Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1917 — CZAR ABDICATES RUSSIAN THRONE; REVOLT SUCCEEDS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CZAR ABDICATES RUSSIAN THRONE; REVOLT SUCCEEDS

Grand Duke Michael Made Regent—Duma in Control. CZAREVITCH IS NEW RULER • Vrj. ■' • ' --r • ’• " ' Soldiers Aided Revolutionists in Overthrowing the Goveirnrnent .rr» 500 Persons Reported Slain During the Fighting at Petrograd. London, - March 16.- —Czar Nicholas has abdicated the tiirone of Russia. The czar abdicated in favor of h|s young son. A dispatch to the London Chronicle from Petrograd on Thursday says the empress of Russia has been placed under guard, i According to information received here the Russian people have been most distrustful during recent events of the personal influence of Empress Alexandra. She was suppose<Kto exercise the greatjest influence over Emperor Nicholas. The Empress Alexandra, before her marriage to the emperor of Russia in 1894, was the German Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt. ’ . 30,000 Troops Join Revolt. A popular revolution been successful and the government of Russia rests temporarily with a self-appoint-ed committee of the duma. After three days of battle, in wrfioh the majority-of the 30,000 troops in Petrograd mutinied and supported the revolutionists, calm has_ returned. Grand Duke Michael vitch, brother of tire czar, has been appointed regent. , » The czar’s abdication wafts in. compliance with the urgent demand of the committee of the duma, which notified him „ that hrs assent depended the fate of the dynasty. Two Leaders Kilted. * The Copenhagen Ekstrabladet reports that the Russian consul in Hapa-

randa, Sweden, says that former Premier Stunner and Minister of the Interior ProtopOpoff were killed in Petrograd. Borti were charged with proGerman sympathies. New Cabinet Announced. A hew national cabinet is announced, with Prince Lvoff as president of thecouncil and premier, and the other offices held by tlmmen who are close to the Russian people. The members of the new national cabinet are announced as follows: Premier, President of the Council and Minister of the Interior —-Prince Georg.es E. Lvoff. foreign Minister— Prof. Paul N. MH- ■ ■ ■ c Minister of Public Instruction—Prof. Manuiloffi pf Moscow university. " Minister 'of War and Navy, ad interim—A. J. Guchkoff. formerly president <if the duina. Minister of Agriculture—M. lichingareff, deputy from Petrograd. Minister of Finance—M. Tereschtenko, deputy from Kiev. Minister of Justice —Deputy Kercnski of JSaratOff, Minister, of Communications—N. V. Nekrasofi* vice president of the duma. Controller of Sjate—M. GodnefT, deputy from Kazan. Troops Back the Duma. Telegraphing from Petrograd Wednesday. Reuter's correspondent- says Kronstadt, the fortress and great naval station at the head of the Gulf of Finland, 20 miles west of Petrograd, has joined the revolutionary movement. Two deputies, Pepelauff and Taskine, on instructions from the duma committee, proceeded to Kronstadt, where the troops placed themselves at the disposal of the duma. The old Russian government, it is alleged, tried to bring troops to Petrograd from Finland to save the situ-, ation. but the troops refused to go. Helsingfors is declared to be in a state of siege. Blow to Germany. Authenticated dispatches from Petrograd, together with the consensus of governmental advices here, indicate that the uprising was a rebellion against the growing German reaction believed responsible for the fond shortage and lack of effective military organization. In thia connection Andrew Bonar

Law, chancellor Of the exchequer; announcing the success of revolution to the house of commons, said that it was comforting to England to learn that the revolution “was not directed at securing peace by Russia.”. Control Is Complete'. That control by the new government Is complete is undoubted. Telegrams ffom generals commanding at the various fronts have displayed an astonishing unanimity of support of the new order. Revolt Breaks on Sunday. Demonstrations against the government have been frequent during the last few weeks. The attempted pr<> roguing of the duma fanned the fires, which spread rapidly from class to class and from civilians to troops. Sunday it broke forth in flame. Panic-stricken, the government ordered the mounted patrols to fire on the people: The patrols refused, and a butiie between the police and the troops followed, regiment after regiment joining the revolutionists, seizing and throwing the heads of the secret police into prison. ' Z For three days open battle raged in the streets of Petrograd. Strikes in factories and on street cars were called in sympathy with the revolution. ’Wednesday the week’s nightmare of revolution ended more suddenly than it had begun. Planks were pulled from windows, doors were unbarred, factories, stores and banks reopened. 500 Slain in Revolt. . The only evidence. That a revolution hath beqn fought and won was the, smouldering ruins of a few public buildings. The cost in life is unknown. It is believed, however, that it did not exceed S(W.

Magical and sudden as was the transition from the old to the new, it is believed here that its results will be almost immediately visible in the institution by the new Russia of a more vigorous and efficient prosecution of the war against Germany. Appeal Made to Czar. , The duma telegraphed the principal gdnerals at the front to use their influence with Emperor Nicholas in support of the duma’s appeal for a popular government, says Reuter’s Petrograd correspondent. General Brussiloff, commander in chief of the armies on the southwestern front, replied: ... “Your telegram received. I have fulfilled my "duty to my emperor and my country.” Gen. Nicholas V. Ruzsky, member of the supreme .military council, replied: “I have carried out your request.” M. Rodzianko, president of the duma, sent the following telegram to Emperor Nicholas: ,Z “The situation is becoming worse. Measures must be taken immediately, for tomorrow it may be too late. The hour has arrived when the fate of the country and of the dynasty is being M. Chtchegiovitofif, president of The council of empire, was arrested in his home and temporarily held in the ministerial room of the dunn’i. A telegrtim received Dy the naval attache of the Russian embassy in Paris reported that the railways and public services in Petrograd had resumed Work. The revolution, which evidently was carefully prepared, broke out simultaneously jn Petrograd and Moscow. The garrisons, which obeyed the instructions of the revolutionaries, immediately tbok possession of these cities after comparatively little fighting and equally small amount of destruction of property. Petrograd Bridge Blown Up. In Petrograd one bridge was I flown tip. Strict military rule'prevails and the army has the situation so well in hand that it is not expected adherents ofThe late government will be able, to offer any serious resistance, even in remote provinces. After receiving word of the revolution. it is reported, Emperor Nicholas returned to the palace, where he arrived on Wednesday. The following details of the revolution have Ijefm given to the press from a source usually well informed Russian affairs: , • ’*B’ “The-spldiers refused to act against the crowd which started trouble when it heard of the ukase issued by Emperor Nicholas proroguing the duma. On Sunday the committee which had dileL to discuss the food situation was partly transformed into a provisional government under the presidency of President Rodzianko of the duma and included representatives of the duma council of t lie empire and of the' municipality. , The garrison agreed to support the provisional government.”

Papers Fail to Appear. Newspapers, with the exception of revolutionary publications which sprang into, life with the success of the revolt, had failed to appear. Street car service at noon had not Jjeen resumed, but it was believed that night would see partial service. The government was declared to be overthrown by the* duma leaders, who met in the MaveritChisky palace after the regular session had been adjourned by imperial ukase, and in a telegram to the emperor the popular representatives declared that a special committee, composed of the leaders of thevarious parties in the duma, would submit a list of names for the new cabinet.. The- imperial palace at TsarkoeSelo is said to be in a state of siege, but thus far no fire has been reports ed between the guards defending the palace and the revolutionists and troopsl It is stated that General Michael V. Alexieff, former chief of staff, has been offered the military dictatorship.

Nicholas II.