New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-22
Savinkof Joins
Death Battalion
In Russian Army
Famous Terrorist Swears
to Die Fighting
Germany

PETROGRAD. Sept. 21.-Boris Savin-
koF. Assistant Minister of War. re-
nowned eX-terrorist, who helped to as
sassinate Prime Minister Plehve and
Grand Duke Serge and was in at least
twenty plcts to remove" Russian OPP
pressors. to-day enlisted as a private
in a battalion of death" the members
Of which are sworn to ole IN connect
with the Germans.
At one time mentioned as possible
successor of Kerensky as head OF
rational Cabinet, Savinkoff Is man
with an extraordinary past even for
Russian revolutionist. He Is now
Gevout patriot, with a deep-seated love
for France, where he spent the Twelve
wears preceding the March revolution
SayinkofT is thirty-eight years DID,
having been born in January, 1879, at
Warsaw, where his father was magls-
trate. His mother belonged to an old
Ukraine family, a fact which has Its
importance at the present moment.
Boris passed through the Warsaw high
school and went to Petrograd TO study
law. He Immediately began propa-
ganda work-entirely of pacihc nat
ure-among the workers. He was ar
rested and shut up Schlusselbourg.
Deported Without Trial
Without trial Savinkoff was deported
"a Vologda, in the extreme north OF
Furopean Russia, where he lived quiet
lv with his wife and child. There he
was visited by the famous grand
mother of the revolution" Nine. Bresh-
kovskaya, who asked him to join
terrorist organization.
After taking year to consider ne
agreed. lie was ready TO give up ms
Young life Che was then not quite
twenty-three) to break the Romanoii
woke. He escaped from Russia and
reached Geneva, where he got IN
touch with the famous Azef cater
ward shown by Bourtseff to be an agent
of the Russian government maSquefad-
ing as a revolutionary.
Savinkoff and his friend from boy-
hoods days, kaliayef, returned 10 nus
STA to prepare the removal oil ,He
Prime Minister. Won Plehve. When this
was effected it was the turn OF GIah9
Duke Serge, and other plots followed,
twentv-two in all, some successful,
others failures.
Escapes from Fortress
Eventually, after Savinkoh had
taken an active part in the l9O0 reVoIu-
zion. the day came when he was ar
rested. and as he was shut up IN the
Sebastopol fortress il seemed lmposSl-
HE for him to escape execution; hahhS
To his brother-in-law, SllDefOers a
revolutionary assassinated later by
agents of the Emperor, Savinkoh sue
ceeded in escaping the very. evening
/ before he was TO be executed, by mean ,
which cannot yet be described anu
took refuge in France. 90, W,
Gpstaye Herve, editor of La vac
! toire." was one Of Savlnkon far'S
! friends Herve explains that he had
never felt like asking Savinkof any ae-
! tails about his participation IN the eN-
/ ,cution Of Plehve and the Grand Duke
/ Serre. but when Savinkof was leaving
/ for Russia last March they had a lare-
/ we'll luncheon together, at when no one
( else was present except Nine. SaNlh-
| kof.
PIehve's Assassination
Savinkof then described how, ID
| broad daylight, in a crowded 81. refers,
/ burg street, he had placed his team O.
| terrorists in position, at certain inter-
walls. and how Georges Sazonoh a BOY
! hood friend of Savinkoff) had thrown
! the bomb which destroyed the MIN
! ister's carriage, despite its armor
| nlates and assassinated Plchve. lie
! told how he leaned over Sazonof, who
! had tainted, having been severely m,
| iured himself by the explosion, and
| called out, George. GEORGE" in the
now deserted street, until the chief OF
police came up, all trembling, his teeth