Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-03
WEDNESDAY AT HELsINGFORS
Press Correspondent Tells of Fight on
the Islands.

Press Correspondent Tells of Fight on
the Islands.
HELSINGFORS, Wednesday, Aug. l.
$40 p. m.-When a correspondent of the
Associated Press arrived here this after
noon from st. Petersburg the situation was
practically unchanged. The ,mutinousr ar
tillerymen were still holding out, aided by
the regiment Of sappers and miners which
had Joined them in the mutiny. Through
out the day an artillery battle was fought
between the north and south batteries of
the main island of Sveaborg. From a place
of vantage the correspondent was able to
see shells occasionally strike the barracks
and Notifications, causing fires to start up.
The mutineers at that time seemed to nave
the upper hand and the Russian COM
mander was forced TO flee with 1900 loyal
infantry to the furthermost part of the
southern section of the town of sveaborg,
where he was holding out.
The Sveaborg fortress is composed of
seven islands, of which Sveaborg island
is the center Half of Sveaborg, with half
Of Sanhamm island, was in the hands Of
the mutinous artillerymen and sappers and
miners, with the government forces COM
handing the other halves OF Sandhamm
and Sveaborg islands and the whole of
Langorn, Nicholai and Harakka islands.
The permanent Notifications on Sveaborg
island were badly damaged by the shell
fire exchanged between the combatants. 1t
is claimed that the troops on Harakka
island, the nearest to this place, could
silence the guns of the mutineers, but the
soldiers refused to fire on their comrades,
although they remained faithful to the
government. The mutinous artille-ymen
were well fortified not only being able to
I
the upper hand. and the large eleven-inch
guns in the hands of the government forces
did not seem to have the slightest effect
on the earthworks held by the mutineers,
the stone and brick Notifications suffering
considerably.
Loyal Infantry RepuIsed.
The correspondent saw a charge of gov
eminent infantry on sveaborg island re-
pulsed by the mutineers. The infantry
succeeding in creeping up to a spot near
the Russian church, keeping well out OF
sight. finally made a rush at the positions
| held by the mutinous soldiers But the
attacking party was met by the fire OF
| machine guns and they at once broke and
| fed, leaving many dead and wounded or
! the ground. .........
Not infreauently shells went over Hell
/ singfors and many bullets fell In the town
/ resulting In several persons being wounded
| Reinforcements OF government troops ar
rived here this morning, consisting of twr
companies OF the Finnish regiment from
| ST. Petersburg
! In conversation with a member of thu
regiment OF sappers and miners here, tbs
! correspondent learned that this was moi
the first trouble in The regiment, but wal
the sequel of many smaller disturbances
I ~ ara1
occasions had refused to obey the orders
| OF their officers.
The government commanders expect Il
be able to assemble troops tonight on
small peninsula near the fortihcations oc
cupied by the mutineers on Sandhamu
island and make an effort 10 cross III
| channel and take the mutineers IN from
and rear. The latter have but little FOOT
left and II they do not succeed in replen
ishing their supplies soon they will be un
| able TO hold cut.
| AS this dispatch is being written III
sounds OF the firing OF big guns announc
that the struggle, after a short interval o
cessation, has recommended.
Great excitement prevails here. The Re,
Guard (the armed socialist legion), unde
the command OF Johan Koch, has appeale,
TO the Firms TO strike In support OF tn
biaNc hNtpS6 pl the tussldn revolution
but a general strike Is regarded as i'm
possible at present.
The railroad was torn up for severa
miles near Riihimaki TO prevent reinforcs
ments Of troops arriving here, but tn
railroad men have succeeded in effectln
temporary repairs. Telegraph communica
ton between Helsingfors and St. Peters
burg was cut, but a railroad wire is nor
working.