Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-22
EXPECT MuTINY OF TROOPS
Strikers Say Soldiers Will Fire, Not
on Them, but on Palace

on Them, but on Palace
BY Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. %, los a.
u.-Despite the assurances at midnight
that the situation was well in hand ana
that ample steps had been taken to
protect the vast industrial section OF
st. Petersburg and insure the safety
of the city, the greatest uneasiness for
today pervaded the entire. population.
Picked troops are stationed at various
points in the city, and each house con-
tains a miniature garrison with gen.
darmes in the court yards and machine
guns ready for the first emergency.
The winter palace is strongly pick
eted, with Grand Duke Vladimir in
command. Final instructions were rs
sued tonight. 81
The plan Of the government is to pre-
vent the workmen from coming to the
center of the city today by guarding
gates and bridges. A collision there
fore is believed to be more likely to
occur in the outskirts of st. Peters,
burg.
Wy 0uSiHCSS CT SbdHOoltii
Meantime the strikers are carrying
out their original program. The few
mills and factories remaining active in
the city were closed during the day..
one of the last of them being the gov
ernment) powder mill. Strike leaders
visited every shop in the city, and all
of them, even those of the butchers and
bakers and laundries, were closed.
Traffic was stopped on the street car
lines, the men, having Joined the
strikers.
Preparations for a big demonstration
today have not been suspended, al
though the leaders have been warned
that 1t cannot take place, and that the
emperor will not be there. The work
men are all convinced that his majesty
will appear and listen to the. grievances
set forth in the petition.
The deputatiop which on Friday took
the invitation to Emperor Nicholas to
attend the meeting has failed to gain
access to his majesty. Father Gopon
today sent it by his secretary to In
terror Minister Sviatopolk- -Mirsky.
Father Gopon Excommuncated
During the day Antonious, meropoli-
tan of st. Petersburg, formally excom-
munieated Father Copon on the ground
that he was causing the people to rise
against the emperor, the head of the
church. =
Rumors that the troops have plainly
indicated their sympathy with the
strikers and that, if it comes to a col
lision they will refuse to fire upon them
are rife and the wnrkmen themselves
are thoroughly convinced that such is
the case But the authorities maintain
that the loyalty of the troops is beyond
question, pointing out that the only
time Russian regiments showed treach-
cry was In the revolution Of 1921. when
the guard of regiments participated,
but they say that the troops then were
practically soldiers of fortune return
ing to Russia after the Napoleonic
wars, imbued with the revolutionary
ideas of France.
II is more fully realized, however.
that If the troops mutiny or actually
join the workmen that the government
will be faded, not with riot but with
revolution.
Father Gapon, at the request of Min
lister of Justice Muravieff, went to the
ministry of justice today and had a
long interview with M. Muravieff, when
the minister tried to dissuade him from
his program for Sunday Father
Gopon. however; could not be budged
and at the end of the interview left.
saying
Priest Remains Firm
I'VE must each do our duty accord
ing to the light given us"
The plan OF the workmen is to as
semble at three points, the Poutiloff
and Oubokoff works and the Island of
Vassili. Ostrova. and march to the pal
ace square. They are fully. convinced
that the emperor will be there to re-
ceive their petition.
The representative OF the Associated