Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-25
RUMAN|A revolt
PLOT IS REPORTED
Russ Hear of Disturbed Con-
ditions-Bolsheviki Claim
Victory Over KorniIoff.
NOW ATTACKING KHARK0v
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PETROG RAD, Monday, December ~.
News of revolutionary plot against
King Ferdinand OF Rumania has been
received at the Smolny Institute. the
bolshevik headquarters, according to
the evening newspapers There also are
said to be disturbed conditions In Ru-
mania. These reports are confirmed in
some respects by dispatches received
here indicating unsettled conditions
and g political crisis.
A bolshevik dispatch announces that
5000 troops OF Gen. korniioff's COM
mand have been defeated near Biel-
gored by bolsheviki. chiefly soldiers
and sailors of the Black and Baltic sea.
fleets. Many machine guns and much
ammunition. il is said. have been cap
tured.
Now Attacking Kharkov.
The bolsheviki have begun an attack
on Kharkov. about 400 miles south OF
Moscow. The boishevikf control rail-
roads to the south. according to the
official news agency, which adds that
a telephone message from Moscow de-
clares that a large force or Cossacks
and railway men has stopped troops
from proceeding north Of Tzarftzin, in
the province of Saratov.
The official news agency announces
that a semi -official denial has been is
sued in Stockholm to Russian reports
that Sweden is moving troops toward
Finland and is massing forces opposite
vasa and the Aland Islands.
Countess Is Convicted.
Countess Panin, who was minister OF
public instruction in the Kerensky cabi-
net. was on trial yesterday charged
with incorporation OF public funds.
Hers was the first case tried by the
popular revolutionary tribunal" The
countess was convicted and sentenced
to Imprisonment until the return OF the
money. and to public censure."
The small courtroom in the Palace OF
Grand Duke Nicholas was filled with
| friends and sympathixers of the coun-
tess. The judges, fve workingmen and
two soldiers. were all elected members
| OF the Petrograd workmen's and SOL
dicrs' deputies. They sat at long Ia
Bile, draped in red To the left. near the
wall. the defendant sat, soldier with
| a bayonet on either side.
The president Of the bolsheyik court
| read the Indictment.
who wishes to speak to the prose-
cution?" he asked.
Denies Misuse Of Funds.
No one replied. The president then in
vfted a statement for the defense. An
elderly man. a former employe at the
ministry Of public instruction. arose and
spoke Of the great phtlanthropie ana
educational activity OF Countess Fanin.
| He denied the misuse Of funds and said
| that the countess had refused to &C
knowledge the right Of the present gov.
fernment to demand the money. He de-
clared that she would return the funds
to the constituent assembly, which was
| the sole authority over her.
Next. young worksngman, speaking
flor the prosecution made q clumsy and
heated speech to the effect that nobility
of character and educational activity
| need not cloud the fact that the coun-
tess took public funds and opposed the
authority Of the workmen's and sol
diers' government He -exhorted the
judges to disregard the personality and
| past Of the defendant.
Simply Transferred Funds.
| In her last word" the countess said:
"As has been stated. have not mis-
used the funds I consider myself re-
| sponsible for their safety and Will de-
liver them to the constituent assembly.
! to which alone I must account for my
actions. Since the converting Of the
| constituent assembly has been post
poned the money has been deposited in
the state bank until it assemblies"
The so-called incorporation OF
public funds consisted in the transfer
by the countess of all ministry funds
to the state bank. which left the safes
in the ministry empty when the boishe-
wiki took control. She denied their
right to the money.
Teuton Powers to Reply.
AMSTERDAM, December 24.-Ths
four Teutonic allied powers. according
to dispatch from Brest Litovsk. have
agreed to reply jointly to the Russian
peace proposals. The reply. IL 10
added, will be delivered tomorrow.