EVENING JJE)D0E-"liHnJADELlHlA', TUESDAY, iNOVJBMBER C, 1917 V I I . iWI if 1 r -1- V- -var IJiePjriTKfossRadziwxlL (Copyrlsht, 1917, Tub lie Ltdirr Company. All rlnhts rcaerved ) Russia Was Honeycombed With German Spies at the Outset of the War, Who Were Working Hand in Glove With the Highest Officers in Command of the Army It Was This "League of Treason" That Was Responsible for the Disastrous Result of the Mazurian Expedition "After the disaster of Tanncnberg and the loss of two Russian army corps in th fiy Hwumps 01 uic luazunanyrcgiun, it yvub uiBuuyuieu uwi evmv spying oia gjrTW nature had been going on and it began to be whispered that the 'Prophet' if not exactly a German agent, was at least a partisan of separate peace witB Germany." Not the Least Frequently Mentioned Person in This Connection Was the "Blessed Gregory" Rasputin Insinuations Were Frequent, but His Skill at Intrigue Made It Absolutely Impossible for Any One to Link His Name Definitely With Any Particular Instance of Giving Information to the Enemy IT WAS ubout that time that the Massayedoft" incident took place, about which such a lot has been written and which deserves a pass ing mention in this record. MassayedoiT was n colonel who had already given some reasons to be talked. alJout for misdeeds of a jnore or less grave nature. General Rcnnonknmpf, when he had received the command'of the Kovno Army Corps, had energetically protested against hid appointment on his staff, but headquarters Ignored his representations and maintained the colonel in his functions. German Intrigue and Rasputin After the disaster of Tanncnberg and the loss of two Rus sian army corps in the swamps of the Mazurian region, it was discovered that some spying of a grave nature had been going on and that the principal spy was Colonel Massaycdoff, who had kept the enemy informed of the movements of the Russian teoops. He was tried and condemned to death, which sentence was duly executed. Together with him several individuals com promised in the same affair, mostly men connected with ques tions of army purveyance, were also hanged. Among these last was a man called Friedmann, who had been one of the para sites who were perpetually crowding around Rasputin. The latter, however, when asked to interfere in hia faor had refused to do so, but whether this was due to the desire to get rid of a compromising accomplice or the dread of being mixed up him self In a dangerous story, it is difficult to say or to guess. But others talked, if the "Prophet" himself remained silent, and soon "it began to be, whispered that he was also, if not exactly a German agent, at least a partisan of a separate peace with " Germany. There certainly exist indications that such was the case. In iplte of the strong character upon which Rasputin prided him self, it is hardly possible that he could have escaped the influence of the people who were constantly hanging about him, and who were all partial to Germany. This was due to the fact that they hoped if the latter Power triumphed and vanquished the Russians to obtain from the German Government substantial rewards for their fidelity, in the shape of some kind of army contracts for the time that the Prussian troops remained in occupation of somo Rus sian provinces. It is quite remarkable that while the nation in general was all for the continuation of the war, and would have considered it a shame to listen to peace proposals without consent of its allies, commercial and industrial people were always talking about peace to whomever would listen. And Rasputin had now more to do with that class of individuals than with the nation. It was at that time that ho suddenly imagined himself to be endowed with perspicacity in regard to military matters, and that be attempted to criticize the operations at the front, and especially the leadership of the Grand Duke Nicholas, whom he hated with all the ferocity for which his character had become famous. Ho was known to be absolutely without any mercy for thoso whom he dis liked. He disliked none more than the Grand Duke, who hod, on Prophet' himself remained silent, Ir's-'cH Jl vhtspered that he was in league Wii tr. Jf i , i ri;L jfl i i ysor r " "But others talked, if the and soon it began to be with Germany.1 one occasion when the "Prophet" had tried to discuss with him the conduct of tho campaign and even volunteered to ariivc at head quarters, declared that If he over ventured to put in an appearance there he would have him hanged immediately from the first tree he could find. Rasputin was prudent, and moreover he knew that Nicolas Nicolaiewitsch was a man who nlways kept his word, so he thought it wise to leave a wido berth between him and the irascible commander-in-chief. But he applied himself with considerable per beverance to undermine the position of- tho latter, and