Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-02
No. 16,748.

warships slava and Bogatyr appeared in
the offing at 6 o'clock last night, and.
after an exchange of signals with Gen.
Laiming commander of the loyal troops
on Commander Island, opened fire upon
the mutineers.
Although the shots went wild they weak
ened the spirit OF the mudreers. who evil
dently accepted this display OF loyalty on
the part of the crews of the ships as
sealing their fate. Two hours later, white
fag was run up at one end of the en-
perors battery. but from the other END
red flag Immediately appeared, followed py
the sound of a fusillade OF rifles behind the
parapet. showing that the mutineers were
divided into two camps, and were hgnuhe
among themselves
Soon after motor boat, beHeved 10 con-
tain the civilian leaders of the mutiny. tried
to escape to the mainland. The 'warships
opened fire on the boat, but failed 10 reacn
the target a battery of rapid-hre guns on
Nicholai Island had better luck, however,
riddling the boat and killing two or ITS oc-
cupants The others jumped overheard ana
swan ashore. OF three boats which ioi-
lowed the motor boat, one was captured'
one was sunk and one escaped.
Occasional shots were heard from the
emperors battery until the 1faVeier Who
furnished the above Information iei.
Helsingfors at midnight indicating that
the boldest of the mutineers were deter
mined to die rather than surrender, ana
that they were selling their lives dearly.
1t is stated that the garrison of Forts
Constantine and Alexander at Cronstadt
received previous to the mutiny the foilow-
ing, Telegram In cipher from Sveaborg:
'.Prepare yourselves to receive free
fleet We hope to find you friends ana not
enemies"
A reniy was sent in the desired sense, and
chiefs were chosen from among the sailors
after the latter had expelled their officers.
History of the Affair.
.,,bo Iaf+ uaIsinpforS at mid
night gave the Associated Press history
of the whole affair, which was precipitated
by trouble over money due to 200 of the
sappers and miners. Social democratic and
social revolutionary agitators who We're
spreading their propaganda among the
troops promptly seized on the occasion to
organize a big conspiracy. They told the
soldiers that the time had come TO put an
end to the old regime, that a general strike
in Russia had been declared ana that ris-
ings of the garrisons of Cronstadt, Svea-
borg and Sevastopol would be I'M mnediateiy
followed by mutinies of the Baltic and
Black sea fleets and that from the bases
thus obtained the government could be
given its deathblow.
The soldiers listened to the preachings VI
the agitators, and men belonging 10 the So
cialistic red guard were introduced INTO tiie
right the soldiers mutinied and made
prisoner of Gen. Aggieff, their commander
seized the machine guns and the guns IN the
ba tteries on three of the Islands and elected
a directing committee. headed by lyon, an
ex-reserve officer. The mutineers then shot
three junior officers and afterward hreo
from the emperor's battery upon the resi-
dence of the commandant of the fortress
The latter had with him the entire Svea-
borg regiment, which not only replied with
the field guns at their disposal, but proved
their loyalty by making an attempt TO cap
ture the position of the mutineers at the
point of the bayonet This attempt, now
ever was repulsed with rapid-tire guns
che next morning the sailors at the bar
racks of Skatudden. at the instgatlon OF
the red guard. joined the mutiny ana
hcisted- the red flag.
The garrison of the city had been re-
drced 10 two regiments of infantry ana
two squadrons of Cosacks when the mutiny
occurred. and owing to the activity of the
revoiutionists and the panic in the city u
was decided to await reinforcements or
troops and machine guns from Viiman-
strand. In the meantime, during, the day,
the fire of the torpedo-cruiser Finn made
a breach in the walls of the barracks at
Skatudden. and at nightfall the majority OF
the mutineers there surrendered. The re-
mainder escaped.