TERRORISM.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1920, Page 5

TERRORISM.

HORRORS OF BOLSHEVISM. A JAPANESE TRAGEDY. Bj Telegraph— Press Assn.—Capyrlsht. Received June 20, 5.5 p.m. London, June 19The Tokio correspondent of the Daily Express states that a cry for vengeance for the Nikolaevsk massacre is sweeping Japan. Public feeling is rising with fresh details furnished daily. The newspapers declare it surpassed the LusLtania horror, and demand retribution. Jt appears that when the Bolsheviks entered 'the town a Japanese detachmeni and the residents sought refuge in tiie Consulate, which the enemy's artillery set on fire. Eventually the only survivors of the bombardment were the ConsulGeneral, his wife, two children, and the Japanese commander. . As escape was impossible, all donned their best dress, according to Japanese custom. Then the Consul shot his wife and children, and the Consul and the commander then stabbed each other after the Samurai fashion. A national memorial service is being held, and also a special session of Parliament. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. When Japanese troops entered Nikolaevsk, in Eastern Siberia, early in June, where the Japanese garrison and residents were recently attacked by a large force of Bolsheviks, many being killed and others taken prisoner, they found the whole town in ashes. There was no trace of any of the Japanese prisoners, but there was evidence of wholesale slaughter. Many bodies lay unburied, and women had been outraged and brutally murdered. At the beginning of May, Bolsheviks, aided by Koreans and Chinese, massacred 270 Japanese at the Consulate at Nikolaevsk. The massacre arose out of Japanese protests against outrages by the Bolsheviks on the non-Bolshevik residents of the town, who were under a reign of terror. The protest resulted in the attacks being diverted to the Japanese, who, being heavily outnumbered, retreated to the Consulate, which was sei on fire. The Japanese soldiers resisted to the last, some shouting "Banzai" as they leaped into the flames rather than surrender.