berlin. It was carried in four waggons by special train, and consisted of gold and bank notes.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. BOLSHEVIK LEADERS. TAKING NO RISKS. Received Sept- 13, 1.15 a.m. Amsterdam, Sept. 12. A German report from Moscow states that the Soviet Government has ordered all the people's commissaries to take careful measures for their safety and •use only strongly-srmored cars in the streets of Petrograd and Moscow, securing them against sftdden attack.—Reuter. ESCAPE FROM RUSSIA. A REIGN OF TERROR WHOLESALE MURDERS. New York, Sept. 10. Mr. Rodgers Simmons, American Trade Commissioner, cables an account of his experience in Russia to the New York World, through Mr. Arno Dosch Fleurot. Cabling under date August 9, he says: "I have just escaped from Russia ( after three weeks' imprisonment in Moscow; There was no accusation against me. I was starving to death. The guards' 1 told me I was condemned to death. By bribing the guard, who communicated with the. American and 'Swedish Consuls, my escape was made possible. 'While in prison, I talked with dozens of men condemned to death, they know not why. Many of them were taken out and did,, not return. I saw men ordered to be shot for. criticising the* Bolshevik Commissioner." : • Mr. Simmons was arrested at Volpgda t by order of the Bolshevik Commissioner, Kedroff. , "Just before my arrest," lie says, "Kedroff ordered working ineni and ■ peasants to kill every American,' Englishman, and Frenchman fouud in the White Sea' region. My arrest followed. I was kept in a railway prison car. , From there I saw 400 Kronstadt; sailors mutiny when offered a ration of. a quarter of a pound of bread daily. Two were shot dead." Mr. Simmons says that while in the prison car lie destroyed the of Mr. i which the latter had given Siiin.to send from Finland. "While the guard watched I managed to cljew. and tear the dispatch until it. was unrecognisable. The dispatch.; criticised the Bolsheviks, and, if found,, woujd have caused; my death." Mr. Simmons was later removed to Moscow and lodged in the prison fortress. "I spoke with scores of my fellow prisoners, most of whom were condemned to death. They had not been tried by a jury, but had been brought before a Bolshevik tribune,, who in a few minutes sentenced the victims." — Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ' New York, Sept. 10. It is rumored that (Petrograd is given over to a roign of terror, and there are wholesale murders and many parts of the <iity are burning.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.