Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-28
CITY A BATTLEFIELD
Moscow Situation, However,
Much Improved.
A GUERRILLA w ARFARE
NEARLY ALL THE LEADERS AR
RESTED AT ST. PETERSBURG.
Martial Law Has Been Proclaimed at
Odessa-Strike is Weakening at
Warsaw-CaSualties.
A GUERRILLA W ARR ARE

MOSCOW, December 81, pm, via St.
Petersburg, December 2S-The backbone of
the insurrection is broken and the upris-
Ing here Is rapidly going to pieces. The rev.
olutionists are able to keep up only
guerilla warfare, but the ease with which
they can move small detachments from
place to place renders the task of sup
pressing them slow and tedious.
The Brunnaia quarter has been cleared
from the members of the ''Drujna' as the
fighting organization of the revolutionists
Is called. They have transferred their
operations to East TYerskaia, consisting
principally of snping fIJm the roofs of
houses, occasionally throwing a bomb on
advancing patrols and making Off on the
appearance of artillery.
All the troops of the Moscow garrison
Including the former disaffected Rostofr
grenadiers and the reinforcements which
are employed IN crushing the revolutionists
are still insufficient to thoroughly occupy
the territory won, thus enabling the revo-
lutionists to slip into vacated territory as
soon as the troops move on. Many Of the
attacks on patrols are seemingly made out
of pure spirit of bravado, since they are
completely. futile from a strategic stand
point. The remnants of the insurrection now
lack cohesion or a head
City Looks Like Battlefield.
The city of Moscow bears the pic-
turesque appearance of a battlefield Of
fcers are everywhere seen ealIoping
through the streets being driven about
In rapidly moving sleghs accompanied
by escorts of dragons or Cossacks. The
center of the city for the first time to-
day showed signs of life The stores
were re-opened and the inhabitants who
had been cooped up for five days. were
venturing out for breath of fresh air
The troops began operations this MORN
Ing at the trtumphal arch, bombarding
and demolishing an immense barricade
near the car stables of the Belgian com
pany which had been built behind over
turned tram cars. Thence slowly pivot
ing from the arch the columns swept east
ward, clearing all the streets off Tverskaia
and north of the boulevard which sepa-
rated the battle-ground from the center of
the city. Barricades We're not so numer-
Gus in this region as was the case during
yesterdays fighting and the troops en-
countered less opposition.
A correspondent OF the Associated Press
accompanied one of the columns for an
hour, during which time the soldiers of
the ''Drujina" nowhere attempted to hold
the barricades. After firing a few shots
they invariably scampered off.
Destroying Barricades.
Sometimes the artillery fred at barrI-
cade, but usually these defenses were
taken without firing a shot. The work of
destroying the entanglements and burning
the material from which they were con-
structed was slow. Occasionally when the
troops were fired upon from roofs the
houses were bombarded. but the occupants
had ample time TO escape
The operations of the troops in the Bru-l-
naia district disclosed many interesting
traces OF yesterdays fighting, which
brought the walls of a hundred houses
tumblins about the ears of their defenders
The Prokhoron cotton mill, the headquar-
ters of the Drujina and many other
houses for the distance of a mile between
the boulevard andfhe triumphal arch were
in ruins.
Every street tributary of the TversIloi
boulevard was stoutly barricaded. as many
as seven being counted within two hundred
yards Of a single street These evidently
formed the first line of defense, and the
network OF streets behind We're barricaded
at intervals.
These barr-cades were left standing, the
troops having strategically made a circuit
to an open plain northwest Of the city.
which enabled them to take the revolution
lists in the rear, compelling the evacuation
of the position practically without loss. as
the revolutionists were unable 10 fight the
artillery with revolvers, and they possessed
few rifles. House after house showed yawn-
ing chasms produced by shells
The spirit shops and cheap lodging houses
occupied by the student revolutionists were
the principal sufferers
Barricades Well Constructed.
The barriCades, though they could not be
defended against artillery, were well con-
strueted OF telegraph poles. fences. heavy
doors, iron courtyard gates and signs, all
interlaced with wire. A lumber yard in the
vicinity furnished material for thirty bar
ricades. Red flags were still defiantly float
ing over some OF the barriers, but through
out the district the correspondent saw
neither "Drujlnists'' nor soldiers. 1t was
like a deserted field over which the tide of
battle had swept.
During the morning the revolutionists
several times attempted to intercept con-
voys Of ammunition sent from the arsenal
TO the troops, whose supply of 200 rounds
per man was running low
In one case they almost succeeded after
which The escorts OF the conveys were dou-
bled
Bold Exploit
The boldest exploit to the credit of the
revoiutonists was attack on the dinner
of the 4th Grenadiers which was being
uuHuieo out III tHe Nneeied camp kitchens
used In the Russian army. A detachment
of the Drujina," aided by sympathizers in
the neighborhoOd, swooped down on the
corporais guard forming the escort
The drivers of the wheeled kitchens and
the escort made valiant defense as bullets
ratified on the boilers and cauldrons, pune
turing big soup pot. AT that juncture a
squadron OF Dragons galloped up and
drove off the assailants and the camp
Kitchens were rescued. but the grenadiers
lost their dinner.
Last night company of ''Drujina" SOL
diers, who are said to be paid 20 cents per
day, made a daring incursion into the heart
OF the city, occupying Okhotnago Riada
Hunters Row. under the walls of the
Kremlin, and suddenly opening fire on the
infantry and artillery camping in Theater
square. Inc guard statloned at the Hotel