THE REACTIONARY COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1917, Page 5

THE REACTIONARY COURT.

HOW IT REPRESSED THE PEOPLE. BANISHMENT, OF PATRIOTS. Received March 17, 7.45 p.m. London, Match 10. The monk Rasputin's murder momentarily cleared the air. He had long been a kind of lightning conductor who diverted the auger of the populace from the throne. His death left the dynasty less protected. Instead of learning the lesson the Court party conceived the scheme of avenging Rasputin's death upon the nation. The last phase of the reaction commenced when the Grand Duke Donitzi Pavlovich, whose name was associated with the Rasputin affair, was banished to the army in Persia. The elderly Grand Duke Alichaelovitch, who was a scholar and historian, was banished from his estate because he approved of the murder. Prince Yusupoti was also bau-i'.-hed. Finally, early in the year, Protopopoff undertook to save the dynasty, though many of his friends believed he was on the brink of insanity. The Ministers in Tfepoii's Cabinet refused to work with Protopopoff. The new Ministers were the most sinister characters. It is reported that Protopopolf and his colleagues used to frequently go to spiritualistic seances. The revolution was due largely to the iact that the campaign in East Prussia practically annihilated a porps of Guards who held a privileged position in the army and were carefully educated for the purpose of fighting the so-called inner enemy of the Russian Court Realising it had lost its pillar of support, the Court party strove to foster a couuter revolutionary movement, ROOTING OUT PRO-GERMANISM. London, March 10. The Petrograd correspondent of the Morning Post says it is satisfactory to note that, concurrent with the revolt against the Government is a determined effort to root out anything suspected of being pro-German. Many German houses have been looted and burned. People declare the movement will infuse fresh vigor into the war. The soldiers co-operated earnestly, and, after the first exhilaration, assisted in restoring order. Machine guns, mounted on armored motors, fired a heavy fusilade on the Astoria Hotel, which was exclusively occupied by officers from the front with their wives and families, also military representatives of the Allies, but later it was explained that the fusilade was due to the provocation caused by proGermans firing from a window. A mob of armed men, soldiers, sailors, and civilians, searched the hotel, disarming the Russian officers, but treating the Allied officers with respect. There was heavy fighting in the factory quarters for days, until the alleged excessive cruelty of the police caused the soldiers and Cossacks to take sides with the people. FREEING THE COUNTRY. London, March If!. Mr. Byndman, the veteran Socialist leader,,in an interview, said he had been if ware for some time that the Dowager Empress and the advanced party in the Duma and the Council of Empire and come commanders at the front had headed a movement to present an ultimatum to the Czar to demand that he free the country from German influences and depose the reactionary Ministers. England had lent Russia about 500 millions on the Duma's security and strength.

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT'S PROCLAMATION. Copenhagen, Search 10. The ■ Russian Provisional Government lias issued a proclamation stating that the change is owing to the difficult circumstances and the disorganisation ot the country's interior, for which the former Government was responsible. The Executive Committee fully realises the importance of the decision, and feels sure that the papulation and army will assist in' the difficult task of forming a new Government, which will be in a position to fulfil the people's wishea and secure public confidence.

ALL MINISTERS PRISONERS. London, March 10. The Morning Post says that all the Ministers, except M. Pokrosky, Foreign Minister, are prisoners. The Duma will appoint temporary successors at the Allied Embassies in semi-official relations with the new authority. A Government has not yet been formed. With lightning rapidity the old regime was engulfed in a wave of popular opinion. The phenomenon' has no parallel ir history. Regiment after regiment was brought up and promptly sided with the people. When the Life Guards, known as the Imperial Convoy, also sided with the, people, it was felt that the old regime had fallen indeed. The Red revolutionaries were prepared for anarchy in all forms. Rowdyism broke out, but in the absence of alcohol the discipline of the soldiers, who formed the majority, stopped excesses The search for foodstuffs showed unscrupulous profiteering on an incredible scale. LORD MILNER'S MISSION UNSUCCESSFUL. London, March 10. The Manchester Guardian's correspondent states that Lord Milner's visit to Russia' is partly connected with internal conditions. He endeavored to effect an agreement between the Czar and the Duma. The Czar rejected the suggestion to appoint a Ministry responsible to Parliament and declared that it did not harmonise with Russian institutions. He also rejected the suggestion to appoint a Ministry acceptable to the Duma with M. Sazanofi as Premier and Foreign Secretary. The tzar's obduracy defeated Lord Milner's other efforts to avert a revolution. LoTd Milner's failure tvas regarded as an indication that nothing could bo expected from the Cz-ir. Petrograd, March 10. Assemblies iaf the nobility refused to participate in the people's movement. Extraordinary meetings passed energetic resolutions against tin persons responsible for the crisis. RUSSIAN TROOPS CHEER THE NEWa Amsterdam, March 16. j Advices from Vienna state that the Russian troops in the trenches loudly ifAwiri ti» u«w> »J (ht rtrolutioa.