Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-16
RUSSIAN GEAR
TO LOSE CROWN
Continued From Page ~

Especially violent riots are reported
! to have occurred In Petrograd on Sat
urday, shops being stormed by mobs.
According to this information, publica-
ton of newspapers was suspended and
the authorities posted placards warn
ing the people to remain indoors to
avoid danger.
The Nyheter says that other travel
ers from Petrograd report that similar
disturbances occurred there on Fri
day. that the soldiers were compelled
to use their sabres and that many per-
sons were wounded.
Dispatches from Stockholm usually
are sent by cable via London. In this
instance the telegraph to Berlin and
the wireless evidently were employed
to avoid British censorship This is
the first word for several days regard
Ing internal conditions in Russia with
the exception of a London dispatch
last night quoting a Swedish engineer
as saying on his return to Stockholm
from Petrograd that the reports of out
breaks which have appeared in Swed-
ish and other neutral papers were
much exaggerated and that up to the
lision between troops and civilians in
connection with food demonstrations.
It was on Monday, the day on which
Berlin reports the Russian revolution
began, that Geographic communica-
ton from Russian was cut off. No
word has been received from Petro-
grad since that time with the excep-
ton Of the war Office statement cabled
today but there have been various in
dications that serious disturbances
We're in progress.
The difficulties in food distribution
in Petrograd probably were only con-
tributory factor in bringing about the
reported upheaval although the state
ment accredited by Berlin to the pro-
government is worded 50 as
to refer merely to domestic questions,
excluding matters having to do with
the conduct of the war. The breaking
down of transportation and food distri-
button has been charged to the bu-
eaucratic system of administering
Russia's affairs, which Is reported not
only 10 have resulted in hardships
for the Russian people but to have
. cotlS liluuSi GU prosecution VI IAC
war. There have been many changes
in the Russian government during the
war, although the censorship has been
so rigidly that the signi-
fcance of the rapid shifts has not
been apparent. Vague reports have
reached the outside world of high |
councillors Of state who were OBJ
instead of assisting the work |
If carrying on the war, and of the |
strength Of German influence at Petro-
grad. The most conspicuous case of |
his sort was that of General SIOUX !
former minister of war, |
who was dismissed from Office and |
Imprisoned as a result of charges Of |
criminal negligence and high treason.
In February Of last year Premier |
1oremykin, who was in Office when |
he war began. gave way to Borie |
who steadfastly resisted the
Efforts of the duma to increase the
power of the representative of the |
people. They followed a sharp conflict, I,
lttended by sensational disclosures in |
he duma and attacks on the "drak |
orces" who were said to be imperil. !
ng the nation.
IL he retirement OF VI. Slurmer laSI
November was at first interpreted in
ome quarters as a victory for the |;
luna but it soon appeared that this
vas not the case Emperor Nicholas
famed as premier General Trepoff,
Who was soon followed in office by
Prince Golitzine, comparatively In.
conspicuous man. It has been com
nonly reported that the real power in
he Russian government since that
ime has been in the hands of the
Minister Of the interior, M. Pro
OpOpoff.
The fact that Michael Rodzianka,
resident of the du1na and one of the
aading advocates of liberalization of
he government is named AS the chief
CURE in the provisional government in.
icates that the movement is in the
ands of same forces which hereto
ere have demanded overthrow Of the
bureaucracy and more energetic prose- ,
ution of the war |,