New-York tribune., 1905-06-30
THE RUSSIAN MUTINY.

Nntinr follows insrrrection in Russia. That
is the latest development Of that empire ih
testine troubles and, from whatever point oi
view il is regarded or whatever may pe its
motive, its omnous gravity can scarceiy De ca
.o,erated The most favorable view that can
he taken, is that the mutiny at ODESSA anu ine
somewhat less serious one at Libau are merely
snoradic that they have arisen from local causes,
.nd have no connection with the general dlsa1-
fectiop of the revolutionists. Even in that case
tbav are menacing. The imperial authorlty
rests chiefly upon the military services, ana IL
those fail it at the very time when they are
most needed its plight will be critical In the eA-
IRENE The government has need OF ali lts
ships and of all its troops TO suppress the re-
bellious part of the populace. But IL the ships
and troops have to fight each other, the feVolu-
tion 1ciIi have a free hand. The subsection of
the single ship Prince Potemkin at ODESSA might
nrove to he no easy task, even it all the others
remained IoyaI 1t is one of the most poWerlW
vessels now left in the Russian navy, ana, with
ample supplies of all kinds, it might 90 much
damage along the Black Sea coast before IL was
captured or destroyed Ii the reports tnat sew
oral other vessels of the fleet have been selzed
nv mutineers are authentic, the SERIOUSNESS VI
the situation is not TO be denied
There is in fact, cause for fearing that the
Odessa mutiny is symptomatic of something
worse than local dissatisfaction and insubordi-
nation and that it is part Of an extensive, IL
not general dsaffection in the naval service.
1t has for years been notorious, according 10
official reports, that revolutionary organizations
exist and revolutionary propaganda are III prog
ress in both army and navy. There were sew
erai minor mutinieS ON the Baltic heet De1ore
it left Cronstadt, and also on the way from that
mort 10 the Sea of Japan. There were some
cases of insubordination during the last fatal
rbo of been
followed by one at Lbau, in far distant part of
the empire Finally, there is to be observed the
most significant circumstance that the Potem-
kin mutineers promptly raised the revolutionary
flag and fraternized with the revolutionary mob
in the city, This surely indicates that, instead
of merely protesting against poor food ana
harsh treatment the mutineers have Identified
themselves with the general revolutionary
movement
Mutiny in the army is also greatly feared
There are rumors at St Petersburg that it has
actually begun that the Guards will not fire
upon the insurgent populace, and that only the
Cossacks are now to be trusted. 1t will be re-
called that in the bloody episodes at the capital
last winter some regiments refused to fire upon
the people, and that there have since been Oc-
casonal manifestations of the same insubordi-
nate spirit. That is why there has been such
shifting of troops from one part Of the empire
to another in order that the soldiers may be
far from home and not be called upon to shoot
old friends and relatives. That the whole army
is mutinous is, Of course, not to be imagined.
The mass Of it doubtless remains loyal. But
the fact that any portion of it is disafected in
eYitably gives rise to suspicious and fears con-
cerning all the rest QHis cnstodes psos custOdietP
1t is the very foundation of the imperial throne
that is impaired. Whether it would be practi-
cable In Russa's present state of development
to shift the throne to another foundation
that of the suffrages of an enfranchised people
is a grave question, which might be answered In
the affirmative or might have to be reluctantly
answered in the negative. But if the military
foundation fails, through mutiny some other
must be found TO save the whole structure from
ruin.