The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-22

st. Petersburg, December 90. %
2. m.-The proclamation of a general
strike for tomorrow at noon has Great
ed the most intense excitement If il is
maintained the revolut1onaries are
confident that it will break the gov
ernment's back In government cir
cles, however. confidence is expressed
that the proletariat organizations can
not effect compete tie-up and lhat
the STRIFE must be of a short dura-
ton. This hone seems based ON The
theory that the extreme programme
Of The reds has aiienated the sympa-
thy CT large proportion of the real
workmen and also urnn what they
claim to be absolute knowledge tldt
The organizations are without funds
The governments calculations, howev-
er. have proved deploraDly at variance
W.T. the true :jitudtiOn in the past
and the strike leaders declare the gov
ernment is again hopelessly ignorant
Of the magnitude of the struggle con-
fronting it. Their plans are exceed
ingly ambitious. From the nature of
the appeals of the leaders to the troops
1t is evidence that they expect to PIE
cipita.e crisis i'll the army.
The central committee of the rail
road men of Moscow which determined
the issue last night by voting in fav
or of a strike has telegraphed over
the railroad lines that the employees
of 20 roads are read to stop all tr af-
fic. The decision is to close every
thing in the empire, railroads, manu-
factories, wholesale and retail stores
and al government work except the
waterworks. The bakeries in the eit-
fes, however, will not be closed SO
long as they do not raise their prices.
Il they raise the price of bread even
the bakeries will be closed. It was
proposed in Moscow to exempt the
electric light plants but this was de-
feated.
The nature Of the manifesto of the
worline MS counc;, of Moscow to the
arIoy is so infianm atory that even the
radical papers are afraid to print it.
During the strike it is proposed to
stop all papers and to print and dis3ci-
bute cnly the organ of the workmen's
council
The police are hunting down and ar
resting the strike leaders as rapidly
as they can be louEd, but comparative
ly few captures have been made as the
leaders keep hiding avoiding their
residences, and meeting in secret eacn
time st different locality.
The government is unable to fer
ward instructions to General Linevitch,
commander of the Manchurian army.
Five operators N succession on the
railroad lines decline to send a cipher
dispatch signed by the emperor.
st. Petersburg, December 2O.-6:2o
p. m-Reports received here from
Moscow late this afternoon indicate
that the strike was successfully inau-
gurated and is spreading rapidly. EveE
the electric light plants are closed.
Governor General DoubassOf has de-
clared the city to be in partial state
of siege which gives the civil author
tiles exceptional powers of arrest, ETC.
The next move will be TO declare a
state of siege iii which the military
ssupercedes civil power. It is expected
that the inauguration of the STRIKE
here tomorrow will be followed by Il
similar measure but If the situation
becomes worse as anticipated marta
law will be declared.
Tne provincial auInorlLleS nave d.
ready been empowered in anticipa-
ton of the contingency of their being
cut off from the capital to act on their
own responsibility even to the extent
of the proclamation of martial law.
The railroad stations at st. Peters
burg were occupied by troops this az
ternoon and the government made an
attempt with the aid of the railroad
battallons to maintain some sort OF
train service, especially to the German
frontier and also to keep open cable
communication with points abroad.
The Inhabitants are hurriedly laying
in supplies OF food as If to stand a
siege.
GOVERNMENT rs CRIPPLED
Situation =, the Baltic Provinces is