Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-12
SEARCH FOR CULPR|TS
Who Attempted to Kill Grand
Cir Duke Nicholas
AT MILITARY MANEUVERS
Further Details of the Thrilling In
cident of Friday.
REGIMENTAL OFFICERS MUM
How the Cohspirators Obtained the
Ball Cartridges Has Not Yet
Been Suspects.
REa1MENTAL OFFICERS MUM

ST. PETERSBURG, August 11.-Further
details of the narrow escape from assassi-
nation of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaie-
witch, president of the council Of national
defense. yesterday afternoon at the hands
Of the imperial guards in the guard camp
at Krasnoye-selo are obtained.
A representative of the Associated Press
visited the guard camp at Krasnoye-Selo
today and ascertained that, though several
arrests had been made, responsibility for
the shots fired at Grand Duke Nicholas had
not definitely been brought home to any
particular culprits. 1t was only after
long investigation it was determined that
the ball cartridges were fired by the bat
talon Of sharpshooters, one OF the elite
corps of the Russian army.
Suspicion was directed toward the lone
year volunteers" recruits who, in consider
social position, escape with only one year
instead of four years service. Many Of
these men are ex-students at universities
and are the principal spreaders Of the revo-
lutionary propaganda among the troops.
The officers Of the regiments concerned
are extremely reticent concerning the af-
fair, but from a member Of the grand
ducal escort the Associated Press learned
that the incident occurred during a move
ment Of the Ismailovsky guard and the
guard sharpshooters against a position held
by the Seminovsky regiment.
Was Mounted on His Charger.
Grand Duke Nicholas was sitting on his
charger and observing the maneuver from
the top of an entrenchment. The troops
were advancing by short rushes in open
order across a wide, level field. firing blank
volleys by squade as they came A few
yards behind the grand duke was his suite,
including Gen. Zarabuen, second in COM
mand Of the guard corps; adjutants and
orderlies and several civilians, including
the Countess Nirod. ,.'s~rs- ---s-E .-.-A :.
Suddenly, when the first echelon of the
attacking force, consisting of sharpshooters-
was from 45o to 500 yards distant. bullet
sang high overhead followed by another
and still another.
The cry was raised. "They are firing ball.
and the group was thrown into great con-
fusion. After .fantic signaling, Cease
firing!' was sounded, but the shots contin-
ued for some time. Grand Duke Nicholas
remarked when he Joined his suite: 1T
would be more realistic If the troops always
fired ball during maneuvers; but this is
objectionable negligence"
The attack on the position held by the
Seminovsky regiment was Immediately
stopped. The troops were marched to their
quarters and an investigation was begun.
How the conspirators obtained ball car
tridges has not been ascertained, as am
munft1On Is always called In after the men
return from patrol duty; but 1t is con-
jectured that the cartridges were secured
after the dissolution Of parliament, when
supplies of service ammunition were issued
in anticipation of trouble. and that the
troops succeeded in holding then out after
the collapse of the strike.
Agrarian Disorders.
Dispatches received during the present
week have shown that the widespread
agrarian disorders have extended into sew
eral more provinces of central Russia and
are especially grave in Poltava. The police
also report portentious increase in the
activity of the terrorists which, 1t is
thought, will hardly fall Ito remove some
high parsonage" The attempts made upon
Grand Duke Nicholas Nichoiaievitch and
Gen. Kaulbaurs fortunately were frus-
trated; but this was due more to the re-
missness of the conspirators than to the
activity of the police. Barbara Printz had
actually succeeded in obtaining an audience
of Gen. Kaulbars. governor general of Odes
sa, and was on her way to his palace when
she accidentally dropped the, bomb with
which she intended to assassinate him. Gen.
Kaulbars today reported the attempt upon
his life to Emperor Nicholas, and received
message Of congratulation in return on
his escape.