Newspaper

Abdication of the Czar
CABINET OVERTHROWN

DUMA MEMBERS FORM AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Message to the Army and Navy

Copenhagen, Thursday
A telegram received from Petrograd states officially that a revolution has broken out in Petrograd. The Duma refused to be dissolved, and an executive committee was formed, with M. Rodzianko, the President of the Duma, as its head.

The Committee, which is made up of twelve members, two days ago proclaimed itself as the Provisional Government, and issued the following proclamation. – Owing to the difficult circumstances and the disorganisation fo the interior of the country, for which the former Government is responsible, the Executive Committee of the Duma consider it necessary to take over the Government of the county.

Fully realising the importance of the decision come to the Committee feels sure that the population and the Army will assist it in the difficult task of forming a new Government, which will be in a position to fulfil the wishes of the people, and be assured of the public confidence.
The revolutionists, supported by the population of Petrograd and by the whole garrison of 30,000 men thereupon arrested all the Cabinet, and declared the Cabinet to be non-existent. To-day, the third day of the revolution, Petrograd is quite calm, and there was no difficulty in maintaining order. A member of the Duma, Col. Engelhardt, has been appointed commander in Petrograd.

This evening the Committee issued a proclamation requesting the population and the banks and railways to continue their industrial activities.

ABDICATION OF THE CZAR: GRAND DUKE MICHAEL SUCCEEDS.
A Press Association message says: The Czar has abdicated and the Grand Duke Michael Alexandovitch has succeeded him. The Grand Duke Michael is a brother of the Czar, and is 39 years of age

DUMA’S MANIFESTO.

Struggle with Enemy not to be weakened.

MESSAGE TO ARMY AND NAVY
Petrograd, Wednesday

The Military Committee of the Duma has asked all the officers who are not yet employed by the committee to undertake the organisation of soldiers who have joined the people, and to help to guard the capital. The committee has issued a statement pointing out that at the present moment, when facing an enemy who wishes to take advantage of the temporary weakness of the country, it is absolutely necessary to make every effort to maintain the power of the army, and concluding: The blood of our comrades shed during two and a half years of war pledges us to do. The president of the Duma has sent to the commanders of the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, and to the chiefs of the armies on the Northern, South-Western, Western, Romanian and Caucasian fronts, and to the Chief of the General Staff, telegrams asking the army and navy to preserve absolute calm, and to be sure that the struggle against the foreign enemy is not suspended or weakened even for a single moment. “As hitherto, the army and navy,” the telegram continues, “must continue firmly and valiantly to defend the county, and while the Provisional Committee, with the aid of the military elements in the capital, and with the moral support of the people, restore calm and regular activity, each officer, soldier and sailor should fulfil his duty.” The officers of the Petrograd garrison at a general meeting unanimously decided to recognise the authority of the Executive Committee of the Duma until the formation of a permanent Government.

TROOPS AT THE DUMA’S DISPOSAL
Petrograd, Wednesday

Two deputies, M M. Peplaieff and Taskine, acting on the instructions of the Executive Committee, proceeded to Krondstadt, where the troops placed themselves at the Duma’s disposal. M. Peplaieff has been appointed commandant of Kronstadt.
–
Reuter.

BRITISH COMMUNITY WELL.
Reuter’s Agency learns on enquiry at the Foreign Office that news has been received that the members of the British Community in Petrograd are well. Every consideration has been shown to them during the disturbances.

CIVIL WAR IN PETROGRAD

Disturbances Due to Lack of Food

GERMAN INFLUENCE AT WORK.
Petrograd, Tuesday

The first duty of a British correspondent in these day of national upheaval is to assure his compatriots that “Russia is all right” as a friend, ally, and fighter. The fiery trial she is undergoing will only steel her heart and arms. I have been day and night in the streets for the last three days, and seen long queues of hungry men, women and children at the bakers-seen wanton firing with rifles and machine-guns-seen civil war in the main thoroughfares-but I have not heard a single word against the war.

The shortages of food, the lack of organisation, and the neglect of the most elementary precautions are popularly ascribed to German influences. The word provocation was on all lips.

