The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-12
NichOIaieVtch Finds ManuVerers
 Using Real Bullets
CALLS II PURE NEGLIGENCE
Several Arrests Have Been Made, But Officials Are In the Dark as to How the Men Got Loaded
 Cartridges

St. Petersburg, August 11.-(Noon.)- Grand Duke Nicholas Nieholaieviteh, president of the council of national de- fense, narrowly escaped assassination yes- terday afternoon at the hands of the im- perial guard camp at Krasnoye-Selo. Thus far the Associated Press has only been able to obtain meagre details of the affair." from which it appears that the grand duke was personally review ing, maneuvering and putting the troops through blank fire practice. when he sud denly was startled by the wasp-like hiss of bullets about his head Fortunately neither himself nor his horse was touched. The command to cease firing was imme- dately given and the soldiers of the reg iment from which the bullets came were marched back to their quarters and an investigation was begun in the hope of ascertaining from the barrels of the rifles which of the soldiers fired ball cartridges. Several arrests are said to have been made
 Think Plot Existed.
 One of the grand dukes aides de camp. who, however, was not personally pres ent advanced to the Associated Press lAo llleOiy lildI pOSSlDly the bullets were fired by accident. but he considered that beyond a doubt there was a plot on the part of number of guardsmen, who deliberately planned to take the grand dukes life under cover of the general blank cartridge firing.
 Tt was no more an accident" said the aide de camp. than was the firing of the charge of grape from the salut- ing battery at the winter palace on the occasion of the ceremony of blessing the waters of the Neva by the emperor a year and half ago"
 The bold attempt on the grand duke's life caused an immediate change in the plans of the emperor. who had arranged to go to Krasnoye-Selo today and spend a week with the soldiers of his mpe- rial guards. It was learned that the troops in extended order and engaged in volley firing when the accident oc- cured, rendering it difficult to determine the regiment from which the bullet came. The grand duke. surrounded by officers and aides de camp was off on one side, out of the line of fire
 Created Deep Impression.
 The affair has created a deep impression in military circles and is the one topic of conversation in the clubs, but the at tempt on the grand dukes life is not generally known here. no word on the
 
 papers.
 Afterwards 1t was definitely established that the shots were fired by the first battalion of the sharp shooters of the guard, who advanced in rushes while making a sham attack on an entrenched position. Fully hundred shots were fired but the impatience of the conspirators led them to open fire at such distance as to frustrate their object. Before the ma l1aI1 taken from them and the officers had taken the precaution to make special examination of the cartridge pouches of the soldiers immediately before the inau- guration of the troops.
 Several Arrests Made.
 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 Nicholaie- witch had not been definitely brought home to any particular culprits.
 It was only after a long investigation that 1t was determined that the ball cartridges were fired by the first battalion of sharp shooters, one of the elite corps of the Russian army Suspicion was di- rected toward the 'one year volunteers, recruits. who in consideration of the edu-
 
 escape with only one year instead of four years service. Many of these men are former students at universities and are the principal spreaders of the revolu tionary propa tanda among the troops.
 Was eated on Charger.
 Grand Duke Nicholaievitch was sitting on his charger and observing the ma neuvers from the top of an entrench- ment. The troops were advancing by short rushes in open order across a wide. level field firing blank volleys by squads as they came. A few yards behind the grand duke was his suite including General Za- rubaeff second in command of the guard corps. adjutants and orderlies, and sev- eral civilians, including the Countess Nirod.
 Suddenly, when the first eschelon of the attacking force, consisting of sharpshoot- CTS, were from 450 to 800 yards distant. bullet sang high overhead, followed by another and still another. The cry was raised they're firing ball' and the group was thrown into great confusion. After frantic signalling cease firing was sounded but the shots continued for somo time.
 Calls It unpardonabIe Negligence.
 Grand Duke Nichoaievitch remarked when he joined his suite:
 Ut would be more realistic IT the troops always fired ball during maneuvers, but this is unpardonable negligence
 The attack on the person held by the Seminovsky regiment was immediately stopped. The troops were marched to their quarters and investigation was be- gun. How the conspirators obtained ball cartridges has not been ascertained as ammunition is always called in after the men return from patrol duty, but 1t is conjectured that the cartridges were se- cured after the dissolution of parliament when supplies of service ammunition were issued in anticipation of trouble, and tha. the troops succeeded in holding them out after the collapse of the strike.
 Terrorists Active Everywhere.
 St. Petersburg, August 1f.-Dispatches received during the week have shown that the widespread agrarian disorders have extended into several more provinces of Central Russia. and are especially grave in Poltava The police also report DOT tentious increase in the activity of the terrorists which 1t is thought will hardly fail to s'remove some high parsonage"
 Tha attemnts made unou Grand Duke