Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-07-07
MUTINEERS
AREF0R WAR
BattIeship kniaz Potennkine Issues a
proclamation Declaring War
Against Russian Government,
is AGAIN IN THE BLACK SEA
Pledge is Given That Foreicn shinpino
Will Not be MoIested-Stranoe
Situation.

st. Petersburg, July 6.-While no of.
fetal 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 securing
coal, provisions and medicines, is
again at large in the Black sea, and
that her destination is unknown.
Whether the report of the sailing of
the battleship is true or not, the crew
took a remarkable step yesterday,
when, with all the solemnity of a pro-
vlslonal government, it issued man
ifesto addressed to the powers, an
nouncing that civil war had been be.
gun against the existing regime in
Russia, and pledging the inviolability
OF foreign shipping and foreign ports.
This action doubtless was taken to
quiet the apprehensions of foreign
powers and TO leave no excuse for the
sending of warships through the Dar-
danelles to effect the capture of the
battleship, which, until now, Russia's
Black sea fleet has not dared to at
tempt. 1t is considered a shrewd move
on the part of the mutineers and
stamps the commander OF the crew as
leader far above the class of the
ordinary sailor and strengthens the
opinion that he is not member of
the original crew, but one of the revo-
lutionarieS who went on board at Cd.
essa.
The issuance of the manifesto lends
certain dignity to the mutiny and
proves that the crew and their com.
mander have no desire that the world
should believe them to be mere out.
laws, but that they should be look
| ed upon as men seriously raising the
standard of revolution.
Nothing has been received to con-
firm the suppOsitiOn that the request
for doctor at TheodOsia indicated a
struggle for supremacy on the way
from Kustenji.
According to rumOr printed in
an afternoon paper the ships strong
box contained $375,000, and the mutt
neers would therefore be well sup
piled with money.
In circles closely in touch with the
revolutionists it is regarded as fore
gone conclusion that the commander
of the Kniaz Potemkine, knowing the
situation in the Caucasus, will head for
Poti or Batoum, where the revolution
lists are exceedingly strong, in the
hope of producing general rising.
With the authorities in the Caucasus
| almost powerless to prevent it, such
contingency is by no means impos-
sble.
Dispatches from Tiflis received last
night say that reports of rioting at
Odessa and the action of the Kniaz
Potemkine. have aroused the most in
tense interest and the widest Joy
among the revolutionists. The receipt
of the report was followed immediate
ly by complete strike, even the lamp
lighters quit work. The city is in
darkness and the inhabitants gener-
ally are fleeing to the northward.
The Emperor Nicholas II, the crew
of which is reported to have mutinied
at Constantinople, is Russian mer-
chantman.
Considerable anxiety is felt because
the cruiser ChernOmoretz, which was
due at Sebastopol today, has not yet
| arrived.
Order has not been restored at Biel-
ostok A censored telegram received
last night reported that shooting had
been heard, that crowds are fleeing,
and that great excitement prevails,
but no details are given.