The Elbert County tribune., 1917-03-23
Streets Are Deserted.

'"'tHhA'S' WHO. creeping along W'tiis
and ducking into courtyards, sped
frorn one side to the other.
But the side streets were choked
with people. Groups of students. cas-
lily distinguished by their blue caps
and dark uniforms, fell into step with
rough units of rebel soldiers and were
joined by other heterogeneous elements
united for the dme belng-by cause
greater than partisan differences.
unkempt workmen. with ragged
sheepskin conts covering the conven-
tional peasants costume of dark blouse
nndstop boots. strobe side by side with
well-groomed city clerks and shopkeep-
ers.
This strange army of people. mus
tered on the street corners. shouldered
their newly acquired rites and
marched out to join the ranks of the
deserving regiments.
Put UP Last Stand.
AT nightfall only one small district
of the city. containing the war Office
the admiralty buildings, st. Isaac's
cathedral. and the Military hotel. still
resisted the onslaught of the revolu-
tionary forces, and the battle for the
possession of Petrograd came to a drn-
matte conclusion.
entire section of Petrograd, In which
are located the dumn building. artillery
headquarters, and the chief military
barracks, passed into the hands OF the
Revolutionary forces and the wnriare
While the council snt In the last
meeting that they were destined to
hold the building was surrounded ind
the beslegers poured rifle and machine
gun fire upon the defenders.
For few hours the fiercest battle
of the day continued; the streets were
swept by steady fusillade. and the
crowds scattered for the nearest shell
ter, some of the people being COM
or corridors of office buildings or wher-
ever they first found refuge.
Last of Troops Surrender.
Toward morning there was sudden
lull, broken By exultant shouts, which
deepened into roar and was sue
ceeded by the Russian revolutionary
"Marseillaise." The regiments defend
ing the admiralty had surrendered
and gone over to the side OF the revo-
lutionists.
The ministers In the admiralty
building were then arrested and the
Russian national colors We're re-
placed by the red flag of the revolu-
tionists.
Although sporadic fighting continued
between small groups until Wednesday,
the "cause of the people" Ind tri-
umphed.
1t was on Sunday. March II, that
the duma was dissolved by imperial
order, the ukase reading as follows:
"The sittings of the duma are ad-
journed owing to extraordinary cir
cumstances until further notice. They
will be resumed not later than April"
On Monday the ukase was read to
the duma in regular session. On ad-
journment the duma lenders, presided
over by President Rodzianko, de-
ciared the government overthrown. and
that special committee, composed OF
the leaders of the various parties In
the duma would submit n list of names
for the new cabinet.
Resume Of Developments.
On Tuesday revolutionary bulletins
appeared In the streets with the sim
pie caption. News" containing re-
sumo of the developments. They were
eagerly read by all classes. Rodzian-
kos kilograms to the emperor and 9TH
ers to the commanders of the
troops at the front were reproduced.
The first message to the emperor was
as follows:
"The situation is grave. Anarchy
reigns In the capital. The government
is paralyzed. The transport of provi-
.sions and fuel is completely dlsorgan-
lied. General dissatisfaction is grow
ing. Irregular rifle firing Is occurring
in the streets. 1t is necessary to
charge Immediately some person trust
ed by the people to form new gov
ernment. 1t is impossible TO llnger,
since delay means death. Praying God
that the responsibility In this hour
will not fall upon crowned head"
kronstadt Joins Revolt.
London, March 6.-Telegraphing
from Petrograd Wednesday, Reuters
correspondent says Kronstadt, the
fortress and great naval station at the
head of the Gulf of Finland, 20 miles
west of Petrograd, has Joined the revo-
lutionary movement. Two deputies,
Pepelauff and Taskine, on Instructions
from the duma committee, proceeded
to Kronstadt, where the troops placed
themselves at the disposal of the
duma.