MARTIAL LAW IN RUSSIA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1938, 11 May 1880, Page 3

MARTIAL LAW IN RUSSIA.

The following ia a textual translation of an extraordinary Übaao by the Emperor of 5 Russia, dated 12bh (24th) February : “ Firmly decided to put an end to the reported attempts of audacious ; malefactors to disturb the State and social order in Russia, we hereby decree that the Supreme Executive Commission shall be established at St. Petersburg for the preservation of State order and social tranquillity. “ That this Supreme Executive Commission shall consist of a Chief and of members to be nominated by him personally. “ That the Chief of the Supreme Executive Commission shall be Count Loris Melikoff, Adjutant General, &e. Oil “ That the members of the Commission be appointed, with our sanction, by the Chief, who shall, moreover, enjoy the right of further associating to the Commission all persons whose presence he may consider beneficial. “ With a view to concentrating the action of all the authorities on the work of preserving State order and social tranquillity, the chief of the commission shall in all matters relating to such duty possess the following'' privileges, viz.:— “ (a) Supreme authority in St, Petersburg and suburbs, the prefecture of the town being subordinated to him by direct cognisance and jurisdiction in all State offences in St Petersburg and the St. Petersburg military circuit. “ (b) Likewise supremo jurisdiction in all such cases in all other parts of the Russian empire. “ All demands made by tbe chief of the Supreme Commission shall bo at once complied with by local authorities, governorsgeneral, governors, and prefects, as also by all branches of the service, nob excepting the military. “ All branches of the service shall give full co-operation to the Chief of the Commission. “ That the Chief of the Commission, when he deems it necessary, shall receive orders and instructions immediately from us. '• Independently of the foregoing, the Chief of the Supreme Commission shall promulgate all orders, and adopt all measures which he sholl consider necessary for the preservation of State order and social tranquillity at St. Petersburg and other parts of the Empire, and that it shall rest with him to define and exact the penalties to bo inflicted for noncompliance with and non-execution of such orders and measures. “ That the orders of the Chief of the Commission and the measures adopted by him shall bo unconditionally complied with and executed by each and every one, and shall only be? abrogated by him or by special Imperial Decree. “ That with the establishment by virtue of this, our IJkase, of a Supreme Executive Commission for the preservation of State order and social tranquillity, the post of Temporary Governor General of St. Petersburg, established by the Ukase of the sth (17th) Febbruary, 1879, is annulled.” General Melikoff is an Armenian by descant, and preserves the characteristic type of that people. A year before the war he lived hero quietly with his family, in a small apartment, and was all but unknown to fame. His brilliant services against the Turks brought him prominently forward, and when the plague broke out in Wetlianka ha displayed as much energy and capability in combating this more insidious foe as ho had previously shown against the Turkish army. His rule at Charkoff during the past few months has been remarkably successful, no outbreak having occurred in that most unruly town since his installation as Governor.