New-York tribune., 1905-11-27
ALARM IN CAPITAL.
GARNET MEETING HELD.
Rmer of Dictatorship ReaOed-
Fear of Witte's Failure.

St Petersburg Nov. 26.-The successful mu-
tiny of the sailors at Sebastopol. accompanied
by the first open revolt of an entire regiment of
troops has created the greatest alarm in gov
ernment circles and no attempt is made to dis
g1iss the seriousness of this latest crisis.
The army is the last prop OF the government
Mutiny is conta agious, and the epidemic Of re-
volt which has attacked in turn practically all
the units OF the navy from Vladivostok to Cron-
stadt it is now feared. is destined similarly TO
spread through the army.
Ugly rumors have been repeatedly circulated
of sedition among the soldiers in Manchuria-
and It was specifically regarded a week ago
that General Linevitch had to put down a mu-
tiny with considerable bloodshed. and that sub
seuuently he executed forty-two officers NO
confirmation of this report was obtainable. but
whether it be true not the morale OF the
troops on garrison duty in Russia has certaihiS
everywhere been shaken by the revolutionary
propa ganda and the fidelity of individual units
even of the Guard regiments. is quest1ono'
In the disorders following the promulgation
of the imperial manifesto some Of the previnclal
governors refrained from testing the loyalty
of the troops preferring to rely on the Cossacks'
who showed signs Of wavering-
Count Witte called extraordinary session
of the Cabinet this afternoon, and another ses-
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch. president
of the Council of National Defence and COM
rnander of the Imperial Guard, was present, ana
this fact caused a revival of the rumor that the
grand duke might Immediately be appointed
dictator But 1t can be taken for granted thac
this step has not been decided on, as 1t is pam
that a dictatorship at present would pe sure "
precipitate armed revolution.
Nevertheless. Count Whites government, If 1t
continues its present policy, in the opinion Of
many students Of the situation, will be unaoie
to cope with the increasing problems by wn1cn
it is constantly confronted The revolutionary
tide subsidies only to mount higher. and the e2-
treme elements. convinced that the government
must fall are raising their demands
The "Slovo' to-day pointed out the incon-
sistency of the demand of the revoutionaries
for the abolition of the death penalty, saying:
They base their demand humanitarian
grounds, yet they closed the drug stores whlcn
furnish medicines to the sick, and stopped tiie IIi
railroads which carrying relef 10 MILL
ions suffering from famine
The Russ" halls the mutiny at Sebastopol as
the beginning of the end and calls upon the
zemstvo congress to quit talking and to come
to St. Petersburg in the name or the country
and ask Count Witte what he purposes TO DO
10 tranqullize the people, urging it, If the reply
be unsatisfactory TO take the only step which
remains, and form provisional government.
NJ.
likens the situation to a hydra-headed monster
which, as soon one of its heads is cut on
grows two in its place, adding unfortunately
there is no Hercules in sight
The only immediate measure the government
is known TO have decided upon is the enactment
of a drastic law to punish persons guilty of IN
citing strikes, but this will only be likely to
infame the Socialists. The physical lmposSl-
bility of holding elections in many provinces
owing TO the prevalence Of agrarian disorders
and the generally disturbed conditions will make
necessary the postponement of the meeting OF
the douma. This is sure to be misinterpreted.
constitutes another danger and adds weight
to the arguments Of those who are urging on
Count Witte that the only chance of restoring
comparative tranquility is TO induce the En-
liberties promised in the manifesto. They declare
that the choice lies between that and a cfc-
tatorship.
The Council of Ministers has approved a, pro-
posal made by the Ministry of Ways and Com
nunications for the grant Of S1,500O0O to anne
liorate the condition of railroad servants.
The government tonight issued communica-
ton explaining the meaning of the Emperors s
manifesto of November 16 concerning the peas
ants which will be circulated extensively in the
country districts in the hope Of Quieting the
agrarian agitation. In it the peasants are told
how they can purchase land through the Peas
ants Bank and are informed that the mani
festo which RENTS payments of taxes amount
ing to So, 800 600 in 1906 and S45000,0OO an
nually thereafter is only the first step in the
great scheme of reform which will be submitted
TO the National Assembly, in which their repre-
sentatives will take part.