Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1905 — PROCLAMATION TO THE POWERS [ARTICLE]

PROCLAMATION TO THE POWERS

Remarkable Step of the Mutineers—Also n Very Shrewd More. St. Petersburg, July 6.—While no official confirmation is obtainable the Associated Press has been informed by an authority usually reliable that the admiralty has received news that the Kniaz Potemkine, after shipping coal, provisions and medicines, is again at large in ftie Black sea, aid that her destination is unknown. Whether the report of tlie sailing of the battleship be true or not the crew took a remarkable step yesterday when with all the solemnity of a provisional government it issued n manifesto addressed to tlie powers, announcing that civil war had been begun against the existing regime in Russia and pledging tileinviolability of foreign shipping and foreign ports. Tills action doubtless was taken to quiet the apprehensions of foreign powers and to leave no excuse for the sending of warships through the Dardanelles to effect the capture of the battleship, which until now Russia's Black sea fieet has not dared to attempt. It Is considered a shrewd move on tlie part of tlie mutineers, and stamps the commander of the crew as a leader far above the class of the ordinary sailor, and strengthens tlie opinion that he is not a member of the original crew, but one of tlie revolutionaries who went on lioard at Odessa. The issuance of the manifesto lends a certain dignity to the mutiny, and proves that the crew and their commander have no desire that the world should believe them to be mere outlaws, but that they should be looked upon as men seriously raising the standard of revolution. According to a rumor printed in an afternoon paper the ship's strong box contained $375,000, and the mutineers would therefore be well supplied wlUt money. In circles closely In touch with the revolutionists It is regarded as a foregone conclusion that the commander of the Kniaz I’otemkine. knowing the situation In the Caucasus, will head for Poti or Batouin, where tire revolutionists are exceedingly strong, In the hope of producing a general rising. With the authorities in the Caucasus almost powerless to prevent It such a contingency is by no means Impossl ble.