The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-18
MUTINYL LASTED JUST AN HOUR
BLOODY ENDING OF VLADTVOSTOK
TORPEDO BOAT REVOLT.

IN AHH NO ~ AgAk SUI
of the mutiny on board the torpedo fiotilla
here a few days z is not easy to obtain.
There are dozens Of accounts OF a limited
number Of events which began n ended
in a space of time all told Of less thar one
hour. Even the statements from official
sources varied in essential particulars,
perhaps with deliberate intent.
went into the second story of the Trans
Pacific Commercial Company's building.
an American concern. and saw the veranda
railing n the casing of the window which
had been shattered by a shell from a torpedo
boat. An American clerk who was near
the window had hiS eye badly hurt by a
flying splinter. The shell which struck
this window was Intended for Baron Fersan,
whose residence and Office ia just across
the street in front of the Commercial COM
pany's Offices and in line with the spot from
which the torpedo boat was firing. Baron
Fersan was formerly stationed in Wash
ington and both he and the Baroness were
very popular in diplomatic circles. Other
visible signs of slight damage from mall
shells were found in the Naval Station. the
Naval Club and in the Court-Martial Build
ing. II is said that some of the shops were
damaged, hut il so the damage must have
been very trivial.
There was a Persistent rLmor that the
ringleaders Of the mutiny were Jewish
girl students and that the authorities had
threatened to eXl 81 all the Jewish residents
from the city. but it failed Of verification.
and while possibly some Jews hal a hand in
stirring up the trouble the Jewish poHula-
ton Was not Threatened with expulsion.
IL esrs that he mutiny occurred on a
holiday, which was observed by all classes.
though the reasantry celebrated for other
reasons than those contained in the imperial
order. The PLOT was developed among
the crews of the four torpedo boats AID
apparently sufficient support and SYM
patty had been promised by some Of the
soldiers in the shore batteries 10 warrant the
attempt. Some of the artillerymea are
believed TO have + roTnise1 active assistance
In the event Of success, and theirs TO hold
their fire or aim wide of the mark il ordered
70 shell the mutinears. If the army and
esT ecially the Garrisons Of the great forts
had joined in the movement the city would
have fallen into their hands in less time
than il takes 10 tell about il. and there is no
way Of calculating how fast the trouble
might have spread 10 the regiments Of 81
IBERIA and perhaps the home divisions Of
Juror ean Rus3ia.
With such 4 beginning rs the powerful
batteries and extensive arsenals Of Vladi-
vostok in the hands Of the mutineers il
would have cost Russia. oven under the
most favorable conditions throughout the
remainder OF her forces. great sums of
money and loss of life to SUPPRESS the
trouble. IL il owing chiefly to the loyalty
Of the army that Russia c~ontrols VladivOstok.
to-day. though in all fairness il should be
stated that a I cr;ion of the navy in the
harbor also remained trGe.
just before noon the highest officials
we're at the Cathedral attending services
In honor of tho Jay. A large lumber of
oor were in parade formation extending
down the hill. ide in tho direction Of the
waterfront. I'm the stroke Of the hour
the shore batteries and ship Joined in
salute. With the boom of tho first gun
the crew Of the little tUr.edo boat Skori,
anchored close inshor" not far from the
naval docks. struck down their ca tain
and lieutenant and hoistN1 the rod flag.
Immediately tho same bloody crsi IN as
hOisted on The other three torTCiO boats,
and tho Sko"i. Observation-Disclosures Joined
in the salute. with solid shot aimed at the res
idence of the Military Governor. the church
and the other Buildings before mentioned.
The Skori and one other boat made for tho
open harbor. firing as rapidly "a possible.
There ia some doubt as to whether tho
second boat fired on the town.
The order was flashed to the batteries
TO sink the torpedo boats. and with sur
prising alacrity somr of the garrisons
serving the bill guns which could b. trained
on the inner harbor began firing on the
mutineers. Al the same time the gunboat
Msndjour, so long informed at Shanghai
during the war and now fortunately at
anchor close 10 the fleeing torpedo boats,
began Smelling hem. Three of the red
flags wcro Immediately lowered, and after
this time their crows took 10 active part.
Tne Skori continued a few hundred
yards toward the mouth Of the harbor
until her steering gear was disabled by a
shell probably from the MandjOur. She
was seen to swerve suddenly quite I'M
manageable and mead for the shore in the
direction Of her former anchorage at high
speed. "a was struck amidships by a
shell from one Of the land batteries and
enveloped in a mass of steam. The frenzied
crew plunged into the icy water and made
for the shore. but the soldiers who were
in parade formation in the vicinity Of the
church rushed over the blu to the waters
edge and slaughtered most OF the sailors
before they could reach land. Some twenty
survivors were captured. tried and shot the
came day.
The Russians are not in the habit Of Civ
ing out information concerning their pun
and therefore an accurate ac-
il practically out Of the question;
but the consensus Of opinion among the |
best posted foreigners is that between
two hundred and two hundred and fifty
of those engaged in the mutiny were
promptly tried. convicted and taken across :
the harbor 70 an island n there shot.
While the mutiny was almost entirely |
confined TO the crews of the four torpedo
boats. there undoubtedly was some disaf-
lection among the mechanics and sailors /
employed at the navy yard and arsenals
and perhaps to a very small extent among
the garrisons of the shore batteries. The
prompt action Of the principal batteries.
however. seems to have discouraged the
weaker ones. When the Skori first hoisted
the little red flag some OF the guards
OF the naval arsenal made a dash for
the ammunition stores and were met by
m ohHcor n CaDfain who ordarad thau