THE FIRST NEWS OF THE REVOLT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3030, 17 March 1917, Page 9

THE FIRST NEWS OF THE REVOLT

By Telegraph-Prees 'Aflsociatioa-Oopyrieht ' '. . • ' London, March 15. Following upon the revolutionary crisis- in Russia, the Tsar, Nicholas IT. has abdicated. , The Provisional Government set up by the Duma has appealed for public support. The Revolutionists, supported by the populace and the entire garrison, arrested the members of the Cabinet. M: Rodzianko (President of the.Duma) was appointed head of the Provisional Committee. There was desultory shooting in the streets of the capital on Wednesday night. ■ but the situation is calmer. Troops from Moscow, Kharkoff, and elsewhere joined the revolution. The "Central News'" Petrograd correspondent reports that on Wednesday the Government resigned. A Provisional Committee of the Duma was appointed, and tho troops joined the people. The political prisoners were liberated. Many military and casualties occurred. The crisis lasted four days, 'but the position is now; quieter. The movement is anti-German.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.'. J IN LINE WITH ' THE ■ IDEALS OF THE ALLIES ""•'' New York, March 15. •A message from Washington says that the State Department has received a confirmation- in substance of the Russian revolution, • but there is no details as to-its,extent. Officials regard'the revolution as probably the most democratic "victory of the century;-ensuring closer political sympathy with' .-•the''dettocratic'idßals l of the;. Allies, and a more tenacious prosecution of tho war to_liberalise"'Europe.''"' ■ ;.. ~_•;.„;. ■.:->.;: The "Newark Globe" says: "The-pro-Germans in Russia are responsible -for absolutism-; -their overthrow is assured by the success of tho revolutionists.""'" " STORY OF THE REVOLUTION -,-".-' . .(Rec. March 16, 9.35 p.m.)' London, March 15. The Central News Agency at Petrograd states (Wednesday nis*ht) :— "The Ministers' of War and-Communications have been taken to the Duma's meeting place. Petrograd te gradually assuming a quieter aspect, but desultory snooting continues Tn most of the streets and few people venture out of doors to-night. The workmen have declared their determination to work overtime to make up the arrears of work, in order to prosecute the war to .victory. '• _ The soldiers have taken over the Imperial palaces. The commander of the palace visited M. Rodzianko (head of the Provisional Committee), stating that the Empress wished to see him. The Grand Duke Cyril lent his motor. Speaking to the troops that had been detailed'to meet the'machine-gun,regi-ments which had joined the revolution, M. Rodzianko said: "We are all Russians. We must try to avert superfluous disorder and bloodshed. Wo all desire a real Russian Government.'" The Central News says: "The revolutionary movement is spreading like wildfire. Enormous quantities of provisions are arriving in Petrograd." M. Protopopoff (Minister of the Interior) has personally surrendered to tthe Duma.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ;.;-;• AN 'EYE-WITNESS'S ACCOUNT (Rec. March 16, 9.35. p.m.) -Stockholm, March 15. 