Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-23
PROBING THE MUTINY
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served merely to add fuel to the flames.
In this manner discipline had been under
mined, and when efforts have been made
to support 1t brutality in some instances
has no doubt been resorted to in the belief
that incipient mutiny could only be checked
by showing determined front. Harsh acts
of this kind were frequent on board the
Kniaz Petemline previous to the outbreak
All naval officers are we'll aware of the
fact that when once the spirit OF mutinY
has gained possession of the crew of
ship it is difficult to suppress 1t. In similar
cases affecting the military the regiments
can be broken up and ordered to new
scenes and the change to new positions
almost invariably has the effect OF making
the men forget past misfortunes. But
when men are dissatisfied with a ship 1t
appears to be almost impossible to prevent
Il from running its course. Besides this,
the revolutionists and socialists had many
sympathsers among the members of the
crew and the evidence collected since the
outbreak shows that revolutionary litera-
ture had been secretly circulated until al
most every man on board the ship appeared
TO he in personal revolt against the gov
eminent of the car.
There was a minor mutiny last summer,
which, however. was quelled with great
rigor, and in January of the present year
the shipbuilding yard at Sebastopol was
set on fire. seriously damaging two war
ships which were being built for the Rus
sian navy. 1t is now believed that the
same causes which brought about the
latest mutiny of the Black sea fleet was
responsible for these earlier disaffections,
almost forgotten during the march of
events in the orient.
Comments of Japanese.
TOXIC, July 22-(Special Cablegram TO
The Bee)-The comments of the Japanese
newspapers upon the mutiny at Odessa
are interesting in the extreme. For in
stance, the Nichi Nichi Shinbun says:
when the truth is revealed It will be
found that Admiral Rojestvensky deserves
great praise for maintaining command Of
his crews and navigating his fleet as far
as the Corean strait. Under the circum-
stances II was a notable achievement"
Continuing, the Nichi Nichi shinbun
saws: "Ap an indication Of the conditions
existing in the Russian army and navy,
the mutiny is suggestive. 1t shows com
plete Generalization and lack OF discipline
In the military service, which is regarded
as the cornerstone OF the autocracy. This
event and the refusal OF a regiment TO
fire upon the unarmed pOpulace of Poland
are exceedingly ominous signs Of the com
ing revolution. What is left for the au-
tocracy to stand upon? II the car is
wise he will now. while 1t is possible by
a bold and steadfast policy Of reform,
vet save his state from a tremendous up
heaval 1t looks as II he, like Louis XVI
of France, will not be wise, and this makes
the Japanese consequently pessimistic as
10 the future OF Russia"
The Hochi says; I'VE sympathize with
our enemy's country in the calamity that
mas befallen it. II is nevertheless, certainly
the result Of the accumulated wickedness
Of Russian despotism. II alone is to blame.
| Through the destruction OF its fleets in the
Tar east Russia had only the Black sea
feet left"
The Chuwo shinbun remarks that the
mutiny is an outburst Of Russian dissatis-
| faction through the medium of the navy
The people can no longer bear the cruelty
OF their despotic government. This time
| the disturbances are a serious factor for
| the Russians. The journal hopes that the
car will repent and save his nation from
utter self-destruction.