WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

[Per Press Association .—Copybight.]

RUSSIA’S REVOLUTION

Quietening Down. (Australian & N.Z. Cabin Association and Reuter.) LONDON, March 1(5. Telegraphing on the evening of the I,3th. the corespondent says that all naval and military forces in Petrograd have now declared themselves on the si do of the people. Troops from Kronstad with a few officers have arrived and joined the people. The streets are now perfectly safe though there is occasional exhuberant

firing. There has been wholesale demolition and burning of Police stations in revenge for the police in soldiers’ uniforms manning machine-guns and dropping grenades from buildings na'd houses. The Naval Brigade seeing tills secured the machine-guns and retaliated with a sharp fusilade. 'They broke into a hotel which was used as a hospital arrested two hundred Russian officers and sent them to the Duma'.

FOREIGNERS WELL TREATER. The foreign officers wounded includinf Britishers were treated with the greatest courtesy and were transferred elsewhere. It is estimated that (the civilian casualties number a few hundred mostly wounded. The streets! present all animated appearance, with troops and hospital vans. There is ceaseless cheering and a feeling of the deepest thanksgiving for what has been accomplished with so little bloodshed. When the disturbance culminated the Ministers were sitting at the Admiralty, which was defended by troops but tbo guard finally went over to the revolutionaries.

Tlie Minister of Justice took refuge at the Italian Embassy, wheice lie telephoned to M. Rodzianko, President, of tlie Duma, to send a' motor car to take him to the Duma Committee. ARREST OF OFFICIALS.

M. Dubrovin, the “Black Hundred” leader, was arrested and taken to tlie Duma late last night. The cx-Minister, M, Protopopoff, voluntarily surrendered to tlie commissioners of the executive.

The Committee of tlie Duma has taken‘over the Ministries and other important appointments have been made. There is little doubt that the army isr now unanimous, including a number of officers belonging to crack regiments.

The “Daily Chronicle’s” Petrograd correspondent states :—The Empress was placed under a guard.

Reported Murders COPENHAGEN, March 16. It is reported that the pro-Ger-man ex-Premier, M. Stunner, and M. Protopopoff, were murdered. IN THE COMMONS. Statement by Mr Law. , LONDON, March 16. Mr. Bonar Law announced that the Czar’s abdication lias not yet taken effect. He added that a Regency was arranged, but the Czar’s whereabouts' are unknown.

In the House of Commons, Sir J. 11. Dalziel asked whether the Government had any information to give tlie House regarding the wild rumours concerning the condition of affiairs in Russia.

Mr. Bonar Law said that in a matter of this gravity it was the duty of the Government to give all the information possible. Only to-night had the Government received definite information of the happenings' in Russia. A rebellion was a' serious thing at any time, not only to the country affected, but to our Allies. The first news the Government had of any serious

trouble in Russia came by telegram on Friday night. It simply said that there were serious disturbances in the streets. Since then there had been daily telegrams giving more or less .tentative information. The Embassy was unable to send full information, but by degrees it became plain that Petrograd was becoming more or less* under ordered rule, that rule being the rule over which the President of the Duma’ was exercising control. Almost from the outset the soldiers and sailors' had taken the Duma’s side in the revolution, the result being, as far as the information had reached the Government, that there had not been any serious loss of life. The discontent in Russia was due not to a desire for peace, but because the people were dissatisfied that the war was not being conducted with sufficient energy.

Mr. Bonar Law added that be would be glacl to give a reassuring statement. In what he said three was sonic comfort. It was the comparative tranquilly wherewith the clianfe had been conducted. He had pjust received a teiegram from Russia stating tliajb the railways and public services were again working. He appealed to the House not to continue the discussion, which was adjourned.

A Proclamation

COPENHAGEN, March 10. The Russian Provisional Government hay issued a proclamation that owing to the difficult circumstances and disorganisation of the country in the interior, for which the former Government was responsible, the Executive Committee, fully realising the importance of the decision, ieels sure that the population and Army will assist in the difficult tank of forming a new Government, which will be in a position to fulfil the people’s wishes and secure the public confidence.

