REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1917, Page 4

REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA

FURTHER PARTICULARS. MACHINATIONS OF GERMANS. London, March 10. Tlio Central Ncns' Petrograd correspondent says that M. Rodzianko stands out as the man responsible for the maintenance of order. If the news of the revolution surprised the world, the cause ia the overrigorous censorship. The country has been restless for months, owing to the rise in food prices. Although the wages of workmen in .Russia, doubled and trebled, the area of discontent Widened. Tlie winter also was excessively severe, and fuel and other necessaries were only obtainable at famine prices. SHORTAGE 01' BREAD. On. the top of these misfortunes came the shortage of bread, which was not due to lack of supplies, but owing to the absence of fixed prices for flour. In ,the villages tho peasants were only receiving pre-war rules for their products. Emissaries, actin/ in the interests of Germany, ivarncr the peasants it was necessary to hnltf back supplies, and this action resulted in very little corn reaching the markets. Meanwhile there was growing- disaffection because men unknown to the people and not trusted by them were being placed at the head of various departments of the State. THE PROMOTION OF STRIKES. A month ago a number of men visited the ammunition works at Petrograd, professing to speak. on behalf of M. ' Mi'.iukoff, tho popular leader of the cadet party, urging the workmen to strike as a protest against the continuance of the .war. Emissaries distributed arms among the workers. There would ! have been industrial disorders a month ago, but M. MiliukofE himself exposed the scandal. j THE STORM BURSTS. I The storm burst on Friday. Workmen appeared in the streets, shouting: "Wc want bread." There was, however, no disorder. The demonstrations on Saturday assumed .". more serious aspect and fighting commenced in the working class district between the police and workmen. The military, when requested to quell the disturbances, refused to act, and laier openly took sides with-the people, flag's appeared among the troops themselves, and there was occasional looting. Sunday was another exciting dav Shooting was general, and fie r-olicc were driven from the streets after suffering heavy Josses from the rifles and machine guns of the military. A DAY OF SURPRISES. Monday was a day of many surprises. The Czar announced the closing of the Duma and the Council of State. Pctrosrad was ablaze with excitement. The doors of the Kresty prison were thrown open and political prisoners, including 12 ! workmen's delegates recently arrested, were released and the urison burnt.. The arsenal fell after a short though fierceresistance before the assault of the revolted troops. Tho Imperial Winter Palace and the State Departments were seized. Meanwhile the streets, such as the Nevsky 'Prospect and Gorokliavaya | and Wosncseenoky Prospect, were dangerous owing to tho fire of rifles and machine guns. Tha streets were, nevertheless, full of people in holiday attire openly sympathetic with the soldiers. Armored motor-cars appeared everywhere, and it was evident that someone. with a keen organising brain was directing the movement. The women openly sympathised with the revolution. Tho Duma continued sitting, as it was ' necessary to control the populace and j give it guidance. ACTION BY DUMA. The Duma formed a provisional com- i mittee of 12 for the establishment of order. It was composed of MM. Radzianko, Nekrasoff, Konovaloff, Doitriou- I koff, Kerensky, Tcheldzc, Shoulgin, Shirt- ! lovsky, Miliukoff, Karoulofif, Lvoff, and i Rozhevsky. j The newspapers arc not being published, but groups of journalists have issued a sheet containing t!he-raain news, including the arrest of 51. Stcbcglovitoff and the capture of the Petrppavlovsk 'WtM** ',■*■- I

On Monday a deputation representiny 25.000 of the revolutionists appeared beI fore the Duma and demanded infermaI tioii concerning the position Taken up by the representatives of the people. M. Rodzianko replied that tho Duma's motto at present was the removal of tho old power and its replacement by the new. He added that with a view to tho realisation of this aim the Duma was taking an active part and order and calm were necessary. TELEGRAMS TO CZAR AND GENERALS. | v M. Rodzianko gave the delegation the text of a telegram sent to the Czar, | General Alexieii' (Chief of the General Stall'), and the three Commandors-in-t Chief at the various fronts. The messages re.ul: "The situation at the capital is grave. Anarchy prevails, the Government is paralysed, the transport of supplies of fuel is completely disorganised, and the general discontent i.-. increasing. Firing is increasing in the- streets, and the troops are shooting one another. It is neces- | sary that someone who enjovs the confidence of the people should"be charged with the duty of forming a new Government. Delay is Impossible, as every delay means death. Pray God the- responsibility for this may not fall upon the wearer of the crown." . General BrusilolV replied: 'T have received your telegram. I haw done my duty before the country and before tho ' Czar." General Russky replied: "Your telegram received. I have executed, your commission." FURTHER APPEALS TO THE CZAR. M. Rodzianko, in a second tele"ram to the Czar, said: "The situation is worse. Measures must be taken immefinitely. To-morrow may be too lato. At- last the hour has arrived when tho fate of the Fatherland and the dynasty 1 will be decided." : During Monday all the Ministers except M. Protopopoll' left office. THE ASTORIA HOTEL. | On Tuesday the revolutionaries =■■ the Astoria Hotel. A deputation on „,.v preuous evening prum.sed not to attackit the inmates promised not to use arms. An undertaking was given, but afterwardes a machine gun was turned on tho soldiers and cross-firing went on fiercely for two hours. There were many Allied oflicers in the Astoria, who were allowed to leave without molestation before the firing opened. Four Russian generals were, however, arrested. A princess, who occupied a room in the hotel, was accidentally wounded in-the throat. The movement was strongly anti-G.rman. The -crowd everywhere cheered British officers. ( CZAR'S ABDICATION NOT FAH ACCOMPLI. London, Ma;-.-'; li; In ■'..' House of Commons Air. Eutiar 'f° • vllll - wl that the Czar has not vet abdicated. Mr. Bonar Law, in the House of Commons, corrected the impression that the Czar's abdication was an accomplish cd tact or the Czar's consent obtained thereto. The latest information from the British Embassy stated that tha Czars abdication and the Grand Dukfl Michael's appointment are not vet earned into effect, although further messages stated that the Czar's whereabouts is unknown. He l m ,i 110 f urt i u , r ; n f or . matioii, therefore it was impossible to estimate what had actually been done. Petrograd," March HI. Tho notorious Pitirim. Metropolitan of Petrograd, and Rasputin's successor as leader of the so-called "dark forces," was arrested and lodged in the Duma. Dubrovin, leader of the Black Hundred, was also arrested. i The garrisons near the capital aro coming in and -joining the revolution. Petrograd, March 10. It is understood that soldiers held up the Czar's train,, but the Czar.is safe at Pakall'. The Empress is hvsterieal, and tha Czarevitch ill with measles. Food prices have fallen enormously. INTENSE iNTEmisT IN NEW YORK. New York, March 1(1. There is intense interest as to the effect of the Russian revolution in Germany. Many predict that it mav affect the masses in U lc direction of Lib-rai-ism, causing a democratic outbreak and the overthrow of the militaristic absolutism. Great satisfaction is expressed by American statesmen, who believo Germany's threat of an autocratic Kus-so-German alliance after the war is onr ampowibte, "*