The New York herald., 1921-07-10

On one or two occasions when. wealthy
Chinese merchants had been robbed and
murdered by Semenoff at the frontier it
did protest vigorously, but nothing came of
the protests. The Swedish Government also
protested on account OF the robbing of some
Swedish merchants who were leaving
Siberia with large sum of money when
they were plundered by Semenoff's Cos
sacks and afterward found dead in wood.
Nothing came of this either
The Mongol Leader Robs
BY Means of Armored Motor Train
Dick Turpin had his trusty steed Brown
Bess, but Semenoff robbed in an up to date
way by means of an armored train, in
which he patrolled the railway line be-
tween Chita and the Manchurian border
Scandinavian merchant who had accumu-
lated large sum of money during many
years passed in Siberia and who had
hidden that money while the Bolsheviks
were in power in Siberia got it together
after the Czecho-Slovaks had cleared the
Transsiberian in August, 1918, and reached
Chita with it, Knowing that he could not
get into China without Semenoff's knowl-
edge he took the bull by the horns, called
on the Ataman and laid the case before
him. 1t is presumed that he offered Seme
noff portion of his fortune, for that chief
tain treated him very Hospitality and in
sisted on bringing him right to the frontier
in the famous armored train. He was last
seen being tremendously ushered into the
train by Semenoff, amid an armed guard
of -Cossacks, all saluting respectfully He
aft ri lie
money Next day Semenoff returned alone
to Chita, and he ever afterward discouraged
any inquiries about that Scandinavian and
his gold.
Sometimes Semenoff went so far that his
Japanese employers had to demonstrate
gently with him. He stopped on one occa
sion an English officer in uniform and took
money from him, but vigorous complaint
from the British commander led to an
apology from him and return of the loot
He had at least dozen MISUNDERSTANDING
with the American troops, and on one oc-
oasion the Americans were on the point of
opening fire on him. He made trouble
with the gallant Czecho-Slovaks every time
they passed, and on one occasion Gen.
Gaida was compelled to send him public
ultimatum couched in the most violent Ian
guage-the only sort OF language which
Semenoff understood In September, 1918,
travelled from Harbin to Ekaterinburg in
Gaida's train, along with Major Slaughter,
the American military representative and
while passing through Semenoff's territory
we had to "stand to- all night. under arms.
in view of information we had received to
the effect that the Ataman contemplated
an attack on us
While passing through Semenoff's terri
tory Gen. Knox, the British commander in
Siberia, was held up by Japanese troops. a
soldier mounting guard over the engine
driver while other soldiers examined the
train This naturally led to vigorous
protest on the part of the British General,
but though the Japanese quibbled and ex-
planned they never really apologized. After
Kolchak formed his Government at Omsk
Semenoff continually stopped ammunition,
equipment and supplies for the Russian
troops on the Ural front.-~This elicited
scores of the most violent complaints from
the British and American Generals who
we're supporting Kolchak. but still the
thing went on. and it probably had some
thing to do in the end with the Supreme
Rulers" downfall.
Associated With KoIchak
Tb;e Coccack Refraved Him