IN RUSSIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 19 July 1917, Page 5

IN RUSSIA.

ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION. ■Renter's Telegrams. (Received July ID, P..*) a.m.) PETROGRAD, July IS. A military anti-Government demonstration on Monday night, provoked by extremists jis a protest against the disbandment of mutinous regiments at the front, ended in wild, panicky shooting. There wero a number of casualties and a dozen were sent to hospital. The disturbance ended in a few minutes, and the troops returned quietly to tho barrack-.

Tho executive of the. Soldiers' Executive and the peasants' delegates denounced the demonstrators as traitors. A manifesto threatens the. strongest, measures against troops appearing in the streets armed, contrarv to orders. A proclamation of the Provisional Government prohibits all demonstrations.

Only a section of the garrison participated.

POLITIC:A L PvEOR GANISATION EXPECTED.

GREAT STRIKE IMMINENT.

Australian and ?T.Z. Coble Association. (Received July 10, noon.) PETKOGH AI), July 18. The political situation is disturbed. The Kxecutivo Council is discussing thn reorganisation of the. Government It is holioved M. Therotelis Avill become Premier. The. proletariat in Pet.rograd is hostile to the Government and distrusts the executive of the Soldiers' and Workmen's Council. It is feared that an extensive strike is imminent. v Employees in the Putiloff works #,tood ali night outside the Palace. The Government has taken measures to prevent bloodshed.

MINISTRY DISCUSSING CRISIS

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, (Received July 19, 2 p.m.)

PETROGRAD, July IS

The Ministry is discussing the question of reorganisation, find the AllRussia Soldiers' rnd "Workmen's Committee executive is considering the situation. Masses of 'workers are standing all night round tho building. The executive and tho Government arc collaborating, tranijuillismg tho crowds and endeavouring to avert armed action.

WILD SHOOTING IN PETROGRAD. THE DEMONSTRATION DESCIi IDED'. Australian a-id X.Z. C'a.bl<; Association. (Received -Inly 1.9, 2 p.m..) T'ETROGRAD, July I*. The anti-Goverumenf demonstration began in the afternoon. Motor-I'irrie-brustling with .machino guns manned by .Maximalist agitators paraded the streets. The population at first kept indoors, and later emerged and v. at cued the demonstration out of curiosity.

Some regiments, yielding to the persuasion of the .Maximalists, left their barrack's in the ( veiling, carrying arms, contrary ,to orders. One regiment was on the march on Nevsky Prospect-, evidently going to the Duma, when suddenly shots were fired at the regiment. The population bolted for cover. The soldiers began a wild fusilade, -which lasted until their magazines wore emptied. They abandoned the march to the Duma, and returned <|uictly to the barracks. In twenty minutes the city "wore its customary aspect. In the meantime four motor-lorries filled with armed soldiers and sailors and Maximalists dashed to the Warsaw station, intending to prevent M. Kerensky going to thii-, front. They found he had already departed. Another party seiy.ed the odices of the Novoe Vremya " and compelled Lhe compositors, to set. in type a proclamation calling upon the people to appear in the streets armed and demand the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the seizure of land and factories and other sources ol production.