Page:John Feoktist Dudikoff - Beasts in Cassocks (1924).djvu/63

 rage tore it to pieces, shouting: "I don't give a damn for your American citizenship, while you are a Russian subject we have the right to treat you in accordance with our Russian law." Seeing an infuriated crowd of Gendarmes about me who in their rage were wielding their swords and revolvers, shouting that I was a spy sent to destroy the Monarchy, I told them that I had come on account of very important personal matters, which pertained to the Holy Synod. To this the colonel of the Gendarmes replied: "We know why you came back." and he enjoined me not to divulge any of their inhuman behaviour. Thus, although I was wholly innocent, I was arrested and incarcerated in the Fortress of Peter and Paul, in the underground cell No. 16, where I stayed from June 29 to August 16. During this period I was frequently called for examination. I was shown photographs of Russians who had been in America. The photographs were inscribed with comments about the individual concerned. If one had returned to Russia, his photograph was marked "returned"; if he was under arrest, his photo was marked "returned—taken," exactly as mine, which I was shown at the examination. I also noticed confidential reports by Gregory Kunashexsky who runs a steamship office in New York, and also by Victor Hartz. Information against me as well as against others who had been in America was signed by these two men, who apparently were informers, employed by the Russian General Consulate in New York.

On August 16, 1915, I was commandeered to the Reserve Officers' Corps in Moscow, and attached to the Second Grenadiers' Regiment of His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrowitch. I was appointed Captain of the Sixth Company. A week later I was sent to the Nortwest Front. After three months I was wounded and taken to the hospital in Wilno. While there I wrote twice to Platon in Kishiniev, requesting him to return my money. I received no answer. After having recuperated from my wound,