The Washington times., 1906-08-04
Four MutinouS Ships Re-
ported Cruising Off
CrOnStadt and St.
Petersburg.
POLICEMEN KILLED
IN FIERCE STRIKE RIOT.
Troops Guard Offices to
Prevent Telegraph Opera
tors From Leaving Their
instruments.

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug 4-Eight po-
lcennen were killed this morning in a
clash between the striking workmen OF
this city. The conflict was al one OF the
outlying railway stations. Il was the
most serious Of several fights that have
been reported during the night and
morning
The government IS greatly worried to-
day over the report that four mutinous
warships are cruising in the vicinity OF
Cronstadt ready al a moments notice
10 attack the fortihcatiOns and the city.
so serious is the situation al Cr0nstadt
today that the cOUrt-martial Of those
engaged in the uprising OF Thursday
has been postponed. The rank and file
OF sailors and soldiers at the fort are
extremely ugly and are constantly
threatening 10 renew the riots.
The Situation Critical.
There Is no denying that the local sit
uation grows more critical hourly. The
city was in darkness during the night.
because OF the strike Of the electric
light workers. Some sailors OF the tech
nicaI corps were placed in charge of the
electric lighting system at 8 O'Clock this
morning, but they were not able 10 get
the machinery working before daylight.
The correspondent visited the head
quarters OF the striking workmen this
morning and was told that fully 5000
men had quit work and that reports
were coming in hourly Of shut-downs IN
manufacturing plants all over the city.
As this dispatch is being sent the an
nOuncement is made that The Volga
shipping interests are 10 be tied up dur
ing this afternoon.
Troops COerce Telegraphers.
The telegraph operators and telephone
employees are stiu at work. but each
Office is under a heavy guard OF soldiers
and the employees have been threatened
with arrest should they quit their places.
As matter OF fact the government is
practicing a system OF intimidation
everywhere, and while the present strike
Is the most serious OF any instituted 10
date and seems 70 better organized. IL
Is noticeable that many workingmen are
afraid 70 join the movement
Il Is the hope Of the strike leaders
10 get out the steam railway employees
today, but the plan may fail as the
railway men are only half-hearted in
the movement
Business at a StandstiIl.
Many Of the street cars have stopped
running. but this does not make much
difference as nobody wants 10 ride.
AIcst OF the shops are closed and busi-
ness is at a standstll. mostly owing
TO the trike. but partly because OF. The
Saturday holiday.
There was a riot IN the Mini Nov
gorod district today. a couple Of SOL
diers had been locked up for insubor-
dinatior. Their comrades took excep-
tion 10 the action and whole bat
talon revolted. Threats were made 10
kill the officers and the two prisoners
were released, when quiet was restored.
The incident was not serious. but it
illustrates the temper Of the entire Rus
sian soldiery.
Orders have been issued by the mill
/ tary authorities TO treat all subOrdi-
mates with consideration and TO avoid
/ all kinds OF argument except IN eX-
treTne cases. when the commander is 20
/ deal sUmmarily with offenders.
Reports from the provinces today
bring news Of strikes at UsOfka and
+ Ekaterinoslav and other small places.
Nothing has been heard from Moscow
as yet
4 late report from Helsingfors IS that
/ everything is quiet there now. The
mutiny on the cruiser BOgatyr is said
10 have been a small affair. Two hun
dred sailors were arrested Tor COM
plicity IN 81, however.