HOW THE IMPERIAL GUARDS WERE WON OVER

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 15 June 1917, Page 1

HOW THE IMPERIAL GUARDS WERE WON OVER

In an account of the adhesion to Hie rfiT Russian/ Ministry of the ' famous Preobr* jensky'Guards, who presented themselves, with their colonel and officers, at the TauTis Palace, the Petrograd correspondent of "The Times,' who describes it as "one of the most impressive scenes of the revolu-'v tion, : ' says:— The men, all of giant stature, were■drawn up in ranks four deep the whole length of the enormous Catherine Hall. The; Piesident of the Duma came out to greet them. On the appearance of M. Rodzianko the colonel's voice raing out: " Preobrajensky. Attention!" and the whole regiment stood at the salute. M. Rodzianko saluted them an follows: ; ""'Soldiers of true faith! Let me, as an old soldier, greet you according to our custom. I wish you good health." ".We wish good health to your Excellency," came the thunderous response. The President continued:— " I want to thank you for coming nere to help the members of the Imperial Duma to establish order and to safeguard the-honor and glory of our country. Tour eomradei are fighting in the trenches for the 'night and majesty of Russia, and I am proud that my son has been serving since the beginning of the war in j'our gallant ranks. But ,m order that you should be able to advance ill* cause and ijrterests which have been undertaken by the Duma you must remain a. disciplined force. You know as well as Ido that soldiers are helpless without their officers. I ask you to remain faithful to. your officers and to have confidence in them, just as "we have confidence in them. Return quietly to your barracks and. come l c;re at the first call when you may be required." "' We are ready,'' answered the Preobrajensky "' Show us the way." ; "The old authority is incapable of leading Russia, the right way," was the answer. " Our first task is to establish a new authority in which we could all believe and trust, and which would be able to save and magnify our mother Russia." The soldiers marched out shouting "' Hurrah!" M. Rodzianko greeted in the same manner the officers and men of the Grenadier Guard* and the officers and troopers of the Ninili Cavalry Regiment. After the President'* speech to : the troopers, their colonel, addressing them, said: — i "Men, I intend to.carry out all the orcieri ; given to me by the President of the Imperial . Duma. I remain with you on condition that ; you obey my orders. Hurrah for the Prc-ji- , dent of the Imperial Duma!" / The. troopers cheered loudly. M. Milmkoff visited the barracks of the First Rei serve Regiment and the Grenadiers, and by ; request of their colonels and officers adi dressed the men. The Socialist leader, M. ; Kerenski, visited the Hikhailovski Artillery ; College with a similar purpose. > All the regiments, after visiting the Duma, ; returned to barracks with bands playing and - colors flying, amid the enthusiastic cheering j f oi the people.