These influences the Russians are resolved to exterminate. The killing of Rasputin was the match which set fire to a vast heap of patriotic determination. Russia would deserve well of her Allies. She would give herself a chance. The fire quickly spread, and ran from class to class; from caste to caste- from the civilians to the troops. It smoldered in Petrograd on Saturday, flamed up on Sunday, and became a conflagration yesterday.

REVOLUTION ACHIEVED

This morning I heard that its purpose has been achieved. All the regiments in Petrograd have declared for the Duma and the people, and the naval barracks have been opened to enable the sailors to make common cause with the rest. I live next to the English Church behind the English quay. Up to the early hours of the morning, bombs, guns and the rattle of machine-guns and rifles were heard front Vassily Ostrov, which is across the Neva. They were the culminating salvos of the national awakening.

Owing to the interruption of the train service and want of droshkies [four-wheeled open carriage] it would have been difficult personally to watch the successive events. Commander Locker Lampson, however, placed his motor-car at my disposal on Saturday, and I drove slowly along the Nevsky Prospekt through crowds numbering tens of thousands, intermingled with cavalry, Cossacks, and patrols of infantry with fixed bayonets. The motor car was driven by a solider, and we were frequently stopped; but my explanation that I and my companion were British invariably evoked cheers, and the heartiest good wishes.

ORDERS TO FIRE

SHOOTING OF RIFLEMEN INTENTIONALLY BAD

Orders were suddenly given to use rifles and machine-guns. There were only a certain number of live cartridges in the belts of the machine-guns, but the crowds were so dense that many fell. As regards the riflemen, either a large number of blank cartridges were used, or the shooting was intentionally bad. The garden in front of the Kazan Cathedral was packed when a large number of Cossacks came up. All kneeled, and the Cossacks did not fire. Several of the police, including a high official, were shot. The resentment of the people was directed especially against the police, for it had become known that a considerable proportion of the troops had already refused to fire. On Sunday some of the police sent to assist the military fired on the people, to the great indignation of the soldiery. Sunday was a repetition of Saturday on a more extensive scale, in various quarters of the town.

POINTED TELEGRAM TO THE CZAR
The party leaders resolved not to disperse, and the Duma held an historic sitting, as the result of which M. Radzianko telegraphed to the Czar as follows: – “The position is serious. Anarchy prevails in the capitol. The Government is paralysed. The transport of provisions and fuel is completely disorganised. The general dissatisfaction is increasing. There is disorderly firing in the streets. The troops are firing at each other. It is necessary immediately to charge a person enjoying the confidence of the country to form a new Government. Delay is impossible. Any delay means death. Pray God that this may be our responsibility, and that it may not fall on a crowned head.”

MESSAGES TO AND FROM GENERALS AT THE FRONT.
M. Rodzianko also wired the text of the fore-going message to the Chief of Staff General Alexeieff, and the commanding Generals at the front asking them to used their influence with the Emperor in support of the Duma’s appeal. General Brusiloo replied: “Your telegram received I have fulfilled my duty to my Czar and country. General Russky replied: “Your telegram received. I have carried out your request.

SECOND URGENT WIRE TO THE CZAR
Later, M. Rodzianko sent a second telegram to the Czar as follows: – “The situation is becoming worse. Measures must be taken immediately, for tomorrow it may be too late. The last hour has arrived when the fate of the country and the dynasty is being decided.”

THE DUMA’S RESOLUTION
About one o’clock a deputation of the troops in revolt arrived at the Duma building to ascertain the position taken up that Assembly. M. Rodzianko communicated to the deputation a resolution adopted by the leaders to the effect that the hour had struck for a change of authority, in which the Duma would take a most active [part], and dwelt on the urgency of maintaining quiet and order. The Duma leaders afterwards elected a committee to ensure the maintenance of order, and to enter into relations with institutions and individuals. It consists of 12 members, headed by M. Rodzianko, and including the two Vice-Presidents of the Duma; M. Skidlovsky, chairman of the progressive bloc; M. Miliukoff, the leader of the Constitutional Democrats; the other party chiefs and the Socialists and Labour leaders. The Deputies of the Extreme Right did not attend the sitting.

