Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-30
Both Suffer Heavily, The Rus
SLAMS Losing 100 TO 200 Men.
Loss Of FidaiS Very Severe.
Fighting Was Desperate.
Much Damage to Property...FIag
Shot from American Consulate.

C this city by the Russian troops has
resulted in its complete occupation by
the Russian forces and the dispersal
OF the combatants belonging to the
constitutional Progressive carty Cor
Fidais). A large number of casualties
were sustained by both sides. The
Russians lost from 100 to 200 men
while the losses Of the Fidais were
very severe. although the number can
not be ascertained.
During the fighting much damage to
property was done and the Stars and
Stripes floating over the United States
consulate We're shot down by a Rus
sian shell, which, however, did no fur
Their damage to the consulate.
No casualties were suffered by the
residents of tile general population
but many persons suffered from lack
Of provisions because closely confined
to their houses during the prolonged
street lighting.
The atrocities Which are reported to
nave been committed by the troops
ON both sides are entirely unfounded
The mortality among the native COM
batants was far from large.
The Russians alone were the object
of the operations of the Persians and
the latter displayed no resentment
whatever against any other foreign
ers.
a collision between a patrol of the
Russian guard and the Persian Con-
stutianalists in the street during the
night of Dec. 20 was the beginning of
the disturbances. Two Persians were
killed in this affair. after which the
population showed great hostility.
Fighting became general throughout
the city on the following morning.
The principal engagements during
the siege occurred in the ueighborhood
of the Russian consulate around the
citadel known as THE Ark and the
Russian camp at Baghi Shemel.
The Perslans fired OF the Russian
camp with small mountain artillery.
from the top of THE Ark" the
camp replied BY Smelling THE Ark.
with shrapnel and driving the Per-
slams from their position. One of the
shells struck the American flag fly
ing at the consulate which is situated
near The Ark" and the staff fell with
crash on the roof.
On the following day there was des-
perate fighting in the streets. the
rifle and maxim fire being continuous
On the same day the Persians made Il
night attack upon the Russian camp,
but the Russians did not at first re-
ply, awaiting the closer approach of
their assailants. Finally the Russians
opened fire repulsing the Persians with
heavy loss.
The Russian positions both in the
camp and at the Russian consulate
were at that time evidently i'm a pre-
carious state. All communication be-
tween the camp and the Russian con-
sulate was completely cut off for sew
eral days.
The first detachment of Russian
achievements from Julia, consisting
of 500 men with four guns. arrived in
the outskirts of the city on the night
of Dec. rs. They had made forced
marched of As hours from their camp
at Julia, which is 80 miles from Tab
riz.
Next morning, without establishing pre-
Vious communication with the Russian
camp or consulate, they shelled various
quarters of the city indiscriminately, do
ing little damage, but impressing the
Persians with the hopelessness of resist
ance.
The citadel, after being shelled from
the camp, was evacuated by the Persans
ON the following day and the Russian
troops occupied it and raised the Russian
flag over 1.-THE Ark"
The Persians then made a futile nignt
attack on the camp of the Russian rein
forcements, who responded with bonn
bardment of the northern quarter of the
city until midnight
The whole disturbance was complete
surprise to everybody, including the Rus
SLAMS 1t is believed they proposed to
disarm the Persian Fidais and expected
little or no resistance by them
Two of the principal leaders of the
fidais surrendered at village 10 miles
east of Tabriz, to Shua-Ed Dowleh, chief
of the local rebel force and a supporter
of the ex-Shah in his recent attempt to
regain the throne. They are now by his
order assisting the Russian troops in the
disarmament of the remaining Fidais
and pointing out the stores of Persian
arms and ammunition.