especially to render him unpopular among the people, accusing him openly of mismanagement in regard to military matters and of want of fore sight in his strategical dispositions. In the beginning this did not succeed, partly because the stuff did not allow any news of importance to leak out from the front and partly because the country believed so fiimly in a victory over tho Prussians that it was very hard to shake its confidence in tho Grand Duke's abilities. Tho early successes of the first Galician campaign had strengthened this confidence, nnd no one in Petro grad during the first months of tho year 1915 ever gave a thought to the possibility of our troops being compelled to retreat before tho enemy, and no ono foresaw the fall of Warsaw and of the other fortresses on the western frontier. Rasputin, however, knew more than the public at large. He had his spies everywhere, who faith fully reported to him everything that was occurring in the army. He was well aware that the army was suffering from an almost complete lack of ammunition, and that it would never be able to hold against any offensive combined with artillery attacks on the part of the enemy. This knowledge, which he carefully refrained from sharing with any one, enabled him to indulge in prophecies of a more or less tragic nature, the sense of which was that God was punishing Russia for its sins, und that with an unbeliever like the commander-in-chief at the head of its armies it wus surely marching towards a defeat which would bo sent by Heaven as a warning never to forget the paths of Providence, and never to dis dain the advices of the one prophet that it had sent in its mercy to 'save Russia from all tho calamities which were threatening her. He used to speak in that way everywhere and to everybody, even at Tzarskoie Selo; not to the Emperor and Empress, of course, but to all those persons surrounding them who were favorably in clined toward himself and likely to spread abroad the prophecies which ho kept pouring into their ears. But, in spite of all this, he was not quite so successful as he had hoped, because owing to the ignorance which prevailed as to the real state of things in the army, few people believed him, and fewer still would own that they did so. Once more Rasputin'a star was be ginning to wane, nnd even the Empress began to think him very wearisome with his perpetual forebodings concerning misfortunes which seemed to be far away from the limits of possibility. Then suddenly things changed. lackensen began his march forwnrd, and the Grand Duke, with his heart full of rage and despair, was compelled, owing to the mistakes, the negligence and the crimes of others, to make the best out of a very bad job, and to try at least to save tho aimy confided to his cure. Even if ho had to sacrifice towns and fortresses, he had declared 'he would never, and under no condi tions whatever, surrender to the enemy. The great retreat began, und proved to be one of the most glorious pages in the history of Russian warfare, a deed the gallantry of which will live in the mili tary annals of the world as almost as grand a one as the famous retreat of Xenophon und his 10,000 warriors. Russia appreciated its importance; the world admired it; the Tzar, though he may have shed bitter toars over its necessity, felt grateful for the talent which was displayed in such a terrible emergency. Pebble In Fet began looking for those upon whom they could fix tho rcsponiWIHp- fnr thin nwfnl rlliinrnft'nfmnf whlrli Ytaii nvnvtna 41.M. Ttl ii.JW rj ........ ....... .. ,v.av H1UII. iiltB wa the moment for which Rasputin had been waiting with the pttiwat of tho serpent watching for its prey, nnd of whfch ho hasten! U ' mnke use with the infernal cunning he usually displayed in all Dm evil deeds with which he was familiar. Attacking Grand Duke Nicholas The secret police agents, who wore workimr with him. nnd thwSt to whom ho had been enabled to make the enormous profits that 1m4 added so.many millions to his fortune since the war had started, W- gan to spread the rumor that the Grand Duke was plotting again ' tho Tzar, and wanted to usurp tho lattcr'a throno and crown, out t fear of being called upon to render an account of his activity during the nine months of tho campaign. Though it was quite evident tint tho responsibility for tho lamentable want of organization which had culminated in the momentary defeat of the Russian troops lay upon tho War Office and the Artillery and Commissariat Department, and though the War Minister, General Soukhomllnoff, had been dis missed in disgrace before being sent to tho fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul to await there his trial; though strenuous efforts had. been made to punish thoso to whose carelessness this mass of misfortune had been due, yet Rasputin and his friends