Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-21
First Guns Fired at Moscow
in Notable Contest.
TRAINS RUN BY GUARDS
WORKMEN'S COUNCIL ISSUED 1
STIRRING MANIFESTO.
The Leaders Boast That the Struggle
Will Be Transformed Into an
Armed Revolution.

ST PETERSBURG, December 81, 2:35
a-m.-The first guns in the battle which
may determine the fate Of Premier Witte' s
experiment with moderate constitutional
ism and introduce either reaction or COM
plete revolution were fired yesterday at
Moscow, where the general strike was sue
cessfully inaugurated
The leaders of the government of the
proletariat last night were making their
last preparations here for general engage
ment, which will be on at noon today.
The workmen's council has been sitting
continuously since 8 o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon receiving reports and issuing fnel
orders. The leaders profess to be greatly
encouraged at the news from Moscow and
the reports from district meetings, which
were held in all sections of ST. Petersburg
yesterday declaring that there is now no
question that the tie-up will be complete.
They admit that many of the St Peters
burg workmen, especially the married men,
would prefer to continue at work, but they
are counting on the great majority favor
ing the strike to. swing the recalcitrants
into line and produce paralysis of indus
try even more complete than during the
strike of January last.
If their expectations are realized, St.
Petersburg today will be isolated from the
rest of the world, with railroad traffic
Issued Stirring Proclamation.
The workmen's council last night issued
q stirring proclamation, declaring that the
government had cast to the winds the
principles of the imperial manifesto Of Oc-
tober 80 and was now basing itself on re-
action, trickery and deceit. The proclama-
ton ended with summoning all the people of
Russia to join in general strike and not
to cease the struggle until the demands for
constituent assembly, universal suffrage.
the release of the arrested leaders of the
proletariat, land for the peasantry, ETC.,
are granted.
The editors of the radical papers are de-
termined to print the manifesto this morn
ing. 1t Is utterly revolutionary In its
phrasing. and consequently the editors are
confiscation of the issues by the police.
The leaders Of the government yesterday
also devoted the da yto reviewing their
the consideration OF the proposed election
law was not finished. The final decisions
will be reached at another session of the
cabinet to be held at Tsarskoe-Selo Friday.
First Test Of Strike.
The first test of the railroad strike will
occur on the departure of the Berlin train
from here at noon today. NJ. Nemechaieff,
minister of communications. will make a
determined effort to keep the foreign COM
uluIuCdliOttS OpCi, anu Tic WOIkluen are
equally resolved to show their power
Indications are multiplying that the gov
erriment's grim warning to the people of
the smaller towns to take the law into
their. own hands IL the railroad strike Is
called Will bear fruit M. Nemechaieff is
counting upon this as well as on financial
reasons to keep many of the petty employees
in line.
At the meetings of various liberal and
revolutionary organizations held last night
the sentiment as rule was In favor OF the
strike
In response to a number of requests from
editors of local papers which, were expect
ing their employees to strike the workmen's
council has decided to allow the radical
organs to appear. In Moscow. however all
the newspapers will be compelled to cease
publication The physicians union decided
last night that the dictates of humanity
required the. members to attend all sick
persons, but 1t was resolved to devote all
fees received to the strike fund and to boy
colt all doctors not doing 50.
Moscow Excited.
According to information received DUR
ing the night from Moscow that city was
In state OF great excitement yesterday.
The inhabitants were scurryfng about
buying supplies OF candles, DC, the stores
were boarded up, the great majority Of
the factories and mills were closed and
the postal teiegraph o11cea which had