New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
War Minister Soukhomlinof
Was Not Conscious Traitor
K,cb.ner Of Russia" Took Wrong-feaded View Of Task
and Was Too misunderstanding OF Wife Friend
for Treason Brought Strong Suspicion

eral Of Kiey. She vas the wife OF
"A land owner in the south Of Russia,
wealthy but not very interesting per
son. who had taken her out OF law
yer's Office. where she was employed ~ =,
a copyist, and married her despite her
Jewish origin and humble circum.
stances. he was older than she, AMI
they were never very closely bound TO-
gether. even before Soukhomlinoh took
notice Of her. 49,.
The Governor General and the pretty.
witty Jewcss met constantly in kiev,
He fell in love with her so deeply that,
although he was siyty-one and she not
much over thirty, and although there
was a good deal Of difference between
their positions IN life, he determined
20 marry her. She was daZzled by cne
thought OF being the wife Of high
Official. A divorce was obtained q
matter over which there Is seldom much
difficulty in Russia, and the girl who
had begun her career in an ONCE pc
came a parsonage and woman OF
fashion.
Wife Contributed to Downfall
She lived up to this character with
skill and success. In Petrograd, whers
she has lived for a number CT years,
since the general was made Minister OF
War. -he was prominent ard popular.
Il was no bar there 70 distinction that
she had Jewish blood ia her. She was
good looking, small. dark, bright-eyed.
She had a clever tongue. She worked
hard in the cause OF charity. She
dressed well and kept up the dignity OF
her husbands position. He was man
Who had always attracted women, AND
she seemed 10 be really fond OF him.
There we're stories told about her, but
of whom are stories nor told IN Petro-
grad?
when the blow fell upon Soukhom-
linofr. she did her best 20 get him re-''
leased, and falling that, to Tighten his
lot in the prison of Saint Peter and
Saint Paul. She obtained permission to
send his own study furniture TO his
cell. She visited him as often as the
rules would allow. Perhaps she feit,
in addition to any affection which she
had for him. that II was she who haa
contributed TO his do"nfaH. Sne was
a friend of the wife of Colonel Meeah.
suyedoff. the traitor who was hanged
for selling information about the
movements of the Russian troops 10
the enemy. They were both Jewesses
and had been friends as girls. Ihis
created a prejudice against her ana
something of the same cloud fell upon
her husband.
NeeahsuyedoT had been long sus-
nected. Nv friend Boris Suvorin, who
owns and edits an evening paper IN
Pctrcgrad, knocked lis hat oil at
race meeting and challenged his good
faith long before the war lie was
obliged 70 fight duel with Alexander
- Mf,s-Har nf Mn
nitions, on the same accIsation. What
every one asked when the revelation
o. his trcachery was complete, vas
this: How did il come about that a
man of this doubtful character was APP
pointed 20 a post on the staff which
gave him knowledge OF confidential
docuracrtso The explanation was,
believe, that the colonel's wife went TO
Inc generals wife and made an appeal.
The general was 100 kind-hearted, and
the mischief was done. Once more
those who contend tha, there is always
a woman at the bottom of all trouble
are able 70 say, 81 told you so.'
Minister Made a Scapegoat
The Kitchener OF Russia" con-
demEed TO hard labor for life! The
favorite Of Ru sian society and the
friend of grand iuchesses lett 20 pass
the remainder OF her days IN poverty
and disgrace. SO the wheel of fortune
turns. Poor oil Soukhomlirof has
been made a scapegoat for the faults
os many others as well as for his own.
And. after al the confident assertions
Of Nine. Souahomlinof's guilt as spy
and a traitres., the court has set her
free and pronounced her innocent. |
do not sG ypose there will be much
sympathy With either OF them felt in
heir own country. They represent in
he popular mind all the vileness and
thn incomp tence Of the old bad sys-
''u of Gutocracy. But when | think
o. hem a, they were, no worse than
many others, not nearly so much to
'.-. a. S'u'mrr and Protopopoh,
F1.-l. o. IN urtace al the gay life
.. r..r1.ra. .hogt a fear for the
..... Ia.. ny acts Of kindness,
persuaded b. tha fa.tery o. friends
AND Aa a8a.st.ot q. able t.tors that
..., .... -.r. Of the eternal order
a. flmg. .h.. feel sorry fer them.
They were .a.sbo human souls.
a.t.-. u's T. WJ5dl