DISORDERS IN THE RUSSIAN OIL DISTRICTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 75, 29 March 1905, Page 3

DISORDERS IN THE RUSSIAN OIL DISTRICTS.

■ NEW YORK, February 22.—A special to the "Sun" from St. Petersburg says: There has been bloody work at Baku, Trans-Caucasia, tile chief centre or tne petrolenm trade, but few details have been received here. It seems that not, murder and arson were supreme there tor many hours. The authorities made little, if any, attempt to suppress the disorders, whether because of indifference or iaek cf trustworthy troops is unknown. Now the announcement is made that the mititary officials received this morning authority to suppress lawlessness', and a* soon as possible measures were take 3 co restore order. The announcement naively adds that "this was not accomplished without bloodshed." Unofficial dispatches state that corpses are strewn in the streets throughout the city. Enormous damage was done to property by rioters. The latest official news is that the Persians and Armenians at Baku are now reconciled, and that the town is quiet and that everywhere or«« has been restored. ST. PETERSBURG, February 22.—According to mail reports received from Bafoam, racial disorders in the Caucasus have developed into actual revolution In the cities of Batcram. Pati. ana Kntals. at the eastern end of the Black Sea, under the lead of the Armenians, who have set up a form of provisional Government. Telegraphic communication has been cut for several days, and it is impossible to secure direct confirmation of these reports, but according to one letter the Armenian faction a few days ago succeeded in making prisoners of most of the officials and shutting up the officers and some of the troops in the barracks, and, aided to some extent by reservists, in taking the reins of Government into their own hands. The authorities here and others familiar with conditions in the Caucasus do not attach great importance to these reports, however, as this region is in a eontlnnal state of turmoil, and if It is true that the Armenians have succeeded in tem•porartly establishing themselves in the towns name! it is no indication of a general revolutionary movement, hut simply another manifestation of racial feeling between Armenians and Tartars.