Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-10

form Of government among the most In
capable and corrupt in the world. They
refused TO serve In an army 90 scandalously
administered. They refused to recognize
tribunals whose justice is a mockery.
They refused to make the alcohol to
which the officials chiefly look for income.
They laid Russia under a boycott and for
themselves they organized a local govern
ment for the care Of roads and schools and
libraries, peoples courts for the public
discussion Of justice and mercy, and local
militia for defence.
They were successful in every point and
as long as they were let alone those little
provinces enjoyed rare happiness ana
freedom. But happiness and freedom are
not among the ideals OF the Russian en-
pire.
Preoccupied with their overwhelming
defeat in Asia and the suppression OF strug-
Cling liberty at home. the Russian govern
ment for a time withheld its hand When
peace was patched up and Moscow quieted
with death. Alikhanoff was ordered to turn
his Cossacks and soldiers OF the line loose
upon western Georgia.
For Glory of the Empire.
In four divisions of irresistible numbers
they came last January. and from end to
end the country smoked. Men were slaugh-
tered and women forced to shame that the
glory Of the Russian empire might be
avenged.
Remember, Il was mere vengeance. There
was no bubble about strategic necessity
OF the restoration of order by this process
of destruction. The peasants were quiet
and singuIarly happy in their state.
In refusing to tolerate Russian soldiers
and Russian exactions any more they were
but insisting upon their treaty rights. They
were insisting also upon the right of all
mankind to refuse with all their strength
the presence of alien and brutalizing forces
and TO refuse payment in support Of a self
appointed oligarchy almost as imbecile as
1t is bloodthirsty.
The method of vengeance was much the
same in all villages. may take as an ex-
ample the case of Aketi, a latgish village
on the right bank of the soupsa, where
was three days ago.
The commander of the Russian division
that devastated Guria was Colonel Kriloff
Of the Chersonese regiment-the Thirty
third. Having surrounded the village and
entered It without opposition, he ordered
| all the inhabitants to assemble in the
church.
While they were waiting there the bugles
sounded and from every side smoke and
flames began to rise. The soldiers, by
word OF command, first plundered the
homes of the peasants and then set them
on fire.
In that village over seventy houses were
burned 1 do not know the amount OF
plumber taken. but in the neighboring vii
lage of Nagomari, just across the river
thirty-one carloads were driven away, and
in that village eighty-seven houses were
burned, forty-two being isolated peasant
farms standing on their own land, and
! forty-five shops along the village street
or bazaar. as they cali it.
brutality UnspeakabIe.
When all the houses were in fun blaze
| the officers allowed the owners to leave
the church, taking from them their coats
and boots as they went, for the benefit Of
the soldiers Their next object was t
procure the women and girls, for the same
purpose.
where are your women?' one Officer
kept asking. 1T is your women we want.
At the first approach of the troops mos
of the women had been hidden in the for
ests. and he was informed Of this by one
of the shopkeepers, who himself described
the scene to me.
I'VE will find them. we will find them,
he said. THE car wants loyal subjects
Some were found. Some have since diet
of their treatment. But 1t Is a subject M
one cares to speak of; nor are the names
of the violated women betrayed.
For over two months, amid the cold ant
wet of winter and early spring. the people
remained hidden in the forests. Man,
died, especially among the women anS
children. Some went mad and persisted
wandering among the SHOWS Of the higl
mountain ranges.
Some found refuge in villages that es
capped. Last April they began to ventur,
back to the site of their ruined homes. o
their present condition and Of their pres
ent feelings toward the government whicl
thus promotes the consolidation OF its rot
ten empire I will say more in my mex
letter. H. w, NEVIsON.