A NEW FIGURE IN RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 94, 14 January 1918, Page 6

A NEW FIGURE IN RUSSIA

LAMANOFF, OF KRONSTADT .

A new personality has entered into* the turbulent affairs of New Russia in Anatole Lamanoff, the leader of the rebels who occupied the town and fortress of Kronstadt where they set up an independent Government in defiance of Petrograd. His little rebellion has been quelled, but a man of his sort is likely to be heard from again before the Russian chaos is over. Lamanoff was a young chemistry student at tho Petrograd Technological College, and by his eloquence and fiery enthusiasm he so aroused the people that he waa made president of the Council of 'Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates, ano! then virtually the dictator of Kronstadt.

, The Associated Press correspondent in Petrograd thus describes the young rebel whom he interviewed at the is« land fortress:

Kronstadt's master is a smoothfaced, dark-haired, soft-eyed man in a student's uniform. He is magnetic and ready of speech. He gained fame before the revolution by the delivery of striking lectures to workmen, in whicli he gave vent to bitter satire and daring innuendoes against autocracy. Lamanoff aims at being a Napoleon and a Rousseau at the same time, combining a resolute Government' with the propogation of novel political and social ideas. His programme consists of tho subdivision of Russia into innumerable petty centres, ruled by local groups of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates, and united only in the loosest way by a congress of representatives of tha local councils sitting in Petrograd. "That," said Lamanoff, "is the import of our declaration that for Kronstadt the Provisional Government does' not exist. We reject a federation as too close a union for genuine democracy. We intend Kronstadt to be a model for all Russia, and expect that other centres will soon follow our example. Our vote, repudiating Petrograd, is not the result of any quarrel with the Ministers, against whom wo have no specific complaint. It is merely tho concrete expression of a new idea for democracy."

' Asked whether Kronstadt expected a collision with the Provisional Government, Lamanoff answered:

"No. On June 14 there will meet the Pan-Russiau Congress of Delegates of the Councils of Delegates from all quarters. This congress, in my opinion, provides the nucleus or skeleton for Russia's future administration. Until it meets the Petrograd Ministers will hardly venture to stake measures against us. Remember that independent Kronstadt does not stand for the complete dissolution of the Empire; but the bonds must be extremely tenuous. Locally our programme is a strong Government. Here is the first instance." Lamanoff then produced a decrpa signed by himself ordering the immediate arrest and dispatch to the front of every male found intoxicated. "I have already arrested several men who have become intoxicated from methylated spirits," he announced. "We shall show them no mercy."

In reply to ;i question if he had tho material power for the enforcement of his plans lie said that his brother Peter, a lieutenant in rank, had been appointed commander of all the soldiers and sailors, in Rronstadt. "In my becoming President," continued Lamauoff. "Kronstadt's policy towards the war remains unchanged. The forts are in better defensive condition than Bver, and it is not true that the men are insufficiently officered. , . "You may deny that Kronstadt _ intends taking provocative, unpatriotic action. If the Germans come they will get a warm reception."