Vladivostok, July 7.
On the night of April 4-5, jus before the Japanese took action against the Temporary Government, 96 officers and men belonging to the White faction were sent off under arrest from Nikolsk-Ussuriisk. For some time nothing was heard of them, and then ugly rumours began to circulate, Finally the fact was established that all were killed. One of those who miraculously escaped, gives his experience to the paper "Slovo," which I translate for the benefit of your readers, so that a full understanding of these candidates for "self-government and the dictatorship of the proletariat" may be arrived at. "We were a party of 96 persons when we were sent off from Nikolsk. There were $5 from the jail and 1) from the guard-bourse, eight were let out at station Vierino, six partisans, one soldier and one signalman. We were sent off with an echelon of the 93rd regiment, which was renamed the 33rd Revolutionary Regiment, under the commandership of a person named Schneider.
We were in two prison-cars, The attitude of the guard to us on the road was abominable and expressed itself in the coming in of each soldier who beat and tortured ug, swore at us, and frequently peated the phrase that "we had drunk their blood.""
Prutace asp Brvraviry.
We were given food once a day, five pounds of bread to each 12 persons. Water was given us in small quantities, as they did not think it necessary to give water to "counter-revolutionists." Finally we arrived at Krasnaya Riechka (on the other side of Habarovsk). When we arrived here, we found the place full of "Partisans" (i.e. Bolsheviks under a new name), who thought it necessary to force their way into the cars, which were soon so full of people that it was impossible to turn. The work of building the "workmen-peasant" government began then and there, it being found necessary to steal the boots, shirts, trousers and other things belonging to the prisoners, even to the little crosses that each Russian wears around his neck. Our guards to @ very active part in this division of the spoil, being encouraged thereto by their superiors.
But not every one gave up his things. Col, Ivetski, of the former 33rd Regiment, in spite of the fact that he was threatened with a revolver, and also with a dagger, refused to give up his wedding ring, stating that it could be taken only after his death. A meeting was held by the "tovarishes" (com-yades) in honour of our arrival, and a resolution was carried to the effect Cain had begun his work. that we were all to be shot. The resolution was not put into effect, and then forarish Schneider and a Korean—there were Korean and Chinese sections of the Partisans—persuaded the meeting to rescind the resolution. Our car then emptied of its unwelcome visitors. Tt was found that not a single one of us had escaped beating, and that almost all were stark naked. After this. our cars were uncoupled from the rest of the train. Orders were received from the revolutionary staff to send us off to Vierino. There a halt was called. Orders were received to take us back to Krasnaya Riechka. Back went. As soon as we arrived, "comrade" Schneider triumphantly informed us that the sentence of death had been rescinded.
Tue Work or Cars.
We remained here at Krasnaya Riechka till April 6. In the evening, our guard, which had hitherto consisted of soldiers of the 33rd Regiment, was changed for a guard of Partisans fromthe Korean section, and we were again sent off to station Vierino at the disposal of tovarish Orloff. We arrived there at night. In the morning our Korean guard was changed for one of peasants from the surrounding villages. Here we rested somewhat from the frequent beating and torture till April 9.
Sri April 9, about Lo'clock, Col. Vrashtel and Col, Ivetski were summoned. Vrashiel, with his usual calm, went out. although he was stark naked. Ivetski, hearing the order, refused to go. stating that it was better to die where he stood. Then the "arbiters of the nation" began to exercise their talents. He was beaten with the butt, wounded by bayonets, kicked, struck. pierced by daggers, but all covered with blood as he was, he refused to move one step. The soldiers went out again to tell Orloff that Ivetski was obdurate. Orloff himself, with a strong guard, came to the waggon and command-Ivetski to come out. The latter refused, stating that "not every could comniand him. A noose was thrown around hi neck and he was dragged from the What. happened after this I cannot tell as it was outside the waggon, but from questions we put to the guard we ascertained that both the colonels were put to torture.
Col. Vrashtel's last words were "proschaite bratsi"—goodbye, comrades! After some time, the con-yoy again came into the car and called out of us, Cos. Morozko, Gerilovich, three volunteers, and a peasant. As in the former case. none of these returned. About an hour afterwards we heard a volley.
Houncerie ror Dears.
After April 9, we. were given neither food nor water, and so we sat till the 12th. About this tonic the Partisan echelons began frequently to come up from Iman. Each echelon made its way into our cars, and again we were beaten and tortured, the Partisans crying "Why do you hold them? Give them to us; we shall settle with them!" We were beaten at every change of guards. On April 19 we were hopeful that our turn had come and that death would release us from this constant torture. Death had come to be pleasant. All day we lay, not closing an eye, nerves being strung to the utmost through hunger and torture.
In the, evening of the same day we were all driven into one car Soon we began to move. We were so stupid by this time that it was absolutely' a matter of indifference to us whither we went or what. happened, provided it was soon. One of us asked the guard where we were going, to which he answer-that we were being taken to judgement. We were all ordered to lie on the floor of the car and not move, under pain of instant death. About 11 o'clock the Death Train halted, bus we did not know where. We were told that we would at once be called up one by one. After half an hour, the Rottmeister of the dragoon Regiment was summoned. We heard the splash of water, the sound of a heavy blow, and' the command "Give us the next!"
Ten persons were taken out in this manner, but no one' returned. We did not know what was being done. A swarm of ideas rushed into our heads. and different surmises were made. We were still on the floor of the car, so that we could not see where we: were. Finally, Cornet Bortkevich, who knew the place well, whispered "we are at the bridge. over the river Xor." Then we understood what had happened and what our fate was to be.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.