Evening star., 1904-02-27
Mritten for rhe Erenlng Star BY William .Thorp.

In all probability no two countries ever
went to war knowing more about the de-
tails of each others strength and weak
ness than Russia and Japan do at the
present time.
Both nations have had an army of spies
at work for several years, and the itd-
ventures of these men. If they cared to
make them known would form the ma
terial for scores of thrilling romances
Russia employs more secret agents than
any other country in the world-perhaps
1t would not be going too far beyond the
mark to say more than all the other
nountries put together. She has several
bf them in every important city In the
United States; recent debate IN the Ger
man narliament showed that Prussia is
honeycombed with them; there are scores
In London under the command or that
Wonderful woman Madame Olga Nou-
kofr. better known to the literary world
as 90 k" and the bazaars of India are
Aever free from the presence OF the Rus.
sian agent, usually an Asiatic subject OF
the czar. The recent arrest and execution
of the Japanese Interpreter at the Rus
eian legation in Tokyo is believed TO nave
DESTROYED the foundation stone OF an
elaborate fabric of Russian espionage IN
Japan. but no doubt the czar still has
plenty of other secret service agents
there.
/ Central Asia has been the greatest field
for the exploits of Russian spies in the
past. Many OF them have performed deeds
of bravery unsurpassed by any of the
heroes who have fought openly for the
czar on the field of battle. To be a sue
ressful spy a man needs to have splendid
equipment of cool courage; answering
devotion intelligence and resource. There
is no limelight for him, no encourage
haff faEO Of rdp
He is a lone hero who takes his life In
his hand with little hope of glory II he
wins, no hope of sympathy if he loses and
pays the penalty of failure.
Many of the best Russian secret service
agents are officers who. for one cause or
another have been reduced to the ranks.
They are willing to dare any peril In or
der to win back their former commission.
Z In America and England said an Eng
1ish traveller who has closely studied the
Russian military system in Central ASIA,
-"the authorities dismiss from the army an
officer who has made a false step, and
however good a man he may be profess
sionally he Is practically lost TO the coun-
try. In Russia. on the other hand. he is
simply reduced to the ranks, stripped of his
titles and sent to some frontier district OF
Asia to serve as private soldier
such a man naturally becomes desper-
ado. He forms splendid material for
dashing leader in time of war, and as Sc
cret-service agent he is most valuable, for
le is ready to dare anything"
agent in Central Asia. was one of these
tmen. He is an Asiatic. by birth a Daghes
tani. He was given commission in the
IRussian army and rose rapidly under Sko-
Ebeleff. During the Russo-Turkish war he
served in the Caucasus as aid-de-camp to
the Grand Duke Michael. who commanded
Hhe forces in that region.
Fell Into Disgrace.
But toward the close of the war Alikha-
noff suddenly fell into disgrace through
Guarreling with superior officer and chal-
1enging him to fight duel. He was tried
by court-martial, deprived of his rank and
decorations and reduced to the ranks.
Some years afterward Private Alikhanoff
burned up again in Central Asia, and won
n commission as cornet of Dragons by his
Halor in the Turcoman campaign. But that
did not satisfy him.
The Turcomans. routed at Cock Tepe, fed
across the desert to the Merx oasis. where
they gathered their forces together for a
desperate resistance. The Russians decided
that it was necessary 10 make a military
survey of the oasis and the routes by which
Ut could be reached. Alikhanof was chosen
dor the task.
: He Travelled to the oasis disguised as an
Armenian trader. taking with him cara
Nan consisting of a few camels A cornet
of Cossacks, named Sokoloff accompanied
ihim. disguised as a native caravan clerk.
They reached Merv safely after six days
tourney across the desert and encamped
lat night In the midst of the Turcomans
without anybody knowing who they were
Except two or three of the chiefs, who
fwere in Russian pay.
! Alikhanoff might simply have spied out
the land and departed. but he flew at high
er game. Next day he boldly threw off the
nnask proclaimed himself to gathering of
rhe chiefs as the representative of the
great white czar. and haughtily demanded
Hheir submission
or course they Were furious. Swords were
nrawu and pistols leveled at his head nv
tfozens OF raging Tureomans but he calm
ay rolled a cigarette and said:
The Ultimatum.
You can kill me II you like. but IL you
90 you will throw away your last hope of
mercy from my master. the ear Submit,
and he viii treat you as a father Resist
and your tribes shall all be blotted from
the face of the earth
The chiefs whom Russia had bought QUIET
ed the others. and Alikhanon's bold bear
ang made deep impression. The Turco-
onans agreed to discuss the matter and Al
gkhanon stayed with them for a farfnjgbt
IN imminent peril OF death all the time
Disguislng himself again he used every
opportunity to explore the oasis. Each morn
png Just after dawn he stole out from his
camp 10 secure unobserved a complete sur
rey OF the fortihcations erected by the Tt,r-
comans.
nife. and left. He had nearly conyfnced
HE Turcomans of the desirabiIity OF sur
render. and he decided to report to his su-
perlors ana then complete his task
While he was gone another Russian or
ncer. Mohammedan named Nasirbegof,
Elsited Merry In disguise; and he was fol
so~eo 3y young surveyor, Gospodin Les
par. who Is now Russian minister at Pc
ping. These men made complete surveys of
Hhe country around Merv without the Tur-
comans being any the wiser
Then Alikhanon, accompanied bv q fav
horsenen, rode back to Merry dressed this
time at Russian officer. and demanded i'm
lmRd1atl alTrandar he Tar-1
TO his indomitable will, and their country
became Russian province. with AIikha-
non. the former spy, as It's governor His
toid rank OF major and all his decorations
were restored to him by the czar, and he
now holds high military position In
Turkestan.