THE RUSSIAN REVOLT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 30

THE RUSSIAN REVOLT.

CRITICAL POSITION. EXTENSION OF THE RAILWAY STRIKE. REPORTED SURRENDER OF THE AUTOCRACY. LONDON, October 28. The St. Petersburg correspondent of ''The Times” is informed that the revolutionaries intend to resort to arms to-day. ST. PETERSBURG, October 28. The wave of revolt is still sweeping through Russia. It is estimated that 750,000 railway men are out on strike. Traffic on all the principal railway lines, except Finland, is paralysed. The Siberian lines are also affected. The authorities are dismayed, owing to threats, and refrained from interference at meetings held at the University last night. All the machine guns protecting the Czarskoe Selo Palace have been brought into St. Petersburg. The Czar will start for Denmark if necessary. Steam is now being kept up on the Imperial yacht, and on warships which will attend her on the voyage. General Trepoff, the Governor-Gene-ral, has issued a proclamation to the troops and police to act' most vigorously, always using ball cartridge. Vast revolutionary meetings were held in St. Petersburg. The sentiment, “We must meet force by force,” was enthusiastically applauded. ST. PETERSBURG, October 28. The Governor of Warsaw has issued a manifesto, stating that every agitator caught carrying arms will be instantly shot. The Governor of Lodz has ordered all officers, in the event of disturbances, to act without mercy. A proclamation by the Governor of Moscow announces that troops have been posted in all parts of the city for the protection of the peaceable portion of the community. The troops will fire ball cartridge in the event of the slightest sign of criminal intent. ST. PETERSBURG, October 28. Traffic on the Russian section of the Finnish railway is suspended. The employees on the Central Asian railway have struck work. The tramway services between St. Petersburg and Moscow’ have stopped. Moscow and parts of St. Petersburg are without gas and electricity. No newspapers are published in St. Petersburg. Earnestness and orderliness have characterised public meetings held at the universities. General Trepoff prohibits meetings in St. Petersburg, except at a few appointed places, and then under strict Government supervision. Any infringement of this rule renders the ’president of the meeting liable to heavy penalties, and those attending are liable to a month’s imprisonment and heavy fine. The people of St. Petersburg openly deride General Trepoff’s injunction tothe troops to fire ball cartridge. Twenty representatives of the Revolutionary Committee have been arrested for summoning the St. Petersburg banks to close. LONDON, October 27. The St. Petersburg correspondent of “The Times” telegraphs that there are one million strikers in. Russia. Officials of the Ministry of Ways and Communication have abandoned their posts. The police demand increased pay. General Trepoff told the colonels that they were empowered to fire on any gathering of upwards of six people. There are sixty thousand troops in the St. Petersburg city, divided into four sections, with a division of infantry, with horses and gun. Matters assumed a serious turn at Kharkoff. Three thousand students, after pillaging the armourers’ business places, took possession of the Cathedral, University, and Courts of Justice. They barricaded the windows and doors, burnt the archives, and then hoisted red flags on the buildings. Troops were called out and surrounded the place. Martial law was thereupon proclaimed, and a Committee of Public Safety enrolled, consisting of civilians and militia, to guard the town. Eventually the barricaders were induced to surrender their arms, and evacuate on condition that they were not arrested or prosecuted. ST. PETERSBURG, October 28. It is reported that Admiral Birileff started with the Black Sea squadron for Anatolia (presumably in connection with the dispute between the Porte and the Powers regarding Macedonia) without the Kniaz Potemkin—the battleship on which there was mutiny last June. The crew thereupon blew the vessel up. ST. PETERSBURG, October 28. Many persons were wounded at the dispersal of a meeting which was being held ar. Pcltava.

ST. PETERSBURG, October 28. At Novoeherkask and Odessa, where the export, wade is stopped, twelve British steamers which were waiting to be loaded have left port empty. LONDON, October 30. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” reports that at midnight last night, after many hours’ conference with Count de Witte, the Czar accepted a liberal programme submitted to him, and appointed Count de Witte Premier. His Majesty also resolved to grant an Assembly of fully representative character. An Imperial manifesto is expected today. This news was brought from the Imperial residence at Peterhof (eighteen miles west of St. Petersburg) by steamer, the telegraph and telephone lines being cut. The correspondent also states that the Czar has resolved to abolish martial law throughout the Empire. LONDON, October 30. The St. Petersburg correspondent of “The Times” reports that the Government is incapable of enforcing even the semblance of authority. The soldiers openly demur at the degrading work expected of them. Three hundred sailors at St. Petersburg have mutinied. The Ministers at Peterhof are divided, while the Court is in revolt against the Czar. A majority of Ministers and General Trepoff advise the immediate granting of a constitution. The reactionaries advise a dictatorship under the Grand Duke Alexis and General Ignatieff. LONDON, October 30. According to the St. Petersburg correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” a million and a half workmen have struck in various parts of Russia. The industrial system of the country is paralysed. As a result of the railway strike the garrison at St. Petersburg has been reduced to eating salt meat. The nation’s rifle-shops and factories at Reval (situated on a bay of the Gulf of Finland) have been plundered. Crowds, armed with revolvers, prevented the Fire Brigade extinguishirm an incendiary fire in a theatre. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Disaffection among the troops is reported in many directions. According to some reports, the strike is likely to terminate shortly, since the Socialists desire to avoid collision with the troops until December or January, when preparations for armed insurrection will be completed. Yesterday passed quietly at St. Petersburg. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. The situation in the provinces is worse than at the capital. Mock republics have been proclaimed at severrl cities. The local authorities are so powerless at mar y places that Committees of Safety have been formed to maintain order. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Crowds paraded the streets yesterday. The troops dispersed those who attempted to hold meetings. The University and all the higher educational establishments are closed. There has been an alarming increase of “ hooliganism.” Telegraphic communication with Moscow and Warsaw has ceased, crowds at Moscow threatening the lives of operators. The strikers offer to restore the Moscow water supply if they are allowed complete control of the reservoirs, with the right to suspend the supply at will. A great meeting of all classes urged the prosecution of armed conflict and the creation of a Committee of Public Safety. The “Moscow Gazette” _ appeals to true Russians to assemble in churches, where they will be organised and arm-

ed preparatory to attacking the strikers. The appeal is interpreted to mean that the authorities are helpless and hopeless. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. The Finns are suddenly developing sympathy for the Russians. There are only 4000 troops in Finland, since 600® recently sent chere displayed such revolutionary leanings that they were recalled. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Cossacks arresied a hundred and twenty Socialists who were holding a meeting in -a forest at Pabianice (Poland). Their comrades tried to rescue the prisoners, whereupon the Cossacks fired a volley, killing one person and wounding twenty. The city of Lodz, the manufacturing centre of Poland, is threatened with famine. The inhabitants are afraid to leave their homes. The manufacturers have left the town. All meetings and processions have been dispersed. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Street fighting commenced at Odessa on Sunday afternoon. After a huge crowd had compelled the closing of shops and restaurants, they seized tramcars and erected barricades. Cossacks fired, killing four and wounding eighteen. A deputation from other regiments asked the workmen not to fire at the troops, promising themselves to shoot in the air if ordered to quell disturbances. ST. PETERSBURG, October 29. The Government has postponed its loan negotiations until a change in the internal situation improves foreign money markets.