Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-19
RUSSIAN ARMIES
PLEDGE SUPPORT
Abdication of Emperor Enthusi-
astically Acquiesced In by
Men in Field.
NEW MINISTERS TAKE POSTS
Nation Declared to Be United in
Desire to Fight Out War
With Allies.
iBy Associated press.l

PETROGRAD 1via London), March
lS.--With the final cemcnting of the
elements concerned in the construc-
ton OF the new government upon the
ruins of tho old, the new Cabiret min
listers have assumed the posts to which
Miiukon spent yesterday at the Foreign
Onice. In the afternoon he received
the Diplomatic representatives Of the
entente allies, after which he entered
upon long Cabinet conference
One of the first acts Of the minister
was to send a series Of cable messages
TO the Russian diplomats abroad 20 the
effect that Russia was united in the
desire TO nght ont the war with the
allies. the determination TO continue
the conflict until the victory is achieved
being stronger than ever.
The armies in the Held have advised
that the abdicat!on OF the Emperor has
hccn enthusiastically acquiesced In. ac-
cording TO a Foreign Office official
kilograms from virtually all the COM
mandcrs have been received assuring
tho support OF the government guar
antced in advance by General Michael
AleXlcf. chief of staff.
LAST vEsTIGES OF EMPIRE
ARE FAST DISAPPEARING
Meanwhile the last vcstiges Of the
cmTire arc disappearing. Portraits OF
the erstwhilc members OF the imperial
family. once seen upon the walls Of
almost every government Office, have
been removed. While tho correspond
cnt Of tho Associated Press waited in
am an,eroom of the Foreign Minister'S
office. lircricd attendant mounted a
chai! and quietly took IN portraits
OF the former Emperor and Empress
The national colors with their eagles
have given place TO plain red flags. one
OF which flows over the famous Winter
Palace.
The proper designation of the new
government appears TO puzzle even Of
hcttls. Government constitute is the
appeliation used in Foreign Onice dis
patches sent abroad While OF a tenn
rorary nature. 1T is permanent, COM
pared with the first Duma committee
which was hurriedly assembled. in the
opinion OF one official. although /, is
contemplated that the Cabinet heads
shall continue TO govern only until
those elected by a constitutional as
sembly shall replace them. The as
sembly, which will be selected by pop-
ular vote. will be composed Of approx
imatcly 600 members Il will be the
business OF the assembly to determine G,
the form of the future government and
draft new constitution.
TO MAGNIFY EFFORTS TOWARD
SPEEDY TERMINATION OF WAR
H1
that under the direction OF the new
government the military and indus
trial forces OF the country will be en-
sbled TO carry on operations under n
much larger scale than before. and
considerably magnify their efforts to-
ward a speedy termination OF the war
Endless friction between departments
and the continual fear on the part Of
the old government that too complete
organization might result in the sud-
den growth OF popular power have lef;
n great part of the resources of the
country inert and useless.
Meetings of the committee OF towns
unions in Moscow that assembled to
discuss means Of remedying the indus
trial disorGaniZation of the country
were broken up by the police under
the instructions OF the Ministry Of the
Interior, which feared that such meet
ings might provide opportunity for the
dissemination of propa Ganda against
the government. although II was
chiefly due to these meetings that
Prince Lvoff. president of all the Rus
sian union OF counties, whose activities
were so bitterly opposed by the old
government, is head of the new Cab
met.
Probably no event of similar magni-
tudc ever had n less colorful aftermath.
or was accepted by the people so
vitality affected with less dclnonstra-
ton With the exception of few
paradcs. chiefly In the district OF the
puma. people went soberly about their
business yesterday. as if satisfied with
a good task we'll performed.
The review of troops that had been
scheduled was postponed. Doubtless
the heavy snowstorm that continued
mos, of the day had much to do with
dampcning the ardor of the people. At
any rate. up TO the present time there
has been nothing in the nature of n
great popular demonstration. Several
factories have resumed operations for
the first time in more than a week.