The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-15
RUSSIA NOW IS IN TRANSITION PERIOD Fast Recovering From Jap
 War Exhaustion
FIGHT WITH BANDITS
Soldiers Had to Be Called to Aid the P0lice-Nobles of Mongolia Have Arisen in Reyolt-Inner Mon-
 golia Joins China
By GEORGE FRASER

 distinguished living Russian statesman, 'is now in a period of transition, the country having neither perfect constitu- tionalism nor a purely absolutist regime. Neither liberals nor conservatives were completely satisfied with the imperial manifesto announcing the introduction of the new constitution
 The liberals at first strove after form of parliament which was not contem- plated by the October manifesto, forget ting that history, like nature. does not work by leaps and bounds. The con- servatives cherished the illusion that they could secure the withdrawal of the mani festo. forgetting that it was an unshak- able act proceeding from the will of the monarch. These two opposing currents naturally brought about chaotic situ- ation. At the present moment chaos Is being transformed into a cosmos. The right road, corresponding to the logic of . history, has not yet been found, but there IS justification for the hope, based upon the logical course of history, that Russia is now on the way to the development Of the conservative constitutionalism. Recovering From War Contrasted with the state of supine exhaustion which followed the wasting war with Jaapn, internal disorders, com mercial depression, dislocation of the rail- way and postal services and financial chaos, Russia has now rapidly expand ing revenues, foreign trade which is increasing by leaps and bounds both in imports and exports, and a 6ourishing domestic industry which is prevented from taking full advantage of it's oppor- tunities by the monetary impossibility of supplying it with the full measure of ] it's requirements of raw materials. Minister President Kokovtsoff expresses himself as sanguine that the Muscovite empire has a magnificent future. Since 1906 the aggregate area of peasants hold ings has been increased by some twelve million acres, of which half was form erly in the hands of big unproductive estate owners-the little cZars."
 Asked to indicate the principal cause o5 this great change, M. Kokovtsoff said 70 me:
 'In my firm conviction there has been only one cause. Russia has 165, ,000,000 eff cient and industrious inhabitants; she has every variety of climate, from the arctic to the sub-tropical; her natural resources are immeasurable, and just as immeas- urable are her populations capacity for work and it's incontestable skill. In these circumstances lies the key to an ap- parently insoluble puzzle. If peace, both foreign and domestic. is assured, if the population is afforded an opportunity of exploiting Its powers of labor in tram qGility and independence if it is thereby assisted by information and a good ad- ministration, my view will assuredly be accepted, that every one who loves Rus sia and believes in her future must, like myself. be a convinced advocate of CO., ncmic optimism.
 Fight With Bandits
 At Czestochowa, in Russian Poland, a few days ago. a policeman attempted to arrest a notorious bandit named Roslow- ski, who thereupon shot and wounded the officer and also a passer-by. Roslowski then fled to the Gaulist monastery of Jasnagora, where he concealed himself with a companion in a bastion When the police arrived two bombs were thrown at them.
 The bandits next fired at the police and the authorities found it necessary to requisition troops. A regiment of infan- try and two squadrons of cavalry sur rounded the monastery and opened fire with quick-firing guns. The bandits kept up a vigorous reply.
 After midnight soldiers placed under the bastion Wall a pyroxlime bomb, which exploded, and the shots from the bastion ceased. The police entered the breach and found Roslowskis body mangled and pierced with bullets. The other bandit has disappeared. and it is believed that he is still concealed in the monastery.
 During the four hours of the siege the bandits shots wounded two policemen, one workman and woman.
 Mongolians Revolt
 The proud nobles in Mongolia have arisen in revolt against the Urga alliance with Muscovy. Like the fathers of the American commonwea lth (though in a very different spirit and with anything but altruiEtic motiyes) they have assembled in q congress of notables and hurled de- fance at Russia in the following "deca- ration of independence"
 We arc amazed to learn that the ku- tul1hta and his associates have concluded 6 convention with Russia whereby Rus sia has been granted a practical title to what appears to be the whole of Mon Eclia. Therefore, we, princes, dukes and dignitaries of inner and outer Mongolia. having formed an organized association for the more effective representation of Mongoiian interests and being the bered- itary and legal representatives of the peopie ol hoDsoIa. ilefeoy declare that we have not recognized and will not recognize the right of the Urga politically or otherwise to represent or act in the name, or or behalf of Mongolia. We an nounce to the world that any treaty or treaties made or concluded by the I-rya I<utakhta with any foreign country or countries are and must be null and with out effect"
 Since the establishment of the Chinese republic the six leagues of Inner Mon- Goiia and also the Leagues of Kobdo, the Urianxhai, Koko Nor and Chinese Turk estan have declared their approval of the new form of government and have undertaken to operate with the Chinese Manchus, the Turki tribe and the Tibe- tans in order to form one compact and solid country. urga, in outer Mongolia, alone stood out under foreign advice and Cheptsunda mpa, the Kukuhta of Urga with the support of certain princes and dukes of the Tusretu and Taetson Khan ates declared their independence. Two of the four Khanates in Outer Mongolia never assented to the action of Urga Indeed. only Urga, in association with the minority of the tribes whose admin istration is centered there, really was responsible for the called independence of Mongolia. The rebel community com prises less than one-tenth of the whole ot Mongolia. Thus. the nobles hold, 1t is impossible for Urga to arrogate to Itself the right of deciding the political fate of Outer Mongolia. and far less of the entire region of Mongolia.
 
 False Alarm
 From London Punch.
 r-s~~