AZEFF, ANARCHIST AND SPY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 121, 19 June 1909, Page 3

AZEFF, ANARCHIST AND SPY.

HIS LIFE-STORY TOLD BY HIMSELF. THE LAST STAND. Times of trouble followed after this. The whole country was in an uproar. Strikes broke out everywhere, and even the peasants took to tmeir guns, started shooting their landlords and tax-collec-tors, fired castles, and robbed right and left. On one hand, these disturbances' resulted in the granting of a constitution —a Duma—to tlhe country, and on the other hand they led the Revolutionists to further attempts at insurrection.

Starting from the argument that Moscow was the mother of Russia, and should, therefore, lie the capital of the new, great Republic, they decided to start there the insurrection, win the town by force of arms, .proclaim it as Hie capital of Russia's free sons, and use it as the 'basis of operation in their civil war. THE CHRISTMAS CARNAGE. It was agreed upon to devote the whole winter to the preparations of war, and to open the calnrpaiga in early spring. Here, however, the Revolutionists reckoned without their Lost. The Government had been kept on the alert, and, finding the plot was already so monstrously large that it could only be subdued by means of cannons and bayonets', [hey sent to Moscow several of the most trusted regiments just before Christmas.

The result was that the armed rising was forced upon the Revolutionists prematurely; and during lire eight days from Christmas to New Year's Day Moscow was (lie scene of the most fearful carnage.

The Revolutionists and workmen foughf-'likc lions upon the barricades, the shooting and lighting being kept up day and night. 1 have seen women upon the barricades, firing calmly upon (he approaching horsemen, and either falling or retreating when driven I'ioui their refuge by shell and shrapnel. But the full horror of insurrection remained to come. Having made little progress during the four days and nights tile fight had lasted, the soldiers' set the working-class district and town on fire. Amidst the (lames and smoke, amidst the sick and wounded, the fighting proceeded, the insurgents, scorched"' and tired and hungry, being steadily forced backwards towards the ice-covered river. ROUTING THE REVOLUTIONARIES'. Then the soldiers made a last charge in the light of the burning quarter. Having 'been defeated, the insurgents, with hag and 'baggage, .were forced into the river, where 'idle soldiers had previously cut the ice.

With tlie fall' of Moscow, fierce reaction set in all over Russia. Hordes of drunkea soldiers were sent to every district where disturbances had ocenrred, burnt whole villages', flogged old and young, outraged, murdered, and lotted to their heart's content.

This merciless campaign of the Government had a terrible effect upon the Revolutionary parties. .Most of the young men and women fled, others were arrested, and few remained on the active list.

It was at such time of general despair Hint my enemies first dared to raise their heads and to accuse me as a suspect and police-spy. Ex-police agents and people of .that description were my most redoubtable accusers, but they lacked convince" proofs against me, as all my police work was done directly •mtk the inimediatelv responsible chief of the department whose evidence was not available to agents of inferior rank.

Being, therefore, sure of my ground 1 faced my accusers boldlv, and in my defence I was always 1 supported bv mv friends and colleagues, and by my glorious Terrorist record. '

Thus for over two years I repeatedly silenced my accusers.

aieaniwliile, I still maintained the most influential position in the party, persisting in my double role, and organising nearly every bomb plot that °« ucceeded or failed, including two fresh attempts' upon the person of the Tsar The latter of the two I meant to bear fruit, and the Tsar would have succumbed but for the nervelessnoss of -tilie would-lie perpetrator. • The police at last got wind of the plot, and 1 sold them the man who had had three splendid opportunities to flmn Ins bom!., The price of this treasoa was an assurance, on tllie part of my chiefs to stand by me in the hour of need, for a new and strong case was again being formed against me. AZEFF'S LAST CJIANCE. As f am writing this, some very inlluential Hevolutionists have succeeded in getting me put upon trial. .My onlv chance is to interview now a 'forme',police ulnef in .St. Petersburg, a ,„| if llc reluses to he!,, me 1 shall be doomed, am my exciting career will r oc , closed hv a dagger-thrust— "Answers."

[.Note-As has since transpired, Azelf «as too late upon his arrival .in St. loersburg jjurtscir, |,j s arch-enemy, had forestalled bun. and obtained all the proofs lie wanted f rolll the ( ,x-Police Unci whom Azell' tried to "silence " Azell' has since been sentenced to death and is a fugitive. The ex-ollicial Lapi,!,lon has been arrested and convicted m St. Petersburg for having 'betrayed Azell sguilt to the Revolutionary Parte. A really Itussian situation!]