applied themselves to th task of representing tho Grund Duko as being moro guilty than any ono else, and of having on purpose kept secret the real state of things, out of fear that ho would be called upon, if ho revealed tb truth, to surrender his command. There was not ono word of truth in these accusations, because Nicolas Nicolaiewitsch had, on the con trary, worked harder than nny one to repair tho blunders of others, and had never shared the blind confidence in victory which so many people who knew nothing about the real condition of affairs pro fessed to nurse. He had done all that it was humanly possible to do, in order to save a situation which had been doomed from tho first day that it had begun to develop. If ho had failed, this had been in no way his fault, but that of circumstances and of fate which bad proved too strong for him. The public, however, thought differently, and Rasputin's numer ous supporters helped it to come to the conclusion 'that the Grand Duke ought to be deprived of his command by .some means or other. This, however, was not such an easy thing to do, because the Em peror had a sincere esteem and respect for his uncle, and understood better than all those who criticized the latter tho extent of the dif ficulties against which he had had to fight. He refused to listen to those who had tried to shake his confidence in the commander-in-chief. He .might have go no on for a long tlmo doing so had not Ras putin succeeded in winning over to his point of view several high ecclesiastical dignitaries, who took it upon themsolves to speak to the sovereign of the desire and wishes of tho nation to seo him as hume himself the supremo command over his armies. They, assured him that it was quite certain that the armies would fight ever so much better under the personal leadership of their Tzar than under any other commander-in-chief, no matter how high might be his military reputation, or how elevated might be his rank. This was quite a new point of view, and Nicholas II had to examine it with attention, the more so as the Empress, too, had been won over to the idea, and was pressing him to give to his subjects this satisfaction for which they craved. The military situation was then recognized, even by the most optimistically inclined people, to be very serious, and it was gener ally felt that something had to be done to excite the enthusiasm of the troops, which had lately begun to wane. The assumption by the Tzar of the supreme command seemed to present itself almost ip the light of an absolute necessity. Perhaps from some points of view Rasputin was not so very wrong to urge it, as it most certainly, pro duced a salutary effect on the whole situation. But it is to be doubted whether the "Prophet" had ever looked at it from that point of view. It is far more likely that his only ainvhad been the displacing, of th Grand Duke Nicholas, who. had begun to look too closely into a), that was going 'on around Rasputin, and tt watch the, differenl in trigues in which tho latter was taking part with an attention that did not promise anything good for him, or for the further develop ment of his career as an adventurer. (CONTINUED TOMORROW) RAINBOWS END By REX BEACH Sr Author of "Tho Spoiler," "Tho Barrier," "Heart of the Sunset" A novel of love, hidden treasure and rebellion in beautiful, mys terious Cuba during the exciting days of the revolt against Spain. Copyright Harper A Urulhere. CHAPTER VI (Continued) "you don't take ire for u. spy, do you?" Johnnie asked, with Ills friendly grin. "Ah! You don't look like one, but we never know whom to trust. This joung lady In whom you are Interested, who Is hen "Her name is Varonaj Miss Rosa Va rona." "8o?" Enrlquez raised his brows. "Not by any chance the heiress to that famous Varona treasure?" "Exactly 5 If there io such a thing." There ensued a pause while the Cuban drummed softly upon his desk with his fingertips. "Her brother Esteban told mo that he was working for jour cause. I warned him to be caieful, but " O'Reil ly' voice grew suddenly husky. "Hero! Read this. I want you to believe me." Reverently he laid Rosa's letter before her countryman. "I'm not In the habit of showing my letters to Btrangers, but I guess that'll convince you I'm not a py." He sat Bllently while the letter was b)hg read; nor was he disappointed in the result. Mr. Enrlquez raised dark, compassionate eyes to his, saying: Help From Enriquez "This is a tquchlng letter, sir. I thank you for allowing me to see it. No, I don't doubt you now. Poor Cuba! Her sons must be brave, her daughters patient." "Weill You understand why I must go quickly, and "why I can't chance delay by going either to Matanzas or to Ha vana, I want to land somewhere farther east, and I want you to help me to find Colonel Iopea." , Mr. Enrlquez frowned thoughtfully. "What