A Socialist’s View. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assocalioi and Reuter), LONDON, March 16. Mr. 11. M. Hyiidnian, awealthy Socialist interviewed said tliat lie was aware for some time that the Dowager Empress, the advanced party in the Duma the Council of the Empire and some commanders at the front headed the movement. The present ultimatum to the Tzar was a demand that the country should he cleared from German iniluences and depose the reactionary Ministers. England lent ltussia' about £500,000, 000 on the Duma’s security and strength. PRO VISIONAL ©O5l MITT EE. The Duma formed a provisional committee of twelve for the establishment, of order composed of M. Radzianko, Nograsoff, lvonovalefl, DoitioukofF, Kerensky, Taloslzc, Shoulgin, Sliidovsky, Milinkoff, KarnoulofF, Lyoff, and Rezlievsky. The newspapers are not publish* mg bnib a group of journalists issued a sheet containing the main news including jtlic a rest of M. Stclieglovitoff and the capture of Petropavlovsk fortress.

On Monday a deputation representing 25,000 revolted soldiers appeared beioie rlie Duma and demanded information concerning itlie position taken up by the representatives of the people. M. Rodzianko replied that the Duma’s motto ait the present time was ho removal of the old power and ife replacement by new. He aded 'that with a view to the realisation of this aim the Duma was taking ail active part and order and claim were meoessary.

M‘. Rodzianko gave the delegation the It,ext of telegrams sent to the Czar Genera Alexief Chief of the General Staff and the three comandcrs-in-chkf of the various fronts.

Tile messages were as follows: —“The situation ait the capital is grave. Anarchy prevails and the Government, is paralysed. Transport supplies and fuel are completely disorganised. The general discontent is increasing.

Progress of Movement

LONDON, March 16.

The “Central News” says: M. »ouzianko’s telegram continued: Firing is proceeding in the streets and the troops' are shooting one another. It is necessary that someone who enjoys the confidence of jthe people should be charged with the duty of forming a new Govern nient. Delay is impossible for every delay means death. Pray God that the re s lav means death. Pray God that the responsibility for it may not fall upon the wearer of the crown.”

M. Brussiloff replied: “I received youi telegram. I have done my duty before my country and the Czar.” General Russky replied: “Your telegram received. I have executed your commission.”

M. Rodzianko in a second wire to the Czar said,: “The situation is worse. Measures must be taken immediately. To-morrow may be too late. At last tlie hour has arrived when the fate of the Fatherlandand Dynasty will be decided.”

During Monday all the Ministers except M. Protopopoff left office. On Thursday revolutionaries seized the Astoria Hotel. A deputation the previous evening promised not to attack if the inmates promised not to use arms. An undertaking was given but afterwards a ■•ntnehine-gun was turned on the sol dicks, and cross-firing went on foircely for two hours. There were many allied officers in the Astoria Hotel who were allowed to leave without molestation before the firing opened. Four Russian Generals wore arrested. A Princess who occupied a room in the Hotel was accidentally wounded in the throa.t Tlie movement is strongly anti-Ger-man. The crowd everywhere cheered the ■British officers.

No Illusions. Time the Gang was Broken. LONDON, March 16. Messages from Berlin show that no illusions at'e cherished in Germany over the events in Russia, and the papers emphasise the fact that the new Duma Committee hates Germany and is desirous of continuing the war, also that M. Stunner’s premiership has greatly increased the movement, particularly when M. Protopopoff, from wiiom much was expected, suddenly became, rc-aotionary. The explosion on the warship Empress Marie M,, at Sevastopol and tlie explosion at Archangel, are particularly regarded as the work of traitors, amd the word treason is heard everywhere in Russia. Speaking in the Duma in November M. Miliukoff said that since M. iStnrmo had become Foreign Minister all our secrets became the property of Germany, and the link of confidence with our Allies had been broken. Tin’s speech was not, allowed to he. published, and M. Stunner wrote to Iho Duma demanding that M. Mlinkoff surrender himself for prosecution, hut this demand was refused.

There was ample evidence that at least on two specially critical occasions negotiations for a separate peace were initiated by the pro- German inner gang.

