For a moment the vast gathering remained silent. It was a pathetic calm. There was a painful sense that our much-cherished freedom had turned into an oppressive bondage. Suddenly a couple of men raised their voices, shouting protests, denouncing the speaker, even threatening him. They were promptly seized and placed under arrest, and quiet was restored. “Allow me to answer the question!” I shouted to the chairman from the distant place I occupied. “Botchkareva! It’s Botchkareva!” a number of voices passed the word to the platform, and immediately I was lifted up and carried on to the platform. “It’s a pleasure to speak to you now,” I began, “only a few weeks ago you would have torn me to pieces.” “Yes, it’s true! We killed many!” several men interrupted. “But we were told that the officers wanted to enslave us, that’s why we killed them. We now see that our real enemies are not the officers, but the Germans.” “Before I answer the question put by the previous speaker, let me ask you what your attitude is toward the Allies?” I said. “America, England, and France we trust. They are our friends. They are free countries. But we distrust Japan. Japan wants Siberia,” came in reply from many directions. Here a soldier interrupted and asked permission to ask a question. It was granted. “I can’t understand why our Allies do not defend us,” he said. “Not even one of them has come to our help at a time when Germany is devouring our land. The Allied envoys are running away from Russia, and those that remain do not listen to the voice of the masses, but to the representatives of Lenin and Trotzky. At Moscow I saw an official of the Soviet escort an Englishman to a train. I was hungry. There were hundreds of soldiers like me at the station. Our hearts were aching. We wanted to give him a message, but he did not even turn to us. Instead, he warmly shook hands with the Soviet official.” “What if we should appeal to the Allies, to America, England, and France, to furnish us with bread, arms and money for the reconstruction of the front?” I resumed. “How can we trust them?” I was interrupted again. “They will come here and work in league with Lenin and his band of bloodsuckers.” “Why not join forces and elect a Constituent Assembly, and let your own leaders co-operate with the Allies?” I suggested. “But whom could we choose?” “That we would decide later. There are plenty of good men still left in Russia,” I answered. “But what if I, for instance, should want to do something, would you trust me?” “Yes, yes! We know you! You are of the people!” hundreds of voices cried out. “Well, let me tell you then, I am going to America and England. If I should succeed and come back with an Allied force, would you come to aid me in saving Russia?” “Yes, we will! Yes, yes!” the crowd roared.