The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-29

tempt May be Made to Terrorize the
Government by Guerrilla Warfare.
Country May be Plunged Into n
State of Civil War, Which VIII
Threaten the Governments Down
fall.
St. Petersburg, December 24.-S:30
p. m.-With Moscow's baptism Of
blood, the revolutionaries made good
their threat to transform the strike
into armed rebellion, and the next
48 hours should determine whether
they can marshal sufficient strength
to plunge the country into an actual
state of civil war. and seriously
threaten the immediate downfall of
the government.
The government processes confidence
that the whole attempt will fail owing
to the woeful insuficiency of arms In
possession of the proletariat, and by
reason of the loyalty of the army as
a whole; but it's calculations might
again be rudely upset. A few arsenals
might be seized to furnish arms or the
open support OF a few regiments
might start a landslide in the army.
Certainly the sh%rewdest of the revolu-
tionary leaders fully appreciate hat
the issue must be decided by the at
titude of the army, which is yet to
cast the die.
Instructions have gone forth that
risings must occur everywhere in or
der to test the troops and if a foot
hold can be secured it is the intention
OF the revOlutiOnaries to set up a pro-
visiOnal government and proclaim a
republic. Thus far reports from Mos
COW do not clear up the vital point
as to whether any of the troops there
actually refused to obey commands.
although there are persistent rumorS
that they did.
Revolutionary leaders here claim TO
have confirmation of a report that a
granadier brigade and some COssacks
are now locked up in their barracks.
While the military succeeded every
where in driving the insurgents from
their barricades in Moscow Saturday
night the defeat evidently was not q
decisive one, as barricades were again
thrown up in dozens of places this
morning and fighting was renewed be
fore IL o'clock.
The Associated Press understands
that orders have been issued for an
uprising here, but the governments
measures seemingly render this impos-
sible. No meetings, public or private,
are allowed, which makes an assem-
h11~ ~ r,nro thon fx,o norconc in
private lodging illegal. The prisons
and iails are filled with leaders of the
revolutionaries and a~gitators. Two
cases. of arms have been seized and
an entire organization consisting Of
900 "crujina,' as the student militia
is called. has been captured.
Rumors were purposely circulated
that a conflict would be ~inaugurated
at a demonstration of workmen IN the
Nevsky prospect this afternoon, but
they proved to be unfounded. The
city. in fact. was unnaturally CAIN
on the surface, and a stranger drop
ping down the Nevsky prospect this
afternoon would have seen no evidence
of ferment. 1t was a bright, crisp
winter day and smart sleighs and
equipages of the a~ristocracy with their
occupants cloaked in sables and other
rich furs we're out in force. Only The
sullen faces of the crowds of strikers
on the sidewalks and the heavy horses
and foot patrols on every block locke
OminOuS.
If the plans of the revolutionaries to
produce an uprising in st. Petersburg
fail. as it is believed they will, an at
tempt certainly will be made to ter
rorize the government by guerilla
warfare. in which bombs will play The
chief roles. AS the government has
embarked in a war with Reds" i. is
difficult to see how 1t can draw back
one step. The acceptance by Governor
General Doubasof, of Moscow, of he
offer of the notorious reactionary
Prince Tcherbatoff to organize the
"Loyalists'' as a militia, has created
a %shudder of horror.