Evening star., 1917-11-09

, tect citlzens, who were ordered to their
quarters. The bridges and the Nevsky
Prospekt, which early in the afternoon
were in the hands Of the government
forces were captured and held during the
night by the workmen's and soldiers
troops
The battle at the palace. which began
shortly after O'Clock, was spectacular
one, armed cars of the revolutionaries
swinging into action in front of the
palace gates, while flashes from the
Neva were followed by the explosion Of
shells from the guns of the Aurora.
Workmen's Congress Meets.
The general congress Of workmen's
and soldiers delegates of all Russia
was convened here Wednesday night
with $50 delegates in attendance. The
chairman declared that the time was
not propitious for political speeches..
and the order of business of the con-
gress approved was as follows: First.
organization of power; second, peace
and war; third, constituent assembly.
The officers elected comprise fourteen
maximalists. including Nikolai Lenine.
the radical socialist leader, and M.
Zinevieff,. an associate of Lenine, and
Leon Trotsky. president of the central
executive committee of the Petrograd
council of workmen's and soldiers dele
gates. In addition. seven revolutionary
socialists were appointed.
delegation was named to initiate
peace negotiations with the other revo-
lutionary and democratic organizations
with a view to taking steps to stop
bloodShed."
Official Statement.
The official news agency yesterday
made public the following statement:
''The congress of the councils of
workmen's and soldiers delegates Of
all Russia. which opened last evening.
issued this morning the three following
proclamation
To all provincial councils Of work.
mems and soldiers and peasants dele
gates: All power lies in the workmen's
and soldiers delegates. Government
commissaries are relieved of their func-
tions. Presidents of the workmen's and
soldiers delegates are to communicate
direct with the revolutionary govern
ment. All members of agricultural
committees who have been arrested are
to be set at liberty Immediately and the
commissioners who arrested them are
in turn to be arrested
Death Penalty Abolished.
THE second proclamation reads az
follows:
The death penalty re-established at
the front by Premier kerensky is abol-
ished and complete freedom for politi-
cal propaganda has been established at
the front. All revolutionary soldiers
and officers who have been arrested for
in so-called political crimes
are to be set at liberty Immediately
The third proclamation says:
Former Minister Konovaloff. Nish-
kin. Terestchenko. Malyantovitch. Mkt
tin and others have been arrested by
the revolutionary committee.
M kerensky has taken flight and
all military bodies have been empower
ed to take all possible measures to ar
rest Kerensky and bring back to Petro-
grad All completely with Kerensky
will be dealt with as high treason"
Nikolai Lenine was introduced by
Trotsky as IAN old, old comrade, whom
we welcome back
Lenine said: Now we have a revolu-
ton. The peasants and workmen con-
step toward similar revo.
luton everywhere"
Membership of Congress.
OF the $50 members of the workmen's
ana soldiers congress. 250 are bolshe-
Wiki. $50 socialist revolutionists so
group. Of the nationalist
group. non-party socialists.
the others being independent.
A resolution proposed by the mini
nalists that an effort should be made to
reach an agreement with the provf-
sional government was voted down.
Vice President Camenef of the work
mems and soldiers delegates told the
Press that the object of TAX
ng possession of the posts and tele-
graphs was to thwart any effort the
might make to call troops
o the capital The Russkia Volta and