DUMA UNDER REVOLUTIONARY GUARD.
At two o’clock further parties of troops, with numbers of armed citizens, arrived at the Duma. They were loudly cheered, and were addressed by the Socialist and Labour leaders. The Duma guard was then replaced by soldiers in “revolt.” The Duma Post and Telegraph Office was occupied, and sentries were posted over the telephones. The officer commanding the Duma Guard was wounded in the street by a youth from whom he tried to wrest a weapon. He was carried into the Duma building, where, after being attended to by a doctor, he was removed to hospital.

ARREST OF PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL OF EMPIRE
At half-past five a strong revolutionary escort brought in M. Stcheovitoff, the president of the Council of the Empire, who had been arrested at his house. He was former Minister of Justice, and is one of the most prominent reactionaries. He was temporarily lodged in the Ministerial room of the Duma. At the same time it was intimated that a number of other arrests were imminent. The so-called German gang was to be removed once for all. – Press Association Foreign Special.

60,000 TROOPS IN THE CAPITAL
Petrograd, Wednesday, 10.18 p.m.
The Imperial bodyguard regiments move into Petrograd today It is estimated that there are now 60,000 troops in the capital. The political prisoners in the Schluesselburg have been released. – Reuter.

NOT AN EFFORT TO SECURE PEACE

More Efficiency in Conduct of the War Demanded.

In the House of Commons last night, Sir H. Daniel asked if Mr Bonar Law could give the House any information about the internal condition of Russia. Was it true that the Tsar had abdicated that the Duma had refused to be dissolved, and had under arrest members of the Russian Government?

Mr Bonar Law said it was not possible for him to give any information as to what was happening in Russia earlier. The first news the Government had of any serious trouble in Russia came in a telegram on Friday last. Since then they had had a daily telegram giving or less tentative news, which came from our Embassies. By degree it had become clear that Petrograd was becoming under ordered rule, and that the present Duma was exercising control. The soldiers and sailors had taken the side of the Duma in the revolution. The result had been that there had not been any serious loss of life. He was not sure that was the case, but the Government had no information that there had been serious loss of life.
Last night a message was received from our Ambassador at Petrograd that a message had been received from the Duma that the Tsar had abdicated, and the Grand Duke Michael Alexandravitch had been appointed Regent. He would be glad if he could give a reassuring statement. In what he had said there was some comfort for us in the comparative tranquillity in which this change had been conducted. There is this comfort that all our information leads us to believe that the movement is not in any sense directed towards an effort to secure peace, but, on the contrary, the discontent is not against the Government for carrying on the war, but against them for not carrying on the war with efficiency, and with that energy which the people expected. Mr Bonar Law further announced that a telegram had been received from Paris stating that the Naval Attache at the Russian Embassy there reports that the railways and public services are working again.

The Situation in Russia

Further Particulars

Petrograd Thursday

Calm is restored in Petrograd, except for occasional sniping.

The Executive Committee of the Duma has arrested Prince Chakvoskoy, ex-Minister of Commerce, and General Sukhomiloff ex- Minister of War. Soldiers tore the epaulettes of the latter off his shoulders. For some time the crisis was evident. The prices of foodstuff for the poor were generally prohibitive. A popular demonstration has been decided upon on Saturday, and the police warned the inhabitants not to leave their houses. The people, however, were not deterred. The troops and Cossacks were warmly cheered and some of the latter cheered back, a truly eloquent sign of the times which the authorities failed to read. Large stores of flour have been discovered concealed in various parts of the town.

ACHIVES OF THE SECRET POLICE BURNED.
A “Times” Petrograd message says: – When the building containing the archives of the Secret Police were captured, the whole of the mass of interesting documents was carried out by the crowds, and went to feed bonfires, at which they joyfully warmed themselves.

HUNTING THE SPIES
The new Government has obtained posession of the list of spies and informers, who are being fast run to earth. The strongest anti-German feeling animates the population. They are systematically hunting down all highly placed personages suspected of German proclivities, or bearing German names or titles.

Date: 16 March 1917

Contributed by Daniel Hyatt