Ministers Prisonered

LONDON, March 16. The “Morning Post” says that all the Ministers, except Pokrosky, the

Foreign Minister, are prisoners, and tlie Duma has appointed temporary successors. The Allied embassies are in semiofficial relations with the new authority. hut a government has not yet been formed. With lightening rapidity the old regime has been engulfed in a wave of popular opinion and the phenomenon has no parrallel in history. Regiment after regiment was brought up and promptly sided with th c people, and when the life Guards, known as

fche “Imperial Convoy,” also sided win the people, it was felt that the cm regime had fallen. Indeed the Red Revolutionaries wc; e prepared, but anarchy and all forms of rowdyism were broken; the absence of alcohol asd the discipline of the soldiers, who farmed a majority, stopped .the excesses. A search for foodstuffs showed that there had been unscrupulous profitmaking on an incredible scale. The Czar’s Locale. AMSTERDAM, March 16. Advices from Vienna state that the Russian troops in the trenches loudly cheered the news of the revolution. The Central News Petrograd correspondent says: It is understood that the soldiers held up the Tsar’s train, hut the Tsar is safe at Pakoff. The Empress is hysterical and the Tsar-

A Filanifesto

PETROGRAD, March 16

Ihe arrested Ministers are comfortable and safe in the Taurida palace. .After Galitizen had informed Rod,ziuakc that he had resigned, the Council of Workmen’s delegates issued a manifesto inviting the troops and factores to choose representatives to confer with the Council at Taurida palace, on the basis' of one representative for each battalion, or each thousand workmen, and factories employing less than a thousand hands send one representative. AN IMPRESSI VE SCENE.

An impressive scene was the arrival of Peodajen.sky guards with the colonel and officers at Taurida Palace.

All the men are of giant statue , and stood four deep the whole length of the enormous Catherine ball, where Rodyianko greeted them. STATIONS DESTROYED BY FIRE. Nicholls station and Thurskol station are now ablaze, and the guards manning the winter palace were engaged in a long and 'desperate struggle to save it from assault.

Many of the soldiers fighting on behalf of the Court Party did so believing that the revolt was caused by Germans, and but for this ignorance they would have joined the rebels.

By Tuesday evening tile whole garrison had gone over to the Provisional Government.

HUNTING FOR. THE POLICE.

An active hunt continued for the police who were- hidden in garrets by the previous order of Protopopoff, and where they were spasmodically indulging in rifle and machine-gun sniping. ANTI-GERMAN PLOTS.

One proof that the anti-Germans’ object to the revolution v>as the destruction of Saltking Baron Frederick’s beautiful palace in Poclistanskaya. This is a deplorable incident.

New Russian Mirhtry.

PETROGRAD, March 10 The new Ministry is as follows: Prince George Looff, the well-known. President of the Zemstvo Union, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. Gutclioff, Minister for War and Navy. Miltkoff, Foreign Minister. Tcreseheko, Minister for Finance. Nikraaoff, Minister for Railways. Ivonovaloff, a well-known Moscow merchant, Minister for Commerce. The Socialists upport the new Ministry on conditiou-that a general election held, for the constituent assembly. PETROGRAD, March 16. Generals Russky and Bruss'iloff telegraphed Rodziauke notifying the adhesion of their armies to the new regime.

Many Incidents

PETROGRAD, March. 16 There was a remarkable incident in the street fighting; a garden facing the Koyan Cathedral was crowded with civilians, when a body of Cossacks came up. All the civilians' knelt and the Cossacks did not fire. About a hundred were killed and wounded on Monday when the guards attempted to clear the streets in the afternoon. The crowd had no animosity towards soldiers, and by Tuesday four-fifths of the city was in the hands' of the rebels. POLICE STATIONS STORMED. Moreover large numbers of the inhabitants were armed with rifles, revolvers and swords, and the mobs successfully stormed all the police stations and carefully destroyed all papers and released the prisoners. A CRUEL DRUNKEN MOB. 'fhe aged wife of a Minister of the Imperial Court was carried from her burnrig home fainting, and her daughter, _ a hunchback-, rushed out carrying her . favorite dog, but the drunken mob killed the animal and ill-treated the crippled girl. Both the ladies were eventually saved. Prince Frederick was in attendance on the Czar at the time of the revolution.

Many poltieal police were killed, and others were dragged from hiding places and lodged in dark cells in the fortress of St. Pcterpaul. Many released prisoners are taking part in the re-organisation of the Government.

Died ot Fright

PARIS, March 17.

The “L© Temps” Petrograd correspondent states that von Stunner died of fright after his arrest.

(M. Boris V. Stuermer was aged 69 years. For ton years he was a silent member of the Right Group, having served in it .he Ministries of. Justice ana the Interior, and in the Department of Heraldry. He was notable for having in 1003 suspended the Tver Zemstvo. He became Prime Minister in 1916, and, took the office of Foreign Minister in July, succeeding H, Bozafl* off.)