RUSSIAN UPHEAVAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9622, 30 March 1917, Page 6

RUSSIAN UPHEAVAL

OLD REGIME AT WORK INSIDIOUS PROCLAMATION. STIRRING DP EXTREMISTS. LONDON, March 21. A most important cablegram from n “Times” correspondent at Petrograd thrown light on tho anxious situation in Russia. He cabled on Thursday, at midnight/ that the work of mischievous demagogues and agents provocateur of the old regime, who appeared to hold their insidious operations behind tho backs of tho patriots, rendered th® appointment of a Government enjoying the confidence and support of th® moderate elements imperative. I# was impossible to await formalities concerning the Czar’s abdication. Had tho Czar, not delayed his decision, things would have been much easier/ and tho situation was less critical, but ho hold out for a considerable time. Therefore, M. Rodzianko was compelled on Thursday to appoint a Ministry which docs not derive its authority from the Sovereign. Late on Wednesday an incendiary document, entitled an order purporting to bo signed by the Council of LaJ hour deputies and soldiers' delegates/ summoned the troops to disregard thi authority of the officers of tho Dumaand assume charge. This act of direct 1 provocation has been most disastrous. To-day M. Korenski (Minister for Justice) persuaded tho Socialist leader (J 4. Choidzke), who Is president of th 6 Labour deputies, to repudiate thd document. It was discovered to be a treasonable pronouncement which had been mysteriously printed and circulated wholesale. It was even posted In the lobbies of the Duma by secret emissaries of tho old regime. To educated minds it was clearly an attempt to disrupt Russia’s armed forces and bring ignoble surrender to the Gormans, but, unhappily, the masses of tho people and the soldiers were not sufficiently educated to appreciate this under tho stress of revolutionary excitement., M. Kerenski has issued an emphatic categorical degree, which AL Choidzke supports, ordering the soldiers to obey their officers. Tho Minister declares: “Tho printers add distributors of the document would bet treated as traitors.

“Obviously tho Labour Council has arrodated to itself importance to which it is in no wise entitled. The workers were not responsible for thedownfall of tho regime. This was not the result of strikes or of Socialist propaganda. Tlie whole of the people simply clamoured for bread, 1 which an incapable Government was, unable to supply. “Then M. frotopopoff’s scheme ot repression failed, because the troops refused to fire, which led to tlie breakup of Government authority. The revolution was therefore clearly Gia work of the Army. Now irresponsible bauds of demagogues are endeavouring to operate with the soldiers’ delegated in an underhand game, the stakes of ( which is Russia’s prestige. The dream of a Democratic Republic, founded upon tho defeat of-Russian arms, and' inevitablm starvation, would bring u*j through (leas of blood to certain reaction. Wo have already had a taste of the freedom prescribed by tfiese, theorists. They forbade compositors, to work daily newspapers, because' those refused to publish their wild lu-j cuhrations with the result that newspapers are still not being published, .and tne atmosphere is full of the foetid vapour arising from tho blood d victims.” The reappearance of newspapers on Friday made it clear that the people had turned their attention toward the war. Moscow and the provinces enjoyed newspapers throughout the revolution, and have a better perspective of th© situation. M. Rodzianko appeared in tho streets on Friday, and received an ovation. Hugo crowds of young and old civilians and soldiers followed him everywhere. . General Koenilov has been appointed Commander of Petrograd, The troops aro extremely popular, particularly the heroes of the war. who fought against desperate odds in the retreat from the Carpathians and escaped after untold hardships from an Austrian prison. On Saturday tho English cloth mills, employing 10,000 hands on army work, reported that the employees were quiet and disciplined', but feared toreturn to work until the Labour Council agreed. Tho majority of the industrial concerns aro in a similar position. . .. Tho Grand Duko Michael’s manifesto does credit to his qualities of heart and mind. No doubt he will be_ elected Czar by an overwhelming majority. Orthodoxy and Czardomi are indissolubly the base of Russian mentality, but until tho elections the Provisional Government must continue. The Provisional Government is not yet able to enforce authority against Die extremists. It has been announced by tho_ Czar that he signed a ukase appointing Prince Lvoff as Prime Minister before his abdication. Thus legal difficulties have been removed. Tlie immense popularity of the Grand Duke Nicholas, and enthusiastic admiration for General Alexieff have relieved anxiety at tho front.

STORY OF THE COUP A “PAINLESS” REVOLUTION. ARMY OFFICERS’ SECRET ORGANISATION. LONDON, March 21. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Petfograd correspondent, in a message dated last Thursday, Says that tho revolution ■was not serious until last Saturday and Sunday, when the bulk of tho workmen joined in. Even then thefo was an almost complete absence of violence. The troops which the Government called out to parade the streets were constantly cheered by the crowds. Tho attitude of the troops should have been a warning to tho Government. Only on Sunday did the police, with a few soldiers, begin firing, killing and ■wounding about 200. There was a dispute on Sunday evening among the regiments which had fired. On© regiment of Guards on Monday killed one of two officers who had ordered them to fire. Another regiment, which the Government sent to reduce the Guards who had revolted, took the revolters’ side. These regiments, which' were speedily joined by a third, stormed the arsenal, freed political prisoners

from the prisons, and sot fire to tho Central Court.

Thus armed, the revolutionaries began shooting. This was almost entirely against the police, who had ma-chine-guns posted on the roofs of high buildings, and constantly fired on tho crowd. Tho Duma cm Monday evening presented an extraordinary sight, and became the centre of the whole movement. Regiment after regiment, led by sergeants, cam© up and offered to help. Boy and girl students ran about on various errands, and veteran soldiers obeyed them. Arrested policemen wore dragged in, and imprisoned with better-known reactionaries. Tho soldiers meanwhile were restless without their officers, but the colonels and others began to return on Tuesday. Soon all the commanding officers of th© Petrograd garrison and General Staff joined the movement. The soldiers displayed jubilation, firing at sparrows and joy-riding in commandeered motor-cars, but the freedom from disorder was noteworthy, being duo to tho absence of vodka. Red ribbons were seen everywhere, fixed to the lances, rifles, and caps of the troops. There were many processions, usually headed by flags inscribed “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.” The “Dagens Nyhedor” (Copenhagen) states that at noon on March 10th a rumour was spread in Petrograd that stops would bo taken to remove the Government. A thousand people gathered outside M. Rodzianko’s Rouse, iVhoro a great Liberal conference was proceeding. All the leaders were present, including Polivanoff, the military leader of tho revolution. Tho “Retch” on Sunday announced that the Duma had been dissolved. Rioting began on Sunday night. Chabolov, the city’s military commandant, left for headquarters in a special train early on Monday. The garrison, left without a commander, joined the revolutionists, who, by midday, had seized all the railway stations, post offices, and Ministers’ houses. Then the real organised revolution commenced.

A Russian official in London, interviewed by the “Morning Post,” said that ever since the pro-Germans showed their hands, the army officers had had a secret union, and have been distributing pamphlets and making verbal statements to their men. The army no longer was commanded by tho old typo of officers, but, like the new British Army, was controlled by middlo-class men. Knowing tho country’s circumstances, they resolved on a painless revolution to kick out tho Government. Tho official suggested, in conclusion, that what Russia happily has done will lead to a revolution In Germany.