The Washington herald., 1919-05-05
CHAPTER XVII
Pacing LenIne and Trot.ky.

Petrograd seemed populated by Red
Guards. One could not make a stcp
without encountering one. They kent
strict watch over the station and ali
the incoming and outgoing trains. Nv
escorts left me on the station platform
as they were TO return to the front i'm
mediately.
| had hardly emerged froom the sta
tlon, intending to look for a cabman
when Va Red Guard commissarv. sr-
companied by a private with a naked
saber, stopped we with the polite
query:
Madame Botchkareva?
Yes
"wfII you come with M. plcas..''
he suggested.
Where" I asked
TO the SmoIny Institute"
But why"
Because l have orders 10 dctain all
officers returning from the front he
replied
But I am only going home tired
TO argue.
Yes. I understand But as an Off
Ger you will also understand that 1
must obey orders. They will probably
release YOU"
He hailed a cabman aud we drove TO
( the Smolny institute. the seat OF tho
Bolshevik government. Il Impressed
me as heavily beleaE EUered ,-astle
There were armed scntri,S every where.
Ac'onpanid by Red Guards ] was led
( inside. There We're guards az every
: desk. ! was taken before a sailor. he
, was very rough and brusque.
Where are you Eoing?" he demand
ed cUrtly.
! Il am going home. TO q village near
/ Tomsk." 1 replied.
Then why are you armed" he
: sneered
Because / am an officer. and this is
my Uniform" I answered
j." blaZed up.
An officer. eh? You VIII be an on
CO no more. Give me that pistol and
a.,ter.'' he ordered.
Arrested by Omeer.
Tho arms were those given me at
/ the conservation of the battalion's far.
priced them too much 10 hand them
over like that to this rogue Of a sailor.
. and ] refused his demand He grew
furious. 1t would have been futile to
! RESIST as the room was fun OF Red
( Guards. ] declared that II he wanted
my arms he could take them. but I
would never surrender them myself
l He violently tore the pistol and sahc-
from me and pronounced me under ar
rest. There was a dark cellar in the
! Institute which was used as a place o.
detention. and ! was sent down there
and locked up. I was hungry, hut re-
ceINed no answer to my calls and rs-
mained in the hole till the following
morn .nS- As soon as ] was brought
upstairs | began TO demand my arms.
ne various chiefs. however. remained
deaf to my pleas.
I | Was informed that ,,-a-,1a - .-r--..
before Lenine and Trotsky. aud WI .
soon led into a large. light room where
two men Of contrasting appearance sat.
| apparently expecting my entrance. one
! had typical Russian face. Tho a-hr-
, looked Jewish. The first was Nfl,3iaf
Lenine, the second Leon TrotSIl, Ro.a
arose as ! stepped in and walked to-
ward me a few steps. stretching. ou-
their hands and greeting me cour-
| teously.
Lenine spologized for nv arrest cv-
planning that he had learned Of it only
that morning. Invit nC mo to a seat
! the two Bolshevik chiefs Cop,pIfr-.rrs4
! me upon my record Of service and h,-
gan 10 sketch TO me the era Of happ1-
ness that they sought 10 bring uDan
Russia. They talked simply. smoothly
and very beautifully II was for tho
common people. the shaving masses.
the Under-doE, that they were fCbt.rE
| They wanted justice for all. Wasn't
| OF the laborinE class myself YES. I
was. Wouldn't 7 join them ana co
operate with their party in bringing
happiness TO the oppressed peasant
and workman. They wanted Peasant
women like myself. they appreciated
such deeply
| You will hrrC Russia not to happi-
ness, but to ruin said
Why" they asked. w. seek only
what is good and right. Tho people
! arc with Us. You saw for yourself
that the army IL with US"
Il will tell YOU why" I replied. u
have no objection TO YOUR beautiful
plans for the future Of Russ a. Put
as for the immediate situation. il Won
take the soldiers away from the front.
YOU are destroying the country" ar
Eued.
But we want no war We arc Co
ing to conclude PEACE" the two load
ers replied.
How can you conclude peace With
out soldiers at the 'front.' You are Do.
mobilzinC the army already. You have
got to make peace first and then lot
the men so home I myself want peace.
but IN ] were in the trenches I would
never leave before peace had becr
signed. What you are doing will ruin .
Russia
Benine and TrotsLy.
! We pe Sendinc sbp s,l4f,s,.s ,,,-r.