X Just told you Is literally true," he said at last, "We work in the dark tip here, and we don't know the where abouts of our troops. We are suspicious of strangers, too, as we have reason to be. But I have a thought" He excused himself and left the room. When he returned lie explained; "I don't have to till you that we are watched all the time, ind that for us to aaslst you openly would be (labia to defeat your purpose. But I bve just telephoned to a man I can trust, n4 1 have told him your story. He has relatives In Cuba and he agrees to help you, If h can HU name; Is'Alvarado." Writing an address upon a card, he handed It to O'Reilly, "do to hlm tell him w)it you have told me, and do as be directs. "Another thing,, don't return here unless t 1 necessary; otherwise when you land ft Cuba you may have cause to regret WMr. KnrkHMc tndd Ills hand, ami when O'Reilly tiled to thank him he shook his head. "It Is nothing. I wish you success, but I fear you have tackled a big proposition.'' Doctor Alvarado, a high type of the Cuban professional man, was expecting O'Reilly. He listened patiently to his callei's somewhat breathless recital. "You do well to ao!d the cities where you are known," he agreed.. "It would be madness, under the circumstances, even to be seen In Matanzas; those ene mies of your friends would have you deported. But Just how to reach the In surrectos " "If jou'd merely give me a letter say ing I'm a filend " O'Reilly Gets Instructions The doctor promptly negatived this sug gestion. "Surely you don-t think It can be done as easily as that?" he inquired. "In the first place, wherever you land, you will bo watched and probably searched. Such a letter, If discovered, would not only end your chances, but It would bring certain disaster upon those to whom It was written. I have no right to Jeopardize the lives of those I hold dear. These aie perilous times for all good Cubans, Mr. O'Relll" Enrlquez told me about that poor girl. She bears a famous name and I want to help her.1' He removed his glasses and wiped them, absent-mindedly. "There are three Alva rados living," ho resumed. "My two brothers, Tomas and Ignaclo, reside in Cuba, and we all work for the cause ot Independence in our own ways. I am fortunately situated, but they are sur rounded by dangers, and I must ask you to be extremely careful in communlcat. Ing with them, for I am placing their lives In your hands and I love them dearly." "I shall do exactly as you say." "Very well, thenl Go to Nuevltas, where Tomas lives there Is a steamer leaving In three or four days, and you can arrange passage on her. He is a dentist. Meet him somehow, and make yourself known by repeating this sen tence: 'I come from Felipe. He told me how you whipped him to keep him from going to the Ten Years) Wart" That will be enough; he yrlll ask you who you are and 'what you want." "I see. It'H a sort of password." "No. 1'ye never had reason to com municate with him In this way." Noting the bewilderment in O'Reilly face, Al varado smiled. "You woit't need tq,say anything more. No living aoul, except Tomaa and I knowa that he thrashed me, but It la true, I was young, I wanted to go to the war, but he took It put of me with a bamboo. Later we bound pureelvea never to sientlo tt. lie wW understand from the message that I trust you, and he will help jou to reach the rebels, If such a thing is possible. But tell me, when you have found Miss Varona, what then?" "Why, I'll bring her out." "How? Do you think you can walk Into any seaport and take ship? You will be tagged and numbered by the au thprltles. Once you disappear Into the manigua, you will be a marked man," Alvarado Helps "Well, then, I'll marry her Tight there. I'm an American citizen " "Don't build too much on that fact, either," the doctor warned. "Spanish Jails aro strong, and your country hai never compelled that respect for Its na tionals which other countries insist upon." "Perhaps! But the first thing Is to find Miss Varona and learn that she's safe. I don't much care what happens after that." Alvarado nodded and smiled. "Good! What would this world be without senti ment? It loves a lover. I like your spirit and I hope soon to have the pleas ure of again seeing you and meeting your wife." O'Reilly flushed and stammered, where upon the good Cuban patted him on the ahoulder. "Come and see me when you get back, and bring me news of Tomas. Now, adJos, compadre." "Adtos, senor! I am deeply grateful!" O'Reilly had no difficulty In securing passage direct to Nuevltas on the English steamer Dunham Castle, and a few dayB later he saw the Atlantic Highlands dis solve Into the mists of a winter afternoon as the ship headed outward Into a nasty running sea. It proved to be a wretched trip. Oft Hatteras the Dunham Castle labored heavily for twelve hours, and bad weather followed her