Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-30
Russia,

The Russian revolt seems actually to be
at hand. after many false alarms and feeble
futile efforts on the part of the people TO
set up the standard of Instruction. Wheth-
er 1t will develop into a veritable revolution
Is question. And the world stands by
watching the events in Odessa, LODI, Lbau
and elsewhere within the cars realm with
an anxious interest that is inspired, it is to
be believed largely by the hope that the
subjects of Nicholas will succeed In over
throwing his authority If he does not forth
with sincerely establish sweeping reforms
The Odessa development is startling but
not surprising. 1t evidently had Its origin
In condition in the Russian navy which
was long ago suspected-grossly inhuman
treatment of the sailors by the officers, bad
food. the denial Of the privilege of petition.
Finally the troubles eliminated in murder.
The mutiny on the Knaz Potemkin may at
this hour have been repeated on other
ships of the cars navy. such as are out
side of the Japanese control. There are
grave doubts even in st. Petersburg wheth-
err the seamen of Admiral Krugers squad
ron. now steamlng to Odessa, will act
against their comrades of the Potemkin.
At Libau. on the Black sea, according to
today's reports. 5000 sailors have mutinied
on shore and are under the guns of the
Cossacks. At Kishinef the commandant
of the gendarmerie-chief of pollce-has
been assassinated. At odessa the bonn
bardment of the city by the mutinous sail
ors of the Potemkin has aoded a terrifying
element to the situation and involved the
possibility of foreign Intervention to pre-
vent the destruction of the property of
aliens. At Cronstadt eight thousand sailors
are in revolt and one officer has been killed.
Thus the mutinous acts are by no means
local. but affect both the Baltic and the
Black sea ports.
There have been many false alarms in
Russia, many attempts by distinct classes
OF the people to foment revolt, but without
result. The workingmen of st. Petersburg
Warsaw. Lodz. Odessa and other cities
have sporadically risen in defiance of the
authorities, and always with the nihilists
urging them on to acts of desperate vio-
lence. But in each case the cars forces
have been too strong for them. The peo-
pie are unarmed and are easy victims for
the soldiery. There is now a settled belief
that there will be successful uprising in
Russia as long as the army remains loyal
to the car.
1t was thought that the discharge of a
shrapnel shot In the direction of the car
last winter, on the occasion of the blessing
of the waters of the Neva. indicated tend
ency within the army to strike off the bonds
of allegiance to the crown. But this ap-
pears to have been either a case of Isolated
disaffection or an expression of a general
tendency which lacked the courage to ex-
press itself elsewhere.
If the sailors mutiny 1t Is possible that
the soldiers may refuse to serve in revolt
subduing campaign. The same conditions
as to treatment. food. etc, doubtless pre-
vail in the army In the navy. But the
car seems always to be able to rely upon
his Cossacks for suppressing revolt. These
fierce soldiers apparently imbued with
no degree of patriotism in the sense of
sympathy with the masses. They know
only one master. Nicholas. and they obey
him ruthlessly. savagely.