The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-30
ODESSA.
The Incident Has No Parallel In the His
tory Of Revolutions.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: There Is
nothing like the story OF the kniaz Potemkln
Us told In this mornings SrN. in history. not
even me famous mutiny OF the British fleet
of the More in the beginning OF the last cen =
fury, when it held the British Government
and all London In terror. 1t Is the most dra-
matte In oident in situation covering a wider
field OF action than In any previous revolution
OF historical times, and reveals u depth OF
danger for the Russian autocracy and bureau
cracy hitherto undreamed Of. 1t may prove
only a fash In the pan at the worst. and W o
have vet to see whether the rest OF the Bla TX
Sea fleet Is sufficiently infected with the spirit
OF revolt TO make common cause with the
mutineers OF the Kniaz Potemkin, or will
remain true to the Emperor: but 1t Is only the
natural outcome Of the unendlng corruption
OF tn Russian administration carried on at tn Q
expense Of the masses, whether in their ca
pacity OF taxpayers or as soldiers or sailors.
The discipline and organization mat ap-
pear TO have prevailed on board tie Rus
sian battleshp after the crew had Wrecked
their vengeance on Its officers are eviden CO
that there must be among them some men Of
educated capacity, 1t has long been the Gus
tom OF the Russian Government to condemn
men OF education who have man ed liberal
tend en- ces to forced service in the army and
navy la the lowest ranks; and It Is Just posi-
Bile that there are some such on the kntaz
pOtnmkln.
feet remain loyal to the Government, 1t is
ouly a question of a short time before the
mptineers must surrend eI or run their slip
escape. perhaps in Bulgarian or Rumanian
territory. refuge in Turkey being practically
out OF the question. But If the rest OF the fleet
joins them, n new situation arises. and the
Possibility posi- of-the squadron becoming kind
Of base for an insurrectlon In the Caucasus
or in the south Of Russia itself Is a contingency
In connection with this last manifestation
OF the revolutionary Split in the Huss!sn
navy Is the account that is given in French
writer OF the way In viii ch the Japanese Gov
eminent has organl zed regular system or
instruction among the seventy thousand Rus.
sian prisoners now scattered throughout
japan A complete census Of the prisoners
was first taken, The, Russians, Poles and Jews
being separated, then the illitera'e. mostly
russians. we're, formed into classes which
we're nlaced under teachers selected from the
best educated among, the prisoners. with
write their ianguug fuently were organized
for higher education, the Russian and Polish
languages being the ones empl9yed. The
the expectation OF those who projected the
idea. In few months the iliterate were able
to read and wrts w III isGty ana no with few
classes. The zeal OF the students was further
stimulated by various indulgences. such as
o S,S, n. Books and newspapers are fur
rished literally. and with singular originality.
plays are given In the prison camps In which
JAPANESE actors perform historical pieces In
wav the demoral zation that too frequently
is the result OF enforced idleness among pria-
oners Of war Ia warded of. and. as the Japa-
TO tho civilization OF the Muscovite empire.
Among the Polish prisoners It IL said to have
become standing Joke that in order to be
taught their own Ian guaRe they have had to
come all the way to japan.
1t would be easy to speculate on what will
he the effect OF this work OF the JAPANESE
among the Russian prisoners when the war Ia
ended and they return to their homes: and 1t
is very likely TO be one OF the reasons why the
bureaucracy will want to continue the war If
It can handle the social disturbance s at home
and suppress such military revolts rs that on
the KnlaZ Potemkin Altogether II would be
diflcult to imagine n more perpleKed situu-
tion. +.
NEW YORK. June 20