New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-30
Overthrow of Kaiser
Urged by New Russia
Socialists, Gun in Hand
Appeal to Germans
to End War

Petrograd, March IS via London
March 2e).-An appeal to the workmen
Of the German and Austrian coalitioh
to rise against the imperial authority
and 10 establish their freedom, says the
Petrograd Telegraph Agency the kuS-
sian Official news agency, was Launched
at a mass meeting Of workmen, soldiers
and Deputies held to-day "wednesday
AZ the Duma.
The appeal was directed to the probe
tariat of the whole world, but 1t spe-
cislly designates the Central Powers
urging the workmen Of those countries
10 throw off the yoke of autocratic
rule. as the Russian people have over
thrown the imperial autocrat, and re-
fuse to serve longer as an instrument
in the hands of kings, capitalists anu
bankers"
By a united effort. the appeal de-
clares. I'VE can stop this awful murder
which is the shame of humanity"
The document states emphatically
that il is not a craven appeal for peace,
declaring:
4 Russia WILL defend its new found
liberty against all interference, whether
from within or without. II will not
WELD before belligerent bayonets, nor
will it permit itself to be coerced ny
foreign military power"
Guns Front to Germany
During the debate on the text OF the
appeal opposition was or RED by sew
eral speakers, who expressed the opin-
ION that il was iropportune and likely
10 be misunderstood in Germany as an
admission of weakness. NJ. Tcheidze,
Socialist member Of the Duma and pres
idcnt of the Workmen's and Soldiers
! Delegates, replied:
"When we speak TO the Germans we
always keep guns in our hands. we
shall fight TO the last drop of blood Tor
liberty if the Germans DO not accept
the appeal. The dominating idea OF the
appeal is that we are seeking peace Dy
urging others to throw off the yoke"
After VI. Tcheidze had spoken, VI.
Rodzianko. president of the Duma, is
sued from the building amid scene
of the greatest enthusiasm and
barangued the soldiers, calling upon
them TO fight against the most ter
rible of enemies. the Germans tie
added:
ave shall do our utmost to bring
together the constituent assembly
without delay, and shall, defer 10 ali
its decisions, and demand with all our
power that regime be established by
The will of the people. On the question
~ tho distribution of land, I promise
tho soldiers that if the assembly so re-
solves. the land will be given 10 the
neople without the slightest opposi-
ton" III.
Acclaiming his speech. the soldiers
took NJ Rodzianko on their shoulders
and carried him back to the Duma.
A declaration in support of the war
has been issued by a committee of
workingmen. soldiers and deputies and
anparentlv represents the sober con-
clusion which the masses OF the popu-
lation have reached, after being swayed
this way and that by the turbulent cur
rents and cross currents which swept
through the country in the first days
Of the revolution.
Must Defeat Germany First
This conclusion is that liberty and
victory over the Germans are lnsep-
arabic and that the responsibility 1ol
plunging Europe into war rests on the
the Hohenzollern family and Prussian
imperialistic ambitions.
The tendency is TO regard the war
no longer ms struggle between ma
lions. but as one between the new
shirt Of democracy and the old spirit
~ imperialism. The people arc
eagerly desirous Of peace, but are ready
10 devote redoubled energy TO war If
that is the only way of achieving II.
Even the discomfort voice of the
extreme Socialist element, which at
first openly declared itself against war
and counselled the soldiers TO lay down
their arms. has been drowned in the
universal cry that the struggle must
continue.
The result Of this broader under
standing of the object for which the
country is fighting has been to bring
the extreme Radicals into unison with
the rest of the country.
Reassuring reports of the visit of
Minister of War GuchkoT to the front
continue 10 be received. Everywhere
the army responded with the greatest
enthusiasm to his appeals and de-
clared itself ready to continue fighting
until the end. The same spirit is mani
tested i'm Petrograd. where there arc
daily professions Of troops carrying
banners inscribed:
Liberty and Victory"
Deputies for Vigorous War
The official organ of the Council OF
Deputies of Workmen and Soldiers de-
votes a leader in it's Tuesday issue to
the necessity of vigorously carrying
on the war against Germany. The
paper says:
Russia. although disturbed by rev
olution. must not give the Hohenzol-
lerns and their partisans any ground
to believe that she will be an easy
prey to the German monarchy. We
must let them know that revolution
airy Russia will devote all its forces
10 the accomplishment of victory"
"The workmcn in all the factories
engaged in manufacturing for the
Russian national defence" says a
Petrograd dispatch to-day. have de
clded 10 renounce for the period Of
the war one Of the fundamental items
Of the labor programme namely. the
eight-hour dayit is announced here
sem-offcislly. The decision was taken
in view of the necessity Of augment
ing the output of munitions
"The peasants throughout the coun-
try are systematically organizing
militia to replace the old police. They
are also establishing new local su-
thorities and convoking communal as