To the Editor of the “Westminster Gazette.”

Sir,—A young woman entered a very crowded first-class compartment at Petrograd the other day. In conformity with the Russian habit, she had no glove on her right hand.

Two rough-looking fellows entered the same carriage. Said one to the other in a voice the lady could not help overhearing: “Look at her hand!—fine diamonds—very costly.”

She rose and stretched out her hand to the occupants of the compartment “Yes,” she exclaimed, “costly diamonds—no doubt. Whilst I was the wife of a General I only wore one golden ring: now that I am the victim of a Bolshevik private, I have as many diamonds as I like.” That was all she said, but I dare say her looks expressed more.

There was something dramatic in her tone, and probably the public looked at her with pity and sympathy. But the two ruffians left the carriage as quickly as they could. Who the lady was I do not know—but I seem to understand what her feelings were.

The above is only one example of how everything in Russia is transformed from Holy Russia to what it is now—Cursed Russia in many parts of the country.

The publication of the recent White Book on the Bolshevik atrocities is most commendable, though exceedingly painful reading to Russians. Still—after that—cases like the above-mentioned become comprehensible to any attentive reader.

And how grateful we are to a remarkable leader so full of courage and military talents as Admiral Koltchak, who tries to stop these horrors and gives an idea and fervent hope of what Great and Holy Russia confidently expects to be once more! His position and our position are still most difficult, but should be recognised at once as legal and patriotic.

Of course I am not a judge of military questions, and cannot say whether Russia wants reinforcements in men; but that ignorance of mine does not prevent me from emphatically stating that we stand in terribly tragic need of moral reinforcements in the capitals of the Great Powers, and ammunitions and food from every capital great or small.—Yours, &c.,

Olga Novikoff.

4, Brunswnck-place, Regent’s Park, N.W. 1, April 27.