MAZING STORY OF RASPUTIN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16151, 4 March 1918, Page 8

MAZING STORY OF RASPUTIN.

(To be concluded to-morrow.)

THE "BLACK MOXK OF RUSSIA." (BY THE COUNTESS RADZIWILL.) New Zealand Rights Specially Secured by "The Press." CHAPTER VIII. (Continued.) THE TRIAL POSTPONED. On the fifteenth of December, the day appointed for the trial, the halls and corridors of tho Law Courts of Pctrograd were filled with an inquisitive crowd struggling to get access to the room where it was to take place. The spectators waited a long time, watching curiously the impassive lace of tlio hero of the day, who had quietly entered the hall and taken his place in the criminal dock. About 12 o'clock the judges, together with the public prosecutor, made their entrance, when to the general surprise the latter said that, owing to the absence of several important witnesses for the prosecution, he moved an adjournment of the procedings until an indefinite time. What had happened, what had brought about such an extraordinary change? This was the question which one could hear everywhere after the Court had risen and the assembly dispersed. Comments without number followed upon this decision, whicli no one would have thought possible a few hours before. In spito of the sever© censorship over tho Press, the principal Liberal organs of the, capital published short commentaries which revealed tho feeling of intense indignation that prevailed in every class of society. The words "Shame, shame!" were heard on all sides. It is not at all wonderful that they found an echo among some determined spirits who resolved at last to freo Russia from tho scourge, of Rasputin, whoso hand was agjiiii seen in the whole disgracoful affair. RASPUTIN SUSPICIOUS. This, however, was not at all an easy matter, considering the fact that the "Prophet" had become very careful, and that his followers hyd him watched wherever he went for fear of an attack which they strongly suspected was being contemplated. The house where he lived, 64 Gorokhowaja street, was always surrounded by policemen and secret agents, who oxamined every person who entered or went out of itT Rasputin himself had also grown suspicious, evpn of persons with whom up to that time lie had been upon friendly terms, and he avoided the numerous invitations that hegan once more to be showered upon him. He. spoke again of returning to Siberia, which was always with him a sign that he did not feel himself at ease in the capital. I had the opportunity to observe this restlessness the second time that I met linn at the house of that M. 3>e Bock whom I have already mentioned, when he declared to us that he was sick of Potrograd and of the many intrigues which were going on there.' But that was before the war, and it seems that since it had begun the ideas of Rasputin had changed, and that ho was always saying that he considered it his duty to remain beside his friends at this hour of national peril. The fact that i his feelings had changed on tie last point proves that he was aware of the danger in which he stood, and of which. I it is likely that he had been warned by the numerous spies who were but too read.y to keep him well informed of all that it was his interest to know. One thing was certain, and that is the activity which he began to display ■during the last weeks and days of his evil life in favour of the conclusion of a peace, which he now told whoever cared to hear him that Russia ought to make if she wished to escape from further sin, as he termed it. Why his feelings had undergone such a change it is impossible to say, ibut one may make a pretty near guess as to tho motives which actuated him. One of the principal motives undoubtedly was the idea that existed among a certain circle of persons that if pea,co were made with Germany, the English and French officials working with Russian officials in perfecting the defcnce of tho fatherland, and whose presence already had prevented so many malversations, woula depart. This would leave once more a free field for the rapacity of all tho civil and military functionaries of tho War Office and Commissariat Departments, who could make a new harvest of rubles as a result of the unavoidable er.pensos which tho liquidation of tho war would necessarily entail. There were, however, some persons who, seeing the dangers in the -path in which this nefarious individual was leading Russia, decided that, as nothing else could bring about his removal, it had to bo effected by violent means. I do not seek to excuse them, far less to take their part. Murder remains murder, but if ever an assassination had an excuse, this was the slaying, of Rasputin, which also implied the destruction of the crew of unscrupulous people of which lie was the tool. There was something of self-sacrifice in the conspiracy to which he fell a victim, something of an intense lovc v of tho fatherland in the spirit that armed the hand of the man whose pistol sent him into eternity. One may condemn tho deed and vet excuse its motive. Though I am not trying to do so, yet 1 shall not be the onte to cry out for vengeance against the over-excited young people who risked everything in the world to deliver their country from evil.

(Copyright, 1917, by «» Ledger * Company. U.d.Aj

(Australasian Copyright by t^ e Jj" 1 ? <3ay Times Newspaper Co., Ltd., Syanej.)

NEW ZEALAND ARMY

OFFICERS PROCEEDING ABROAD.

The appointment to the VZ. Expcditioßary Force of the undermentioned ceeding on active service has been approved (dated February 21st, 1318, unless otherwise Rifles—Major E. J. Hulbert Reserve of Officers, sth (Wellington) Regimen., returns to dutv; Major T. L. Ranstcad, U.b. (a), returns to duty; Captain "VV. J Hardliam, V.C., Reserve of Officers, Gen. List, returns to duty; Captain M. R. Reed, -'ra (Auckland) Mounted Rifles, returns to duty; Captain T. L. Gibbs, Mounted Signal Troops, Canterbury, returns to duty; 2nd-Licutenant C. S. Brown, N.Z.R.B. (T.l, returns to duty; 2nd-Lieutenant T. McCarrol, U.L. (b), Gen. Lirt, returns to duty: 2nd-L:eutenant R. H. Perrett, U.L. (b), returns to dutv; 2nd-Lieu-tenant C. B. Reid, U.L. " (b), Gen. List, returns to duty; . 2nd-Lieuten-ant G. Paton, TJ.L. (b), Gen. List, returns to duty ; 2nd-Lieutenant J. C. Self, U.L. (b), Gen. List (July 27th); 2nd-Lieutenant A. W. Jobnson, U.L. (b), Gen. List (August 25th); sssass JW—^ cj * "*• M.R W. C. H. w Sjiu(February 13th*. ' a Posted for duty