Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/214

188 time, a movement has been launched with the object of developing Russia's own wax industry.

Rumors were recently spread in the government of Tula that miracles were observed on the grave, of Leo Tolstoy at Yasnaia Poliana. These rumors rapidly gained credence among the peasants of this locality, especially among followers of Tolstoy's teachings. A group of these followers of Tolstoy was recently arrested for circulating a proclamation against war, which they issued under the name of "Our Open Word," signing it as "Tolstoyans."

Following the recommendations of the military and marine courts-martial, a new set of rules was issued on January 22, 1915, making penalties for military offenses more severe than heretofore. The whole of Section 2 of the Military Code has undergone changes. The death penalty is now provided for the following offenses: desertion from the army, unless the deserter returns voluntarily; attempts of desertion to the enemy; attempts to avoid military service or military duties by furnishing false certificates of sickness, or by intentionally injuring oneself, in order to escape service.

The District Court of Petrograd decided to postpone the case of G. S. Nosar-Chrustalev, pending the report of the commission appointed to investigate his sanity. Chrustalev was the president of the Workingmen's Council during the revolution. He was then exiled to Siberia, but succeeded in effecting an escape. He was living outside of Russia until the beginning of the War, when, like many other revolutionaries, he returned to his native country to take his place among its defenders. He was promptly arrested and changes were preferred against him on account of his escape from Siberia. The appointment of a commission to investigate his sanity came as a result of his repeated requests that Justice P. D. Ifliand should not preside at his trial. Chrustalev petitioned the highest authorities for a change of the presiding justice on the ground that Ifliand is of German extraction and that his sympathies are with the Germans, which fact would make him inclined to be harsh with the defendant. Chrustalev even charged the justice with being a secret "German spy." The Justice himself made a request that he be relieved of his duties, and Justice R. I. Savich was appointed to preside at the trial.

Archbishop Andronicus of Perm, in a prelate's message to his diocese, condemned the rapacity of the merchants who raise the prices of necessities of life. "Like German murderers, or wild jackals," says the archbishop in his message, "they attack the people of Russia. By the power, granted to us by God, we say to these men, who are so fond of money: 'Your silver shall be your ruin. Your riches will rot away. You are jackals who attack your own kin, you are harmful and dangerous enemies of your country.'"

The War Office plans to concentrate in Central Siberia all the prisoners of war already sent to Siberia. Several agricultural societies of Western Siberia, however, are petitioning the government not to remove all the prisoners from their districts, as their labor in the field is necessary there. On the other hand, the agricultural communities of Central Siberia are anxiously awaiting the arrival of these prisoners.