CZAR AND PEOPLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5733, 31 October 1905, Page 5

CZAR AND PEOPLE.

CABLE NEWS.

CT3IITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. Bl ELECTRIC PRESS ASSOCIATION.

A nation in turmoil. reported surrender of the AUTOCRACY. COUNT DE WITTE AS PREMIER, REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY GRANTED. (Received October 30, 9.1 G p.m.) LONDON, October 30. Tho St. Petersburg correspondent of tho “Daily Telegraph’’ reports that at midnight last night, after many hours’ conference with Count de Witte, tho Czar accepted a liberal programme submitted to him, and appointed Count dc 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, tho telegraph and telephone lines being cut. Tho correspondent also states that the Czar has resolved to abolish martial law throughout tho Empire. DIVISION AT COURT. SOLDIERS OBJECT TO THEIR WORK. MUTINY OF SAILORS. LONDON, October 30. Tho St. Petersburg correspondent of “Tho Times” reports that tho Government is incapable of enforcing even the semblance of authority. Tho soldiers openly demur at tho degrading work expected of them. Three hundred sailors at St, Petersburg have mutinied. The Ministers at Peterhof are divided, while tho Court is in revolt against the Czar. A majority of Ministers and General Trepoff advise the immediate granting of a constitution. The reactionaries adviso a dictatorship under the Grand Duke Alexis and General Ignatieff. A MILLION AND A HALF ON STRIKE. INDUSTRY PARALYSED. RIFLE-SHOPS AND FACTORIES PLUNDERED. LONDON, October 30. According to tbc St. Petersburg correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” a million and a half workmen have struck in various parts of Russia. Tho industrial system of the country is paralysed. As a result of the railway strike tho 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 extinguishing an incendiary fire in a theatre. DISAFFECTION AMONG THE TROOPS. SOCIALISTS NOT YET READY. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Disaffection among tho 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.

PROVINCES WORSE THAN THE CAPITAL. MOCK REPUBLICS. LOCAL AUTHORITIES POWERLESS. (Received October 30, 11.22 p.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. The situation in the provinces is worse than at the capital. Mock republics have been proclaimed at several cities. Tho local authorities are so powerless at many places that Committees of Safety have been formed to maintain order. MOSCOW WATER SUPPLY. STRIKERS WANT COMPLETE CONTROL. A GREAT MEETING. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Crowds paraded tho streets yesterday. Tho troops dispersed who attempted to hold meetings. The University and all tho 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 tho lives of operatore. The strikers offer to restore tho Moscow water supply if they are allowed complete control of tho reservoirs, with tho right to suspend the supply at will. A great meeting of all classes urged tho 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 bo organised and armed preparatory to attacking tho strikers. The appeal is interpreted to mean

■that the authorities are helpless and hopcleES. SYMPATHY IN FINLAND. REVOLUTIONARY’ TROOPS. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. The Finns arc suddenly developing sympathy for the Russians. There aro only 4000 troops in Finland, since 0000 recently sent there displayed such revolutionary leanings that they were recalled. THE POLISH SOCIALISTS. SHOT DOWN BY COSSACKS. TERROR AT LODZ. ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Cossacks arrested a hundred and twenty Socialists who were holding a meeting in a forest at Pabianico (Poland). Their comrades tried to rescue tho prisoners, whereupon tho Cossacks fired a volley, killing one person and wounding twenty. The city of Lodz, the manufacturing centre of Poland, is threatened with famine. Tho inhabitants are afraid to leave their homos. The manufacturers liavo left tho town.

All meetings and processions have been dispersed.

THE POSITION AT ODESSA. STREET FIGHTING ON SUNDAY. FOUR KILLED. SIGNIFICANT REQUEST BY SOLDIERS. (Received October 30, 9.40 p.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, October 30. Street fighting commenced at Odessa on Sunday afternoon. After a huge crowd bad compelled tho closing of shops and restaurants, they seized tramcars and erected barricades. Cossacks fired, killing four and wounding eighteen. A deputation from other regiments asked tho workmen not to fire at the troops, promising themselves to nhodt in the air if ordered to quell disturbances. BORROWING POSTPONED. ST. PETERSBURG, October 29. The Government has postponed its loan negotiations until a change in tho internal situation improves foreign money markets.