'An eye-witness of Saturday's-events in Petrograd states that the authorities from the first feaTcd to emoloy tho troops against the revolutionaries. The fighting the populace and tho police, supported by some of'the'Cossacks, was very-sanguinary,'but part of the Cossacks sided with _the "people. When the Superintendent of Police for tho Vyborg quarter •ordered the' Cossacks to charge,.he was cut down.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WHAT PRECIPITATED THE OUTBREAK (Rec. March 16, 9.35 p.m.) Paris, Maroh" 15. A wireless message from Petrograd describes the ©vents leading up to the outbreak. After the Duma adopted M. Miliukoff's motion demanding an immediate revictualling, the Council of Ministers held a meeting. M. Rodzianko urged that the Zemstvos should' bo entrusted with the revictualling. Prince Galitzine stated that this would necessitate a complete remodelling of the laws. M.'Rodzianko and M. Chtcheglovitoff promised to Becure a vote for.tie remodelling of the laws, but tho Duma was dissolved next day. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. LATEST ACCOUNTS STIRRING EVENTS DESCRIBED (Rec. March 16, 11.25 p.m.) London, March 15. Reuter's correspondent at Petrograd, describing tho stirring events at the .capital, says:—l have been all day and night in the streets during the last three days, and have seen long queues of hungry men, women, and children outside the bakers' shops; I have seen wanton firing with rifles and machine-guns; I have seen civil war in the main thoroughfares. Yet I have no"t heard a single word against the war. The shortage of food, tho lack of organisation, the neglect of the most elementary precaution, are all popularly ascribed to German influences. A patriotic determination to exterminate these influences was fired by the recent killing'of tho Monk Rasputin. The conflagration burst on March 12, when the regiments declared for the Duma and the people, and the naval b arracks were opened to enable tho sailors to participate. Scenes in the Streets. Describing the scenes in the streets, the correspondent says:—"The troops were ordored to use their rifles and machine-guns. There were only a few cartridges in the belts of the machine-guns, but the crowds wore so dense that many foil. ■ Tho riflemen either had a large number of blank cartridges, or the'shooting was intentionally bad. A garden fronting the Cathedral was packed with the populaco, when a large force of Cossacks came up. All kneeled. The Cossacks did not fire. The people are particularly rcsentfur against the police, because several were employed, on Sunday to fire on the crowd in consequence of the refusal of many of the military to do so. Several of the police, including a hieh official, were shot. Later, several guards regiments, numbering twenty-fivo thousand, joined the people, with arms. Some of their officers wero shot. Another guards regiment, refused • to fire. The arsenal and artillery headquarters wero taken, and the commandant killed. A British military attaohe, who was thero at tho timo, was escorted to his Embassy by a guard. The fortress of Peter and Paul was also entered. This is now the headquarters of tho revolutionary forces and tho Duma." Action by'the DumaMembers on assembling on March 12 found an Imperial rescript suspending tho sessions till April. Thereupon the party leaders decided not to_ disperse. A historic sitting was held, ai the conclusion of which the President telegraphed- to the Ts^r,'describing .the prevailing conditions. He mentioned