clear Into the old Bahama Channel. Not until ahe had thrust her nose Into the narrow entrance of Neu vitas harbor did she wholly cease her seasick plunging, but then the weather changed with bewildering suddeqness. Cuba Again Cuba, when it came fairly into eight, lay bathed In golden sunshine, all warmth and welcome, like a bride upon an azure couch. The moist breath from her fra- grant shores swept over the steamer's decks and Johnnie O'Reilly sniffed it Joyfully. He had brought little luggage with him, only an extra ault ot khaki, a few toilet articles and a Colt's revolver, tho com panlon of his earlier Cuban days. Ho waa holding the weapon In his hand, debating how. and where to conceal K, wh4 the THE STORY THUS PAR JOHNNIE O'REILLY, more commonly known as THE O'REILLY, has fallen in love with ROSA VARONA, one of the orphans of DON ESTEBAN VARONA, a wealthy slave owner and sugar planter of Cuba. Don Esteban had hoarded a vast fortune In precious stones, old Spanish coins and modern currency in a secret chamber at the bottom of a well. In building this well he was assisted by SEBASTIAN, a faithful slave, the only other person to share the secret. When Don Esteban's first wife died he became the target for many match makers, who knew vaguely of his hidden fortune. DONA ISABEL suc ceeded in becoming the second wife and immediately set about intriguing to learn of the fortune. Hoping to get information from Sebastian, she succeeds in having his daughter EVANGELINA sold. The slave, infuriated, murders his master and several others before he is shot. Thus In a few minutes the only two persons Who know the whereabouts of the fortune are killed. Isabel tries vainly to get information from PANCHO CUETO, the manager of the plantations. Instead, he threatens to claim the estate as his because Don Esteban left no deeds to the property. That night Isabel falls into the well and is drowned. She is rescued by ESTEBAN, Rosa's brother and a spy for Colonel Lopez, the leader of the Cuban insurrec tionists. Pancho Cueto finds a letter with information which Esteban had dropped and turns it over to the authorities. Rosa and Esteban then escape up the valley to the hut of Evangelina, their old nurse. O'Reilly, back in New York at the office of the firm which he repre sented in Cuba, anxiously awaits information from his sweetheart. His many letters do not bring a reply until months later, when Rosa tells him of the misfortunes that have befallen since he left Cuba. O'Reilly determines to rescue his beloved, and for that purpose calls upon Mr. Enriquez, head of the Cuban junta in New York. Enriquez says he is help less to aid O'Reilly. first officer paused In tho stateroom door and. spying it, exclaimed: "Hello! Smuggling arms to the Insur- rectos, eh?" O'Reilly laughed. "It's an old" friend. I don't know Just what to do with it." "I'll tell you," the mate volunteered. "Lead your old friend out here to the rail, shake hands with him and drop him overboard before he gets you into trou ble." "Really?" "I mean It. They won't let you land with that hardware. Take my tip." But Johnnie hesitated. Though his In tentions were far from warlike, he could not bring himself, In view of hla secret plans, to part with his only weapon. He eaamlned his extra pair of khaki trousers and discovering a considerable surplus of cloth at each Inside seam he took needle and thread and managed to sew the gun In so that It hung close against the In side of his right leg when he donned the garment. It felt queer and uncomfort able, but It did not appear to be notice able eo long as he stood upright. With some pride In his stratagem, he laid off hla winter ault and changed into lighter clothing. Nuevltaa was scorching under a mid day sun when he came on deck. Its lqw, square houses were glaring white; here and there a splotch of vivid Cuban blue stood out the rickety, worm-eaten piling , of Its waterfront resembled rows of rot ten, snaggly teeth smiling out of a chalky face mottled with unhealthy, arti ficial spots of color. Gusts of wind from tho shore brought feverish odors, as If the city were sick and exhaled a tainted breath. But beyond, the hills were clean and green, the fields were rich and ripe. That was the Cuba which O'Reilly knew. Spain at War A Spanish transport close by waa lan guidly discharging uniformed troops: lighters of military supplies were being unloaded; the sound of a bugle floated from the shore. Moored to the docks or anchored In the harbor were several shallow-draft "tin-clad" coast-patrol craft from the staffs of which streamed the red and yellow bars of Spain. Although there were but a few pas senger on the Dunham Castle, they were subjected to a long delay during which suspicious customs men searched their baggage .and questioned them. Finally, however, O'Reilly found himself free to go