Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05
Russia Facing Her
Most Trying
Crisis
Seventy Thousand Join
the Big Strike at
st. Petersburg
Grand Duke Nicholas NlcholaleVltch
May Be Named Commander
Of All of the Emperor's
Troops
nv Associa ted Press


ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 4.-With a
general strike formally declared and
the country apparently on the thresh-
old of a gigantic struggle, minor issues
fade in the background.
II the strike inaugurated today gath
ers sufficient headway to endanger the
life of the state it virtually will be
decided that Grand Duke Nicholas
Nicholaievitch will be named COM
mander of all the troops in the empire
'whre martial Jaw exists" which
would be tantamount to the decreeins
of military dictatorship.
1t is possible, however, that the gov
eminent will not be driven to this ex-
tremity as the showing made today by
the ST. Petersburg proletariat was not
impressive.
Although nearly 10000 workmen are
reported to be out at nightfall, many
of the men appear to be entering the
struggle with heavy hearts.
Strain Saps Endurance
The endurance of the people has
been sapped by the long strain; the
sympathy of the more conservative
Liberals has been alenated by fear of
a revolution, as the lowest elements of
the population have been organized into
what are known as "black hundreds" 3"
and are ready to enter the fight on the
side of the government If the signal
is given.
Discussions also are rife among the
leaders over the opportunities of the
battle. But these probably will be
short-lived If the response of the coun-
try shows that the alton indorses the
movement.
Moscow and st. Petersburg are ex-
pected to decide the issues. The rail-
roads upon which the initial success
depends, although committed, have not
yet formally ordered a strike. On the
Interior object of the proletariat lead
ers, which at present is masked, must
depend the attitude of the troops. II
the military supports of the govern
meDt stand up as they did at Sveaborg
and Cronstadt, the leaders acknowl-
edge that the game is lost, but even
so they declare that defeat, if it forces
the disaffected portion of the army
community to show its colors, will only
prepare the way for final victory.
AL Depends on Army
The wavering of the artillery at
Cronstadt and the attitude of the
major portion of the crew of the
armored cruiser Pamyat Azova, which
remained nominally Loyal, and which
they believe would undoubtedly have
thrown its lot with the rebels if the
rebels had received the expected sup
port from Reval fortress, they cite as
being in their favor, and they are con-
fdent that if put to a test thousands
of soldiers will refuse to fire on the
people and that weak spots will develop
in the army where the government
least expects them.
While the authorities are anxious.
they manifest equal confidence that the
army will not fail the emperor in a
crisis and that the strike will prove a
failure. Indeed the faction now in con-
troll seems to welcome an immediate
test in the conviction that it will be
able to squelch the revolution for
long time to come. The weakest point
in the revolution armor is believed to
be lack of competent leaders.
Excitement Increases
Tonight brought increased excitement
throughout the Industrial sections of
the city. Although the police are re-
inforced by mounted police patrols in
the central districts of the city, all is
quiet there. In the workmen's quar-
sentative visited, there was ferment.
Dragons and Cossacks were in evil
dence in the principal streets and police
pickets, armed with rifles, were at al
most every corner. Nevertheless the
correspondent heard orators addressing
crowded meetings at many places. The
police displayed open sympathy with
the men, turning their backs to avoid
seeing what was going on.
On Basil Island the workmen have
begun to close the shops and have even
stopped cabs, turning the occupants of
them into the streets and instructing
the drivers to return home.
Searchlights from a cruiser at the
Baltic works and from the roof of the
buildings are sweeping the Neva and
several torpedo boats built in the
United States are scurrying up and
down the river
No collisions of consequence are re-
ported up to midnight. There will be
no newspapers published tomorrow ex-
cept the Novoe Vremya. whose men do
not belong to the union.
The cabmen have agreed to strike
Monday.