ADVENTURES OF A SPY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12663, 17 September 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES OF A SPY.

RUSSIAN SOLDIER ROUTS A JAPA- - NESE DETACHMENT. St. Petersburg, July 31.-—An interesting story of the adventures of a Russian spy named Volkoff appears in to-day's newspapers. The man gives the following account of hie experiences : — "After the battle of Wafangkow I was lying near General Samsonofl's tent, and heard him say to the commander of the regiment, ' We must send out a scout to the Japanese who could spy out their positions and report to us.' I offered to go disguised to the Japanese position. I was given siix roubles to bribe Chinamen if necessary, and also a revolver. I shaved my hair in front like a Chinaman, tied on a pigtail, and put on a Chinese dress, with slippers and hat. " At dawn on July 20 I came to the town of Senuchen. There was nobody there. The Russians had left it, and the Chinese had all run away. Suddenly a cavalry detachment of about twenty men wiTh an officer came towards me. The officer rode out and asked in Chinese where the Russians were, and what was their strength. I know a little Chinese, and answered him; but either I said something wrong, or he noticed my revolver and money bulging out. At any rate- hi became suspicious, and spoke some words to his men. Two of the latter thereupon dismounted, and came towards me. " I decided to sell my life dearly, for I knew it would be forfeited if I were captured. I pulled out my revolver, and as the two soldiers approached I fired two shots at them. Both the men fell. Then I fired at the officer, bringing him to the ground, and afterwards emptied the revolver at four, other men. The soldiers lost their heads, and galloped away, and as they did so I saw the four men I had shot a*- fall severally from their saddles badly wounded. "Then I jumped on one of the horses, which had remained close by, and galloped away for my life. General Samsonoff promoted me to the rank of an ,under officei, gave me the horse and saddle, and sent me on to the Commander-in-Chief, who thanked and embraced me, and conferred upon me a decoration. The horse was a brown one, well groomed and shod. It had Vjeen taught to catch bread like a dog," concluded the man, "and all the Japanese horses seem to be. like mine. When it is hungry it opens its mout>- to beg tor something."—Central News.