AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9294, 16 February 1907, Page 5

AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.

KUROPATKIN'S BOOK. SOME AMAZING REVELATIONS. 1 [PRESS ASSOCIATION ] I Received February 15, 9.55 p.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, February 15. General KuropatkAn's -history of the Russia and Japaatese war was published in December, but the Government immediately suppressed the book. It contains amazing revelations of disorganisation, unpreparedness and incapacity, and alleges disobedience of urgent orders, notably by General Kaulbars, upon whom Kuropatkin practically places the main responsibility for the debacle at Mukden. General Grippenberg is also much blamed. KuWJpat^Jn- admits thaiT he himself contributed to the Mukden defeat, by not providing a. sufficient strategic reserve. THE MURDER OF GENERAL PAVLOFF. A CAREFULLY-PLANNED CRIME. (Per .R.J^^Vcntura at Auckland.) ST. PETERSBURG, January 9. . r Lieutenant- General. Vladimir Paivloff, IBne Military Proouratar, or Advocate-Gen-eral, known since the days of the late Parliament as "Hangman Pavloff," from the epithet constantly applied to him by the Radical Deputies, was shot dead at 10 o'clock this morning while walking in tlifi garden of the chief Military Court building, near the Moika Canal. The assassin-, who was .disguised as- a workman, was captured after a long chase through the crowded streets, during which he fired about forty shots from two revolvers which foe earned, killing a policeman and wounding a small boy. The crime- had been carefully planned, and was ■executed deliberately^ showing evidence oj the most caopeful preparation which was characteristic cf the murders of Generals Ignatieff and Yon Der La/unitz. This murder w^as undoubtedly canned out by the aarne organisation, which, it is reported, has stentenced the Emperor Nicholas and several of the Ministers to death. The assassin, who wore the uniform of a military clerk attached to the Coairt, succeeded in obtaining entrance to the garden under the pretext of submitting a report to the Military Procurator. He approached the general, and when within arm's length drew an automatic pistol and. discharged seven shots into General Pavleft's body. Every shot was well aimed. Two of them tone a gaping wound in the General's breast, from which he expired while being carried to has apartments. From the nature of the wounds it appeared tihat the steel- jacketed bullets wtare flattened at tbjcir ends in order that they might inflict more serious woundsi. Hastily slipping another "clip" of cartridges into his xevclver, and drawing a second weapon, the assassin ran across fche garden to the carriage entrance, threatened the porter with his pistols, and dashed down Glinka street with a crowd of tihirty house porters and court attaches, iv piiramit. A pol'ceman in. front of the Imperial Opera House attempted to seize the assassin, but was? shot dead by the latter, who turned and opened fire on his pursuers, wontding a boy. The assasbin then resumed his flight I through the streets, firing at tlh© police , officers and the house porters who attemptad to bar his way. When his ammunition gave out he was intercepted and captured at Lantern lane. After several years as Military Judge General Pavloff was appointed AdvocateGencaal of the War Ministry, and later Vrccurator of the Supreme Military Court. He sprang into national prominence when delegated to arrest interpellations of the Government in the Lower Housei of Parliament in regard to the executions in tha I Baltio provinces aDd Poland. He justified these with such cold-bloodedness and disregard of the sientiments of members that it arovsedl the indignation of almost the ent're House, and he was driven from the rostium v.ith crua of "Murderer!" "Assassin!" When the General next appeared in the Lower House he was not allowed to speak, and was threatened with, violence. The information which the Revolutionists 1-avei been able to acquire of their marked victims indicates widespread treachery in the Military Court, and the greatest alarm •is felt in official circles!. The assassin of General Pavloff was apparently informed by an, accomplice among thte court attaches that the General was in the garden at that hour, as the garden is. ettirely closed, and to-day is a holiday.