Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-10

of the widowed Czarina of Russia
and her four pretty young daughters
up to four weeks ago, but vague reports
from chaotic Russia created a strong i'm
preston that they had all been killed
Concerning the little Czarevitch, the
Czarina's only son, the reports left little
ftlbt that he had persisted. In country
Where the executioners are killing daily
until they drop from exhaustion at their
work OF slaughter, there can be little hope
for members of the former ruling class
who are caught in the whirlpool of an.
archy.
While the fate of the dellcately nurtured
Czarina and her family must fill us with
horror. It Is still more amazing and shock
ing to learn that the unfortunate woman
by her treachery brought about the entire
tragedy Of Russia.
Evidence had long shown that there was
constant communication between the Rus.
sian court and the German military com.
mand. Our knowledge of this subject has
just taken long step forward. Commits.
sioner Henry w. Mapp OF the Salvation
Army, responsible American who had
been sent to Russia to relieve distress,
came back with positive information that
the Czarina herself had sent direct commu-
n1cation by her private wire from Tsarskoe
Sslo to the German Kaiser giving infor-
nation that the British War Minister
Lord Kitchener, had sailed for Russia
Kitchener's mission was to provide for
better cooperation between the Russian
and Allied armies and to check the dis
organization of the Russian armies which
had already begun.
Kitchener sailed for Russia on the
cruiser Hampshire IN April, 1917, and the
snip was torpedoed by the Germans off
tho north OF Scotland and lost With eyerv
body on board. This tragedy was directly
traceable to the information supplied by
the CZarina.
The latest evidence indicates that the
Czarina constantly furnished to the Kaiser
intelligence concerning Russian military
movements. She was a cousin of tha
Kaiser. the sister OF reigning German
sovereign. the Grand Duke of Hesse. n Ger
man princess herself by BIRTH training
and instinct. Like the Queen of Greece
unreasonng adherent OF the Kaiser.
Right we'll did she work for her imner;a,
master. Through her treachery she
brought about the ruin OF her adopte6
country. the defeat of its armies and the
generalization Of its entire political struc.
ture. previously weakened by terrible
losses and sufferings
Her treachery, according to this view.
was the main factor that caused not only
the collapse Of the empire but the death
OF her husband and her son, and, it an
pears probable, of herself and all her
daughters
Never perhaps in all history has there
Deen more perfect case of retribution
for treachery.
Thu last days of the czartna and her
Isurpassed terror. Lost in the wilds Of
the most desolate part Of Russia, at tho
imercy OF half-crazed Bolsheviki politicians
Red Guards and unwashed peasants. the
condition OF this family Of delicately bred
women def]es description. The wretcbad
Czarina, once the wife Of the most abso.
lutte monarch in the world, the possessor
OF jewels valued at $4,000 900, had not
even the power to communicate with her
relatives and friends
80 great was the uncertainty about the
Czarina's fate that His Holiness the Pone
sent an inquiry about month ago to the
austrian Ambassador at Petrograd ask.
ing II he could find out what had hap.
pened to her and her daughters. The
Austrlans having nominally made peace
with the Bolsheviki it was supposed that
they could obtain some information from
them. The Ambassador answered His
Holiness that their death had been re-
ported and denied, and that no reliable In.
formation could be obtained.
The Pope then sent an ecclesiastic o.
high rank to Russia with instructions TO
find out definitely what happened to them
and to remove them to place of safety,
II possible. AS the place where the family
were last heard from, Ekaterinburg, is
nearly thousand miles from Petrograd,
and as railway travel Is almost at an end,
no one can say when the envoy will com.
plete his mission.
One Of the latest and most circumstantial
reports declared that the Czarina and her
four daughters had been murdered at q
village near Ekaternburg. A former court
servant returned to Petrograd, who de.
clared that he had seen certain details of
the tragedy.
According to this man, there had arisen
violent quarrel in the local Soviet as to
what should be done with the Czarina and
her daughters. The six most bloodthirsty
members Of the Soviet, butcher. an inn
keeper and four peasants, then went to the
house In which the poor women were i'm.
prisoned and shot them all.