The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-01-24
IN A STATE
OF SIEGE
Gar Will Declare Martial Law
In st. Petersburg
PEACE WITH JAPAN
If Big Strike Involves Railroads
War in Far East Must
End
PEACE WITH JAPAN

ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 24.-The
most startling feature in the Russian
situation Is the news that several fac
tories in Moscow have closed and that
the workmen in the old capital of Rus
sla are repeating the tactics Of their
fellow workmen of the new capital.
marching from shop to shop and mill
to mill. demanding that the establish
ments be shut down. The whole city is
reported to be in a state Of great ex-
element over the news of the blood
shed here, which has precipitated i'm
msdiately the strike that had been
planned for Wednesday.
Moscow has more workmen and less
troops than ST. Petersburg and besides
is just now the heart of the liberal
movement, and the danger of bloodier
occurrences there than have been wit
Messed here are proportionately greater
A rising at Moscow is also more likely
to have greater results industrialIy and
politically than that In ST Petersburg
According to private reports, the
workmen in several other big cities
notably KhaRkov. where large locomo
| tive works are located, already have
completed plans for a general suspen-
sion Of work. Moreover, reports are
current that the workmen, who other
| wise would soon be forced back into
the shops or starve. haze received as
suranees Of financial support from the
sources which hitherto have furnished
the sinews of war to the liberal and
revolutionary agitation, but have not
before been in touch with the labor
movement. II the strike becomes gen
eral all over Russia. and especially If
the railroads are drawn in, it might
| Immediately force the nation TO make
peace with Japan.
1t is said here that as the outcome Of
the meetings of the Reform. party of
| Gorky, Annensky, Arsenieff and others
and their adherents body Of men has
been constituted who regard them
selves as the future provisional gov
eminent of Russia. AS yet they are
political ciphers, but they hope some
| sudden stroke of luck will enable them
to overturn the existing regime, and at
the same time they recognize the fact
that nonsuccess may lead them to Sibe-
ria or the tomb.
They have decided in conjunction
with the strike leaders to appeal to
English speaking peoples throughout
the world for financial assistance to
enable them to continue the struggle
for freedom.
A report this morning says that the
strikers intend to storm the market
on Vassili ostrov and seize the pro.
visions there
At Kolpino, twelve miles up the river
body of workmen who had started for
st. Petersburg to join the strikers
were stopped and fired upon by sol.
diers. Accounts as to the number kill.
ed or wounded conflict
Conflicts between the military and
the police have been resumed. In the
Nevsky prospect the troops fred Oh
the crowds.
1t is rumored that Emperor Nicholas
will issue a manifesto today declaring
st. Petersburg to be in state Of siege
The whole city is held by an armed
force. Strikers continue to drift to-
ward the palace square, and the Cos.
sacks and police are having more and
more difficulty in keeping the crowds
moving.
1t is rumored that the Warsaw rail
road station here is on fire.
A portion Of the track Of the War
saw and Baltic railroad has been tori
up. The northern express could moi
leave the station.
According to the police, the riotini
strikers are preparing to divide int
groups and sack the city. House t.
house visits have been made by tbs
officials. warning the inhabitants of tn,
danger that is threatening.
The vast admiralty works at Bevas
topol are ablaxe.
Sevastopol is the principal military
port of the Crimea.
Crowds In Nevsky prospect increase
and squadrons Of Cossacks, with lancei
and earbines, patrol the thoroughfare
Half regiment Of infantry is on dut!
in. the Morskaia, fashionable boule
ward Of the city, and troops were again
marched into the palace square, wher,