The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-30
ST. PETERSBURG FRANTIC.
Government Making Desperate Efforts
 70 Meet situation.

7
 St. Petersburg, June 30.-2:50 a. m.--
 The Russian government although it
 has been almost paralyzed by the ter rible events at odessa and the news
 that the sailors at Libau also have mu- tinied, Is making desperate and even
 frantic efforts to meet the situation and to stamp out the flames of revolu-
 tion before they can spread to the army, which is now the last btilwark
 of the autocracy.
 With Poland red with the spirit of re
 volt, the Caucasus already almost in a
 state of civil war; agrarian disorders spreading rapidly; the whole country
 profoundly stirred and the intelligent
 classes solidly arrayed against the gov ernment all conditions seem ripe for the long predicted revolution.
 The first act of the government, af- ter aispatching Admiral Gruger's squadron from Sebastopol was to sum mon the Kniaz Potemkine, whose nau-
 tineers have now been joined by the crews of the two torpedo boats which accompanied it to Odessa, to surrender under the threat of firing upon and sinking the vessel. This was followed by the declaration of martial law at Odessa and Libau and the clothing of the military commanders with plenary
 powers.
 The newly formed council for imper- lial defense met last night under the presidency of Grand Duke Nicholas and was in session long after midnight. Be- yond the fact that the temper of the army was considered at length nothing is known as to what occurred in the council or regarding the decision at which it arrived.
 Great fear is expressed that many regiments are lloneycombed with sedi- tion and there is grave doubt of their loyalty should they be called upon to fire on the reVolutionists. Indeed, the
 most startling stories involving the un- reliability of the troops are being re- peated in St. Petersburg, but the truth of many of them is more than ques- tionable. K What effect the news of the happen ings at Odessa will have upon the troops and the people in general is problematical and is puzzling the press
 The precautions taken by the authori- ties to keep tho news from the public have been in vain, the reyolutionaries and the liberals everywhere spreading ! 1t by word of mouth and within tWen- ty-four hours it will be known in the uttermost confines of European Russia. When the news reaches the armies in
 Manchuria it is bound to create a deep impression. The authorities, however,
 realizing that 1t was certain to leak out, and that there would be exagger- ated versions of it, and perhaps to pre- | pare the way for a public announce
 uuent, are now sending some dispatches
 to the newspapers, but these only con tain information not for publication. At the admiralty, where the temper of the Black Sea sailors is known, the
 orders sent to Admiral Kruger's squad- ron were by no means unanimously ap- proved Among others, Vice Admiral l Skrydloff openly expressed the opinion that the blue jackets of Kruger s
 squadron would not fire on their com- rades on board the Kniaz Poternkine, but that on the contrary they might re- l volt, should they be ordered to shoot. Admiral Skrydloff was of the opinion that the best course would be to allow the crew of the Kniaz Potennkine to re-
 main on board until it had been starv- cd into submission. In this connection the story is cur rcrt that the crew of the battleship naufuted two Ftnglish shiDS loaded with
 provisions and is holding them along l side.
 As far as known here Admiral Kru-
 ger, although due at Odessa early last ] evening has not arrived up to midnight, and this gave rise to rurnors that the G. ews had actually seized the other ! ships of the squadron.