THE BALTIC PROVINCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13055, 21 December 1905, Page 5

THE BALTIC PROVINCES.

ALL AUTHORITY OVER-

THROWN.

FORCE OF DRAGOONS ENTRAPPED.

.-By Telegraph Association Copyright -

(Hcceivcd December 20, 11.8 p.m.)

St. Petersburg, December 20. The Novoo Vremyjj's Mitau correspondent says- that Government authority in all the country districts of Couriand have been overthrown. The troops in the smaller towns have concentrated at Mitau arid. Libau, and are on j the defensive.

A company of infantry and a squadron of dragoons became caught in wire entanglements at Tukkiam during the ■ night, and were attacked from the windows and roofs, and lost 30 men.

, The "crowd gouged out the eyes and severed the ears and hands of the dead. , ; "

OFFICIAL REPORT DOUBTED.

London, December 19.

There are indications that the condition of the Baltic provinces is far worse than the semi-official Russian report implies. , : Martial law has been proclaimed in most of the Baltic provinces.

GENERAL STRIKE ORDERED. A REVOLUTIONARY MANI- * \ FESTO. . . ; (Received December 20, 9.21 p.m.) [■' '■• St. Petersburg, December 20. , The Moscow labour leaders .and the workmen in all the districts around St. Petersburg have assented to a general political strike; to begin at noon to-morrow. ,

The Union of Unions, in a manifesto, recapitulates that the reasons for the general strike are the'.arrests, the suspension of progressive newspapers, and the promulgating of a series of laws destroying the bases of civil liberty, arid threatening rights of the people obtained after a long struggle and embodied in the Tsar's manifesto. All ! citizens are urged to defend their rights and support the Council of Workmen's Delegates in the. struggle with the Government.

The Union of Unions is a body on which are represented the professional classes, tbo peasants, the Zemstvos, and the workers.

MILITARY DISAFFECTION.

CONCESSIONS. TO THE MEN.

MUTINY OF COSSACKS.

(Received December 20, 9.42 p.m.) i St. Petersburg, December 20.*

The Tsar has issued a ukase increasing the pay of all troops, providing for better food, and ordering the free . issue of blankets, towels, and soap.

(Received December 20, 11.8 p.m.) St. Petersburg, December 20. A detachment of Cossacks which was ordered from Tamboff to Kursk has refused to obey orders.