The Washington times., 1922-04-01

justification of Mirbach's death. She
and her comrades were fully pre-
pared to take the consequences of
the reading of that document by clos.
ing the Fifth Congress and arresting
the entire peasant representation,
with Maria Spiridonova at their head.
In September, 1920. the Chekn was
again busy proving its usefulness 10
the revolution by one of It's periodic
raids and discovery Of plots. In the
raid which took place in Moscow the
hiding place of Maria Spiridonova
was accidentally discovered. She was
then sick with typhus and could not
be removed. The house was surround
ed by q heavy guard and no one
from the outside admitted to her.
When the crisis was over, Spiri-
donova, though still very Ill. was re-
moved to the Ossoby Otdell (secret
police section) and placed in the pris-
on hospital. So grave was her condi-
ton that another arrested Left So
ial-Revolutionist, a woman friend Of
Maria's Siberian days, was permit
ted to take care Of her. Both were
kept under strictest surveillance.
without the possibility Of communi-
eating with their friends.
In June, 1921, q letter was received
from the prison, painting the dismal
picture Of her terrible life. The con.
slant watch Of the comrades" Che
kists. the solitary confinement, the
deprivation Of mental and physical
food were slowly accomplishing what
the tortures under the Gar had fail.
ed to do. Spiridonova had developed
scurvy-her limbs were swollen,
teeth and hair falling out. Added to
this was the hallucination that she
was being pursued by the Kendarmes
OF the Car and the Checklists of
Lenin.
Threatened to Starve.
At one time she had attempted to
starve herself to death. The Cheka
threatened forcible feeding, but final.
ly acceded to the demand Of Spiri.
donova's two closest friends, Izmail.
ovitch and Kamkoff, themselves
prisoners, to let them coax Maria
into accepting nourishment.
During the two congresses in
Moscow, held in July, 1921, the
comrades of Spiridonova circulated
a manifesto which had been sent by
the Communist party and to the main
representatives of the government,
calling attention to the condition Of
Maria Spiridonova and demanding
her release for the purpose OF ade-
quate medical treatment and care.
A prominent foreign woman dele
gate to the Third Congress of the
Communist International was ap-
IN hA -
was reported as having seen Trotz-
ky. who had said that Spiridonova
was still too dangerous to be lib
Grated. 1t was only after accounts
OF her condition had appeared in the
European Socialist press that she
was released, with the proviso that
she is to return to prison on re-
covery. Her friends who are taking
care Of her are now facing the
alternative OF either letting Spiri-
donova die or see her back In 'ths
best Of care" Of the Cheka.
One thing only can save Maria
Spiridonova-the opportunity to
leave Russia. Her friends have
made such n anand upon the Rol-
shevik government. but 30 far in
vain. In 1906 the protest Of the
CiNhiLeu Woro saVeu the ll19 OF
Spiridonova. 1t Is indeed tragic
that a SIMILAR protest is again needed
In her behalf. Away from the watch.
ful eye Of the Cheka. from the woe
and distress Of tortured Russia,
somewhere In the free, pure noun
tain air Maria Spiridonova may
again recover. She has suffered o
hundred deaths. VIII she be given
back to life?
Copyright, 1922. by the Press Publishing
Co. (New York World).