RASPUTIN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10273, 7 May 1919, Page 6

RASPUTIN

HIS DA.3K FORCES INFLUENCE STILL SURVIVES IN RUSSIA. Though Rasputin, tho evil monk, has been dead for well-nigh two years, his influence survives in-Russia, and the little clique of his followers who were described as the "dark forces" of Russia exercise as much power with the Bolsheviks as they once did at the court of the Czar himself. The strange story of these Occulists, known in Petrograd and Moscow as ','the Rasputin gang," is told by two mining engineers, who have just made their escape from Russia after nearly a year's ineffectual struggle to get away. Ames B. Ttuscott, an American, and Arthur Wearstone, an Australian, both hold papers signed by Trotsky < himself, permitting them to leave Russia. These papers they obtained bv the personal intervention of Anna Vyrubova, once the favourite lady-in-waiting on the px-Czarina, and now the intimate friend of Trotsky, and Madame Bronstei, Trotsky's wife. "Of course, we had to pay througa the nose for them," Mr Truscott explains. "It is notorious among foreigners left in Russia, now that tho best way to obtain permission to leave is to go with money in your hand to the 'Rasputin gang,' " These people, who exploited Russia for money in the early days of the war, and hatched the intrigue which actually cost the Czar his throne consist of Vyrubova herself. General Voyeikoff, Scheglovitoff, and the quack doctor Badmeicff. These four, with Protopopoff and Rasputin himself, formed the Occult band which surrounded and corrupted the ex-Czarina. When the revolution took place they were all thrown into prison, and were itill awaiting trial when the Leninites overthrew Kererisky. When that was accomplished, the release of the Occultists was one of the first cares of the Bolshevik leaders. Vyrubova, the evil genius of the unfortunate ex-Em-press, and the woman who actually introduced Rasputin to her notice, was soon installed in a fine apartment in the best part of the capital. While the mistress who had fallen a victim to her intrigues was first-imprisoned and then murdered by the Bolsheviks, this woman was associating on terms of the closest intimacy with the very murderers of the ex-Czarina. Her wealth, and the abundant supplies of all necessities and luxuries she obtains in a starving city, are one of the latest scandils of Petrograd. The last luxury she enjoys is that of' revenge.! The men vho brought about the revolution, ind snook her and her friends from nower. down into prison, have had to flee for their lives from Russia. '[:■ Scheglovitoff, who i was nominated by Rasputin, first as Minister for Justice and afterwards as President of the Council of the' Empire, was said . to have been ','. the ablest-of the Occultists. Ho was the mainspring of the ireactionary plot so badly bungled by 'Protopopoff, and was suspected of being deep in German pay. The Bolsheviks not . only released him. but actually offered hini a portfolio in tho Lenin Government. This. he declined, but he at onco betrayed the possession of apparently unlimited money, and now exercises a power in Russia which mysterious and not capable of definition.

General Voyeikoff, who was known as, "the Bodawater general," filled, with the ex-Emperor, a part similar to that played by Vyrubova with the ex-Czarina'., -Ho regarded the war as principally important because he held the contract for the supply of. mineral waters to the army. He. caused shells and guns to be unloaded from trains, and boxes of his mineral waters to be put in their stead; for whatever the Russian Army might lack, ho was determined it should never run short of sodawater. When" the Czar was forced to abdicate, it was Voyeikoff who pointed out to him a ready reprisal. He had but to give the word, and the Russian Army which stood between the Germans and Petrograd would cease fighting, and allow ."tho enemy to march upon the capital. The suggestion was indignantly repudiated by the Emperor, and Voyeikoff was an object of general execration at that period. Like his associates, he now enjoys freedom and all the advantages wealth and influence can confer. It Is the people who wished his punishment whom the Bolsheviks pursue, and for whom Petrograd is no longer safe. Badmeieff, the "Mystic from Tibet," in whose house Protopopoff was arrested, is the merest vulgar charlatan. He is the open agent for this <band of plunderers, and has a number of emissaries touting for him in places where foreigners, anxious to securo passports, are likely to be found. Among these is the murderer of General Dukhonin, an Austrian, who had once been the general's valet in Vienna, but was |now (as at the time when he murdered his former master) masquerading as a Russian sailor.

• The escape of the Rasputin gang from the punishment which seemed inevitable in the early the revolution was duo, in the first place, to the dilatoriness of tho Provisional Government. The immunity they now enjoy, and the friendly relation's between them and the Bolshevik leaders, is something more difficult to explain; Petrograd puts the scandal down to German influence, and may not be far from the mark.