TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES

Sir,--Having just returned to England after a year and a half of absence in my own country, would you permit me to give a hearty greeting to England and to say how much the efforts of England are appreciated in Russia? I left London in May, 1914, to go as usual for a little rest to my Russian home, and I had not then the slightest idea of the coming calamity. I wished to return to London in the autumn, but I remained in Russia, hoping that there would soon be final victory. It has been a great happiness to me to see how the friendship between England and Russia has become realized, and how with all the sufferings and mutual anxieties it becomes stronger day by day. The idea of an Anglo-Russian alliance has inspired me almost all my life. It is what I have worked for—my dream, my ideal.

The war takes an intolerably long time and is a great strain. The sacrifice of men is terrible; the cost unprecedented. We have undergone much and lost much. Our Russian soldiers are equal in bravery to the British, the French the Belgians, and the noble Serbs. We are inspired by the same high ideal, and therefore we must win. The new conditions of warfare have horrified the world—the suffocating gases, the atrocities, the diabolical machinery. Our task is not easy, but I do not think anyone in Russia doubts of the final result. In spite of the new weapons, the terrible cost, the German intrigue and corruption, and the tremendous sums that must have been secretly economized by Germany for the purpose of bribery, we shall win!

Then there is the German trick of double nationality—the becoming naturalized in Russia or England and yet retaining allegiance to the Emperor Wilhelm; I rejoice to notice that Great Britain is dealing with that so wisely and energetically, not, I believe, recognizing nationality obtained within the last 10 years.

In spite of all, we shall win. On our side are—(1) Belief in the cause; (2) faith in God; (3) faith in the Emperor; (4) faith in our Allies; or, put it shorter, in the words of the motto of our Army, “Snami [sic] Bog”--“God is with us.”

But my chief purpose in writing to you is to say how we sympathize with England and appreciate what she is doing. Our enemies, of course, are trying to do their best to spoil our confidence in each other. That is only natural, but we know that, but for your Fleet, the Germans would have passed through the English Channel and invaded the coasts of France: that our Baltic shores would have been in greater danger; and that German trade would have continued. We know what your Army is doing, and we view with deep compassion and fellow-suffering the losses which you have undergone in Gallipoli, chiefly for our sake. We follow with deep sympathy your Roll of Honor.

My personal belief is that our friendship will survive all strains, and will persist into the coming time when, with God’s help, peace in Europe will be restored for many, many years.

I am, Sir, faithfully yours.

OLGA NOVIKOFF (née Kiréef)

4, Brunswick place, Regent’s Park, Sept. 30.