The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-16

petrOgrad, March l5.-Ine emperor
of Russia has abdicated and Grand
Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, his
younger brother, has been named as
regent. The Russian ministry, charged
with corruption and incompetency, has
been swept out Of office. One minister,
Alexander Protopopoff, head of the in
terror department, is reported to have
been killed. and the other ministers,
as well as the president Of the imperial
council, are under arrest.
A new national cabinet Is an
nounced with Prince Lvoff as presi-
dent of the council and premier. and
the other offices held by men who are
close to the Russian people.
Like Drama at First.
For several days Petrograde has been
the scene of one Of the most remark
able risings in history. Beginning
with minor food riots and labor strIkes
the cry for food reached the hearts OF
the soldiers and one by one the regi-
ments rebelled until finally those
troops that had for a time been loyal
and marched into the ranks Of the rev.
olutionists.
The president Of the duma, Michael
V. Rodzianko, was the leading figure
among the deputies who unanimously
decided to oppose the imperial order
for a dissolution of the house. They
continued their sessions and NJ. Rod
,v,ly i,1fo ,<
the front, that the hour had struck
when the will of the people must pre-
vail. Even the imperial council real
lied the gravity of the situation and
added it's appeal to that of the duma,
that the emperor should take steps to
give the people a policy and govern
ment in accordance with their desires
and in order that there should be no
interference with carrying on the war
to a victorious ending.
Emperor Returns.
The emperor FASTENED back from the
front, only to find that the revolution
had been successful and that a new
government was in control. The en-
press, who, it is alleged, has been in
fluential in the councils opposed to the
wishes of the people, is reported to
have fled or to be in hiding.
Although considerable llghting took
place, it is not believed that the cas-
ualties are large.
The early period of the uprising
bore the character rather Of a mock
revolution staged for an immense au-
dience. Cossacks charging down the
street did SO in a half-hearted fashion
plainly without mai:.r or intent t
harm the crowds that they playfully
dispersed. The troops exchanged goot
natured raillery with the workingmer
and women, and as they rode wer,
cheered by the populace
Long lines of soldiers stationed il
dramatic attitudes across the Nevsk,
Prospect. with their guns pointed a
an imaginary foe. appeared to be TAX
ing part in a realistic tableau. Ma
chine gun firing rounds of blank cart
ridges seemed to add another realisti
touch to tremendous theatrical pro
duction, which was using the who'll
city as stage.
FIash!-seens Changes.
Until Sunday night this pagean
continued without serious interruption
Then in flash the whole scene los
its theatric quality; it became a gehu
inc revolution.
The regiments had received an orde
from the commandant to fire upo
persons assembled in this street an
this caused immediate dissensio
among the troops who did not under
stand why they should be compelle
to take violent measures against fello'
citizens, whose chief offense was the
they were hungry and were asking tn
government to supply bread. Sever;
regiments deserted and a pitched bal
tie began between the troops who stoc
with the government and those VIII
refusing to obey orders, had mutinie
Long Night Battle. rz3aIn
\ long night battle occurred betwet
the mutinoussregiments and the polio