Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-09-20
GERMAN AGENTS CAUSED
RUSSIAN Army MUTINY
United Press Correspondent Tells Of Awful Scenes Enacted
at Vibary--OGcers Murdered by Soldiers Because Of
False Reports Spread by Enemys Agents. Shepherd
Cabling From Stockholm, Tells Of Scenes Of Anarchy
and Boodshed During Past Week
tBy William G. shepherd)

AOhlVed fress starr C0rrespondent)
Copyright 1917, by the United rPess)
Stockholm, Sept, 20.-German agents
made Viborg, a city of Finland, not a
hundred miles from Petrograd, a place
of horror.
Loyal Russian soldiers threw ten of
their Officers, including two generals,
into the river and then shot at them un-
til all but one disappeared in the swirl
ing waters.
This one, colonel, clambered up the
bank, only to be branded by one of his
men.
Another officer was found in his
home and his head half severed. Still
another was found lynehed in a woods.
The German agents had spread ru-
mors that Premier Kerensky, than at
bay because of Korniloff's successful
rebellion" had requested troops of Gen
eral Vassiluf, commander general of Fin
land, to aid in defense Of Petrograd
and that Vassiluf had refused his ap-
peal and his orders.
The story was absolutely untrue.
But the soldiers rose in mutiny, de-
manding that the democracy be defend
cd.
AS the loyalty of the bulk Of the
army has again been demonstrated, L
am able today to tell of the scenes of
terror that accompanied last week s cri-
sis.
Members of the workmen s and sol
diers council claim that Korniloff ex-
ecuted an entire regiment of his men
at Tarnopol. During the revolt many
of the troops turned the tables and exc
cuted their officers.
When l went to the cable office and
filed my dispatch to the United Press
that the Korniloff revolt has been
crushed, the censor remarked:
"The lives of his officers are not
worth a cent if that is true.''
The Viborg horror occurred one week
ago today. The German n-inspired story
spread like wildfire among the troops.
They were moved to the anger almost
of insanity. They mutinied and stalked
forth to seize their officers. Many were
thrown instantly into prison.
Vassiluf himself with nine others
all high army officers, including Gen
eral Ornofski and Colonel Karenius-
were seized.
These ten the infuriated soldiers drag
ged to the Port Abo bridge. There they
threw them into the water And while
they swan desperately for the shore,
Russian soldiers fired at their helpless
officers.
A great crowd gathered. Women faint
ed at the sickening cruelty. A panic en-
sued on the packed bridge and many
were injured in frantic struggles to
reach the banks again.
For half an hour this target practice
at the Officers continued. Then most
of them were either killed, overcome
with their wounds, or exhausted by
their efforts to keep afloat.
In some incredible way Colonel Kare
MUS managed to reach the pier There
he climbed up A group Of infuriated
soldiers confronted him. He drew his
revolver and fired, killing several men.
Then great Russian soldier struck out
his brains with an iron rod.
l personally visited Viborg on my
way to Stockholm. The details as writ
ten above were attested by numerous
witnesses. l saw troops dredging the
river underneath the bridge, seeking
the bodies of the officers they had muir
dercd. They had recovered seven bodies.
One colonel, | was told, was found at
his home, dining with his family, by
group of soldiers, half insane with anger
at the German-inspired report of the
officers alleged refusal to aid Keren
sky. The colonel was seized and his
heck half severad as he stood before
his family.
Colonel DUNN of the .Cossacks, was
found dead in the woods, killed by sol
victim of German agents
preying ON the Russian troops loyalty
to Kerensky.