thai; the troops were firing against each other, aud requested that some person enjoying the. confidence of the country should he charged' with the formation of a new Government. The telegram proceeded: "Delay is impossible. Any delay moans death. Pray God that this, our responsibility, does not fall upon the crowned head."

The President of the Duma similarly wired to the Chief of Staff, General Alexieff, and the commanding generals, asking them to -use their influence with tho Emperor. General Brusiloff roplied: "I hare fulfilled my duty to tho Tsar and my country."

General Russky replied that ho hadl carried out tho request. _ Tho President tlisn telegraphed tho Tsar that tho situation was worse, urging immediate ino&sures, saying. "For to-monw may he too late. At last tho hour has arrived w&en the fato of the couutry and the dynasty is being decided." Replying to a deputation fraai revolutionary troops, -who inquired as to the Duma's attitude, the President communicated a resolution to tho effect that the hour had struck for a ckvegs of authority, in which the Duma would take a most actiTO part. Tho Prosidra t dwelt or. the 111-601103- of preserving order, and the Duma appointed a non-party committee with that object. Lator, more troops and armed citizens arrived at tha Duma, where tho fuard was replaced by troops in revolt, who took over the charge of the uilding. At 5.30 p.m. a revoltionary escort brought in the President of tho CounciFof Empire under arrest. He was the ex-Minister for Justice, and one of the prominent reactionaries. Ho was lodged in the Ministerial room in the Duma, and it was intimated th at steps would be taken to remove the so-called "Gorman gang," once for all. The nows spread, and the revolutionaries seized the hatod Krcsty Prison, and after a short resistance all the political prisoners woro liberated. Tho same course -was followed with the other prisoners in detention. Police headquarters were demolished, and the archives relating to political persons and organisations were burned. Premier Resigns. Early in the afternoon tho Premier, Prince Galitzine, telephoned: tiro President of the Duma that he had resigned. Tho revolutionaries searched the houses of several Ministers of'the Council. Tho workmen s delegates issued a manifesto to the troops in revolt and to tho factories, inviting them to attend the meeting at the Duma on the basis of one representative per battalion and per thousand or less -workmen,' respectively. They also appealed to the people to assist in the provisioning of the troops, pending the organisation of supplies. Civilians continued to arrive at tho Duma,, some in motors, others in lorries, bringing largo reserves of cartridges, which were promptly distributed. Orators from tho stops of tho Duma dwelt on the necessity for tho preservation of order and tho need for tho immediate resumption of work in all thelfaciories, lest the armies at tho front should be handicapped when on the verge of victory. The correspondent, after listening to the speechos, returned to the centre of the city, whore he found the district Law .Courts aflame. A little distance off he saw signs of a recent fight betwoen factions, hut thero wore few casualties. Generally the Government trooops showed little reluctance in accepting the inevitable. Army and Navy Join tho people. Telegraphing on the evening of March 13, he says: "All the naval and military forces in Petrograd have now declared themselves ontho side of tho lwople. Troops from Kronstadt, -with a few officers, havo arrived and joined. The streets are now perfectly safe, though there is an occasional exuberant outburst of firing. Thoro has been a wholesale demolition and Tjurrfing of police stations'-in revenge for tho .police, in soldiers' -uniforms, manning the machine-guns and dropping grenades from buildings and houses. A naval brigade, thus attacked by machine-guns, retaliated with a sharp fusillade, and broke into the hotel, which was used as a hospital, and arrested two hundred Russian.officers, and took them to the Duma. Foreign officers and' wounded, including tho British, wore treated -with tho greatest courtesy and transferred elsewhere. Arrests and Surrenders. It is estimated that the civilian c asualties will total a. few _ hundred, mostly wounded. The streots present an animated appearance, with troops, hospital vans, and ceaseless cheering. There is a feeling of tho deepest thanksgiving for what has been arroroplisbed with _so little bloodshed. When .the aisturbances culminated, the Ministers, woro sitting in the Admiralty, which was defended by troops; but the guard finally vtnt over to tho revolutionaries. The Minister for Justice took refuge in the Italian Embassy, whence he telephoned M. Rodzianko' and th* President, of the Duma to send a motor to take him to tho Duma' Committee. Dubrovin, the leader of the Black Hundred, -was arrested aud taken to tho Durc?,_late last nigbF. The ex-Minister for the Interior (M. Protepopoff) voluntarily surrendered. The Commissioners of the_ Executive Committee of the Duma havo taken over the Ministries and other important appointments have been made. There is little doubt that tho army is now unanimous, including a number of officers of crack regiments.

ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE, BRITISH PARLIAMENT REASSURING STATEMENT BY MR. BONAR LAW. London, March 15. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonav Law stated that the Tsar had abdicated, and that the Grand Duke Michael Aloxandrovioh (brother of tho Tsar) had succeeded him.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. March 17,. 0.35 a.m.) . . . London, March 16. In the House of Commons, Sir Henry Dalziel asked whether the Government had any information to give the House regarding the wild rumours which,. had been in circulation as to the condition of affairs in Russia. Mr.Jßonar Law: "In a matter of this gravity, it is the duty of tho Government to give all information possible; - Only to-night has tho .Government received definite information of. the happenings. in R.ussia. A rebellion is a serious thing at anytime, not; only to. the.:Cou.ntfy affected, ..but 1o our. Allies-" .The-'first news the Government had of any serious trouble in Russia came ina telegram'on Friday night. - It simply said that there were disturbances in the streets. Since th en daily telegrams have come, giving more or less tentative information. Tho British Embassy at Petrograd has been unable to 6end full information, but by degrees it became plain that Petrograd was becoming more or less under ordered rule, that rule being the rule oveV which the President of the Duma has been exercising control almost from the outset. The soldiers and sailors have taken the Duma's sido in tho revolution, the result being, so far as information has reached tho Government, that there has riot been any serious loss of life. The discontent in Russia is due not to a desire for peace, but because the people are dissatisfied owing to tho war not boing conducted with sufficient energy. Mr. Bonar Law added that he would bo glad to give a reassuring statement. In what he said there was some comfort. It was the comparative tranquillity with which the change had been conducted. Ho had just received a telegram from Russia statin % that the railways and_ public services wore again working. He appealed to the House not to continue the discussion. The House then adjourned. PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED BY THE AMBASSADORS (Rec. March 17, 0.30 a.m.) London, March 16. The Ambassadors have acknowledged the Provisional Government. The revolution has completely succeeded, audi order has practically been restored. —The "Times." EMPRESS PLACED UNDER GUARD '-.-.- (Rec. March 17,0.30 a.m.) London, March 16. I The "Daily CLronicle's" correspondent at Petrograd states that the Em- ' press' (who was formerly a German Princess), has been placed under guard. I REPORTED MURDER OF PRO-GERMAN MINISTERS (Reo. March 17, 0.30 a.m.) ; Copenhagen, March 16. It is reported that the pro-German ex-Premier Stunner and the ex-Min-ister for the Interior (M. Protopopoff) have been murdered. FIGHTING AS USUAL ON THE BATTLE FRONT (Rec. March 17, 0.30 a.m.) Rome, March 16. Advices from Petrogtad! state that the Turks have evacuated Persia. The Russian advance continues without cessation. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BRUBILOFF RETURNS TO THE SOUTHERN ARMIES. Stockholm, March 15. It is announced that General Bru siloff has again taken command of the Southern Russian front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assni G3RMAN STORY OP THE EVENTS

(Rec. March 16, 3 p.m.) . Vancouver, March Id. lie Berlin official agency gives details of the revolution at' Tetrb'grad, and alleges that food riots, following general disturbances' at Pctrograd and Moscow, and street parades, led to clashes between the mounted police and the populaco. An -uproar broke out in the Duma when M. Itodzianko (the President) and M. Miliukoff fiercoly assailed the Government and the Premier. Membors actually threatened Ministers with their fists. The excitement in tho streets'grew, the printers struck in the printing offices, leaving tho city without nowspapers. On Saturday tho troops fraternised with tho people, and allowed it to bo known that they would not fire on tho crowds, despite tho orders of thoir superior officers. Looting occurred, and tho police .and tho strikers frequently clashed. Finally M. Rodzianko dispatched a special courier to the Tsar, demanding the dismissal of tho Government and declining any responsibility for coming events if the Tsar supported Piince Galitzine. The latter answered the letter by dicsolving the Duma, and the Tsar thereupon left Pctrograd for Tsarskoe Solo(his palace), en route to tho arrav at tho front. Tho revolution then entered ita final stage, particulars of which have not been disclosed. It ended in the establishment of a Revolutionary Committee, and a Revolutionary Government. At Mosoow tho revolt also was successful. The troops joined tho Zemstvos whole-heartedly.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DUMA REJECTED THE DISSOLUTION UKASE New York, March 15. .A wireless message from Berlin states:— An official announcement from Pctrograd states that tho Duma on March 11 refused to obey tho dissolution Ukase, and, because of tho breakdown of tho transport and tlie food situation, formed an executive committee, which declared itself tho Provisional Government, and srrosted all the Ministers. The Pctrograd garrison supported tho .revolution. The Duma declared the Cabinet to bo no longer in existence, and appointed Deputy Engelbard, a colonel of tho General Staff, commander of Pctrograd. Ho appealed to tho population, tho troops, and tho railways and banks to rcsumo normal life. Order ia swiftly returning.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ai-sn.