New-York tribune., 1917-12-11
Strife in Kerensky's Camp
Led to His OWn Downfall
Maximalist Coup dEtat Followed Vote of Lack OF
Confidence in Provisional Government by Pre-
liminary Parliament Convoked at the Instance
of Kerensky

authority in Russia.
But Kerensky's government did not
choose the only Ncorrect course pos
siblc. Having lost all support IN the
camp of the organized revolutionary
democracy. it still continued to cling
TO It's hopeless position. The SOVIET
dominated by the Maximalists, there
upon decided TO take prompt and de-
cisive action. Secret meetings were
held in all the military barracks OF
the capital the same evening, that OF
Tuesday. November 6. The representa-
tives Of the Soviet had one message
70 deliver TO the soldiers namely
that Kerensky was usurping the gov
crnment Of the Russian masses. They
were accordingly urged TO be ready 20
defend the revolution.
At the same time the gunners OF the
Peter and Paul fortress, situated op-
posite the Winter Palace. were won
over by the Soviet emissaries. The
crew Of the cruiser Aurora. anchored
before the islands, which was one OF
the veteran Maximalist bodies re-
ceved orders to lombard the Winter
Palace on the morning Of November Z.
II was on the night of November 81
that the Bolsheyiki resolved to seize
the government and make themselves
masters of the situation. There was
no question. even on the part OF the
moderate elements, OF the continuation
of Kerensky's regime. The latter was
considered dead. Late Tuesday even
ing the Minimalists and Social Revolu-
tionaries were still hopeful that calm
would be restored by an arrangement
with the extremists The Bolsbeviki,
however, upon discovering the propor-
tions of the Provisional Governments
debacle, were unwilling to let their
chance sl'p. They continued TO arm
and organize for coup d'etat
kerensky Escapes
During the night several people were
killed and wounded. Kcrensky was
fully apprised Of what was going on in
the city. He perceived that practically
all the troops were under the influence
Of the Soviet Only the womens bat
talon and the students of the military
schools were loyal TO him. After con-
ferring with General Iauikovsky, the
newly appointed War Minister, and
other officials, Kerensky resolved to
leave for the front lie slipped out of
the capital early Wednesday morning.
In the meantime the city was pass
ing into the hands Of the Bolshevil;l.
The government swung the bridges
open and stopped the traffie to secure
the centre of the city. Without any
armed conflict. these bridges were. a
few hours later, carrying traffic in
defiance Of the government. The tele-
graph headquarters were seized and
kilograms were dispatched throughout
Russia. The troops sent by the gov
ernment TO clear out those who occu-
pied the state telegraph office frater-
nized with the opposite party. The
telephones were also seized.
Acting with obvious caution" wrote
correspo spondent., "the Leninists began
a methodical occupation Of the capital,
including the banks and railway sta
tions. After the initial indecision, the
operations developed actively in the
morning, and. II must be acknowl-
edged. with an evident anxiety TO OBJ
serve the formaltes of procedure. Al
10 o'clock in the morning a proclama-
ton by the Revolutionary Military
Committee announced the fall of the
government and the transfer Of power
into the hands Of the Soyicts.
Ministers Continue at Work
Nevertheless, the government con-
tinued to sit in the Winter Palace,
against which the Soviet had as yet
made no move. The ministerial de-
partments and the Petrograd General
staff also carried on work as II moth
ing had happened. 49,,
Toward o'clock the Soviet. whlch
has become master of the whole city,
began TO isolate the Winter Palace,
whore practically the whole of the gov
ernment remained. Detachments occu-
pied all the routes giving access TO the
palacc. On the quays, in MIlliCnLaya
street, the Ncvsky Prospekt. and the
admiralty Gardens, and even beyond
the Marie Palace, barricades were
speedily erected, haphazard, made of
logs taken from ncighboring wood de-
rotc and planks from works under con-
struction.
"Tranc was gradually stopped and
in the area thus isolated only the
troops. armored cars and two anti
aircraft guns placed near the police
headquarters on the Nevsky Prospekt
remained.
"The trans were stopped on this
Fart Of the route, but a short distance
beyond they are running as usual and
the ordinary service Will be main
tanned. The disturbances which the
actions OF the committee have occas
ionei arc therefore purely local and
temporary. Ordinary life is going on
with almost tinge of indifference.
AT 3 o'clock the besiegers request
ed the ministers TO leave the Winter
Palace, giving them twenty minutes in
which to make their departure. The
latter, however, refused to leave.
Shortly before this the headquarters
Of the Petrograd garrison were occu
pied by the troops of the Petrograd
Soviet. The Winter Palace was COM
pletely surrounded. As "A result of the
occupation of the Central Telephone
Exchange its communications were in
terruptcd
Women Defend Palace
Opposite the Winter Palace. on the
right bank of the Neva. the fortress
of St. Peter and ST. Paul had for
some time been in the hands of the
Soviet, and therefore it directly
threatened the former imperial resi-
dence. The first detachment of troops
attempted TO approach the palace