The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-02

nounces that the struggle after a short
interval of cessat tiOn, has recommended.
Great excitement prevails. The red
guard, the armed socialist legion, under
the command of Johann Koch has ap-
pealed to the Films to strike in support
of the brave heroes of the Russian rev.
olution.' but general strike is regard
ed as impossible at present. The rail-
way was torn UP for several milnes near
Riihmaki, to prevent achievements of
troops arriving here, but the railroad
men have succeeded in effecting tenn
porary repairs. Telegraph cOnmunica-
ton between -Helsingfors and St Pc
tersburg was cut but a railroad wire is
now working.
The railroad officials declare that the
railroad men have no desire to go out
on a strike.
SIsrydIon on the Situation.
Sevastopol. Aug. admiral Skryd-
loft. commander of the Black sea fleet,
ascribed the unrest in the fleet not to
the economic demands of the men. but
TO the revolutionary propaganda and
the attitude of a small number Of the
officers. He did not hatter himself with
the belief that the task of restoring or
der would be an easy one.
The Governments Side.
ST. Petersburg, Aug. 2.-The coll
lapse of the mutiny al Sveaborg,
coupled with the breakdown of the
plans of the revolutiOnists to secure
possession Of the Baltic squadron and
provoke an immediate rising at Cron-
stadt, greatly changes the situation.
The spirits of the governm ent officials
have risen and those of the revolution
lists are correspondingly depressed and
the arrang ngements for ordering a gem
eral strike on Saturday may be coun-
termanded. The strike in Finland is
already a failure, owing to the fact
that the more intelligent of the Firms
did not support it, as they realized that
by placing themselves at the head of
a purely Russian revolutionary move
ment they might justify reprisals and
jeopardize their newly granted iber-
ties.
The latest reports show that all the
rumors to the effect that the Baltic
squadron was in the hands of the mu-
tineers were untrue. When the mu-
tineers who were led by agitators from
the shore and who believed that the
squadron was coming to their rescue
found that hope in that direction was
crushed dissensions broke out among
them and they turned their guns upon
each other. These who had deter
mined to die rather than surrender
fired into the ranks of their more
faint hearted comrades, who hoisted
the white flag.
History of the SIutiny.
St. Petersburg. Aug "A traveller
who left Helsingfors at midnight 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 Demo-
cratic and Social Revolutionary agita-
tors who were spreading their propa-
ganda among the troops promptly
seized on the occasion to organize
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 and that
risings Of garrisons of Cronstadt, Svea-
borg and SevastOpOl would be imme-
diately followed by mutinies of the
Baltic and Black sea fleets and that
from the bases thus obtained the gov
ernment could be given its death blow.
The soldiers listened to the preach
ings of the agitators and men belong
ing to the Socialistic read guard were
introduced into the fortress from the
mainland. on Monday night the SOL
diers mutinied and made a prisoner OF
General Aggieff, their commander,
seized the machine guns and the guns
in the batteries on three of the Islands
and elected a directing committee
headed by lyon, an eX-reserve officer
The muuneers then shot three junior
officers and afterward fired from the
emperOrs battery upon the residence
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
to capture the position Of the
at the point of the bayonet.
This attempt however. was repulsed
with the fire of rapid fire guns.
The next morning the sailors at the
barracks at Skatudden, 1T the instiga-
tion Of the red guard, joined the mu-
tiny and hoisted the red flag. The
garrison Of the city had been reduced
TO two regiments of infantry and two
squadrons of cOssacks when the mu-
ff11xT cd III oyz-iOgr the ACTIVITY
of the revoluionists and the panic IN
the city 1t was decided to await rein
forcem ents of troops and machine
guns from Villmanstrand. In the
during the day the fire OF
the torpedo cruiser Finn made
breach in the walls of the barracks at
Skatudden and at nightfall the ma
jority of the mutineers there surren-
dered. The remainder escaped.
The remainder escaped in boats The
in the fortress at intervals
during the day fired shrapnel shells
from the 9-inch guns at the loyal troops
on Commander island and the battery
on Harakka island. nearer the shore
The troops manning the island battery
were regarded as being untrustworthy
and were sent to the mainland. The
breach blocks of the guns were remoV.
ed and Cossack pickets were left IN
charge of the fort This was the most
serious moment for both sides. While
awaiting the arrival of the
Baltic squadron, the mutineers firmly
believed that the fight was on their
side and they were also informed thai
the crews of the WarSbiDs at Hango
had thrown their officers overheard ana
We're on their way to join In the mutiny.
Commander Koch of the red guard has
already ordered a general strike and
had torn up the railroad. Nevertheless
General Won Saltza. with some of the
nrst Finnish regiment enga ged to get
INTO Helsingfors from Villamstrand
The loyal troops did little firing that
day or yesterday.
After the blowing up of the maga-
zines the mutineers used mortars. The
muJiny practically ended when the
Warships Slava and Bogatyr appeared
IN The ofhng at o'clock last night and
a1ter an exchange of signals with Cen
eral Laiming, the commander of the
Royal troops on Commander island,
opened fire upon the mutineers. Al
L1o1gl the shots went Mild they