ashore. He had passed the ordeal han dily, and now he waa eager to reach some lodging-place where he could remove that revolver which knocked against hla leg so awkwardly at every step. Once on the dock, he gave hla ba to a negro and led the way toward tho street. At the last moment, however, Just as he was about to plant his feet upon sol(d earth, he was halted by two men who rose from a bench where they had been Idling. They carried the tosseled canes of the Secret Service, and O'Reilly felt his heart Jump. With a murmured apology one of them relieved the negro of the valise while the other began to search O'Reilly's person for concealed weapons. He began at Johnnie's shoulders and patted one pocket after another, "fanning" him In the fash ion approved of policemen. Now, too late, the American regretted his refusal to heed the mate's warning. It seemed cer tain that he was In for trouble, but he drew his heels together and stood with tho revolver pressed between his legs, praying that those exploratory palms would not encounter It. "When tho officer had slapped every pocket, ending at the hips, he nodded; his companion snapped shut the valise and handed It back to the porter. El Gran Hotel Europea O'Reilly paused a moment or two later to wipe the abundant perspiration from his face; even yet his pulse was pounding erratically. He hoped the future held no more surprises of this sort, for he feared that his nerve might fail him. El Gran Hotel Kuropa, Nuevitas's leading hostelry, belied its name. It was for from large, and certainly it waa any thing but European, except, perhaps, in Its proprietor's extravagant and un-American desire to please, at any cost. The building was old and dirty, the open cafe, fronting upon the sidewalk of the main street, was full of files, and dust from tho unclean roadway lay thick upon its stone-topped tables; moreover, a recog nizable odor of decay Issued from the patio or perhaps from the kitchen be hind It. After O'Reilly's first meal he was sure it came from the latter place; even suspected that the odor flattered actual conditions. But It was the best hotel the place afforded, and Senor Carbajol was the most attentive ot hosts. He was a globular, unctuous little man, this Carbajal; he reminded O'Reilly of a drop of oil. He evinced an .unusual In terest In the affairs, of his American guest, and soon developed a habit of pop ping Into the latter's room at unexpected momenta, ostensibly to see that all was as- it should be. Now there waa very little In the room to need attention only a bed with a cheesecloth mosquito net, a washstand and a towering', smelly clothes press, of Spanish achttecture, which looked as if It might have a dark and sinister history. When, for the third time, he appeared without knocking-, O'Reilly suspected something. "YoU have everything, eh?" Mr. Car bajal teetered upon the balls of his feet while hla small black eyes roved Inquisitively, "Everything In abundance." 'There is water, eh?" The proprietor peered dutifully into tho pitcher, inci dentally taking stock of O'Reilly's toilet articles. "A veritable ocean of It." "One never knows. These servants are so lazy. But your other baggage, your trunk?" Suspicious "I have no trunk." "So? I took you to be a great eler." "I am." "Selling goods', eh?" "No." "Indeed? Then you are a pleasure traveler? You see the "sights, is that itr Well, Cuba Is beautiful." "Most beautiful, Judging from what I have seen." Mr. Carbajal wagged a pudgy forefinger at his guest. "Tut! Tut! You know Cuba. You speak the language better than a, native. Tou can't fool me. sly one!' He wrinkled his face and winked boUt eyes. It was an Invitation to further con fldence, and he was tdlsappolnted when It passed unnoticed. "Well, you Ameri cans are a brave people," he" continued. with an obvious effort to keep the co versatlon going. "YoU like to be wherje the fighting la." "Not I. I'm a Umld man.'V "Ho! Ha! Ha!" the proprietor cackled, Then he became pensive. "Thre fs noth. Ing here at Nuevltas to Interest a tourist except the war." "I'm not a tourist." "Indeed? Now that la Interesting." lr, Carbajal seated himself on the edge at the bed, where he could look into P'Rett ly'B traveling bag. "Not a, tourist not a traveling man. Now what could poe elbly bring' you to Cuba?" y O'Reilly eyed hla inquisitor gravely; a subtle melancholy darkened his agreeable countenance "l travel for my health said he. "Your health f" Carbajal' fram began to heave, his bulging abdomen os cillated as if -shaken by some hWMfix hand. "Good! Ha! There',? another ekf for you." 'I'm a sick man." O'Reilly hollowly. "From what malady do yof inquired the hotelkecper. , " "Rheumatism? "Rheumatism? Thai fc m' rtw - a pain in the !, svUtl IimM! i 13 I. ., . I '4 ) - ,. ' tfcf jy&efx n , ?& . t '. .C4 Wmrj "v. .wnmnMHf -n . e -.- ?-SSS-