RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1919, Page 6

RUSSIA.

j' APPALLING CRUELTIES. ; I _ 1 01?, BOLSHEVIK TERRORISTS. i London', Dee. 30. 1 Mr Jeffreys states that the great evils already related pale before the atrocities and tortures regularly applied throughout Russia, pursuant to Trotsky's terrorising policy. The nephew of an ex-Russian Ambassador, an Irish fugitive, and others give sickening details of men dismembered alive, ofijcers branded with red-hot irons on their naked shoulders, then hung on trees head downwards and flayed alive. Prisoners are confined' in cellars which are slowly flooded. A party of ex-officers were caught at Volhynia trying to reach Poland. They were stripped, their teeth broken by hammers, their tongues torn out, and their palpitating bodies cast into the snow.—Reuter (via America),

SEVERE FIGHTING AT ODESSA. FRENCH FORCE ATTACKED. Copenhagen, Dec. 30. Severe fighting is reported at Odessa in which French warships participated. It is stated that tho French, in agreement with the local military authorities, landed 5000 trodps to maintain order in the town. The local forces treacherously fired on the troops while landing. The French warships retaliated, shelling the Russian camp behind the town. The casualties were heavy. It is unknown whether the French still occupy Odessa.—Reuter.

SITUATION IN ESTHONIA. BRITISH WARSHIPS ATTACK BOLSHEVIK VESSELS. Received Dec. 31,10.30 p.m. Stockholm, Dee. 30. An Esthonian communique of the 26th December states that tho Esthonian troops are retreating- The enemy has large forces on a wide front. The Germans are retreating from Donpat. and advancing to Riga along the coast, plundering, thus causing encounters between the German and Esthonian troops. British bluejackets landed near Narva. The Bolshevist warship Parpolo bombarded the batteries at Wulf Island till a British warship appeared, when Parpolo and other Bolshevik warships fled, but were pursued All the Bolshevik vessels ran aground. Reports from Riga state that while the commander of the British squadron was conferring with the Livonian Government a large crowd attempted to storm the town hall, shouting: "Away with tho English"!" "Down with the Government!" The crowd was not dispersed til! several were killed and wounded.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.

A VOLUNTEER ARMY. TO FIGHT THE BOLSHEVIKS. Paris, Bee. 30. The Matin states that General ICorniloff and General Alcxieff have raised a volunteer army in southern Russia to fkrht the Bolsheviks—Aua.-NX Ca&le Asan. REPORTED CAPTURE OF VILNA. New York, Dec- 29. The Bolsheviks are reported to have captured Vilna. —AiA.-N.Z. Cable Assn.