The Washington times., 1917-03-17
GRAND DUKE MAY
~ YET TAKE CROWN
Michael Says He Will Assume
Russian Throne If Offered
Him by Referendum.
(continued from First Page)


hunger of the people in famine
stricken districts throughout the land
Is being quickly relieved.
Hundreds of carloads of provisions
were rushed to these sections.
Grain stores Requestioned.
Gain stores everywhere have been
requisitioned by the provisional gov
eminent, fair prices being paid the
owners. The distribution, through a
carefully organized system, of these
stores of food is being made.
Elsewhere in the empire, order is
rapidly being restored, by drastic ac-
tion where necessary.
Admiral Neptune today arrested
Governor Zein of Finland. Deputy
Rodicheff was named as minister OF
Finnish affairs, and ordered to pro-
coed at once to Helsingfors.
Moscow has accomplished fully the
change from autocracy to democracy
and without single shot being fired.
The city was orderly throughout
the time that Petrograd was in the
throes of street fighting.
Casualties of Revolt.
Estimates today placed the number
of killed and injured by the police on
Saturday and Sunday at 800. This
was really before the actual revolt
started, and the casualties were in
small riots over the city. After Sun
day the number killed and wounded
was comparatively small.
One of the first steps taken by the
provisional government was to place
guards over all stores suspected of
fhaf
there was an exceedingly small
amount OF drunkenness.
Physical evidence of the change
from the old order to the new was
given when workmen with ladders
scaled the fronts of the public build
fngs in Petrograd and effaced the i'm
perial arms. The wooden signs were
burned with impromptu ceremonies
on the streets, and the metal and
stone ones were hurled on the ice in
the canals.
The Cars abdicatIon manifesto
follows:
ITO all our faithful subjects: 1t is
best known in the days of the great
struggle against a foreign enemy who
has been endeavoring for three years
10 enslave our country that it has
pleased God to send Russia further
painful trial
Internal troubles threatened fatal
~ to affect the further progress of
this obstinate war and to affect Rus
sia's destinies.
Her heroic army, the happiness of
the people, the whole future of the
beloved fatherland demand that the
war should be conducted at all costs
to a victorious end.
The cruel enemy is making his
L. l.
when our valiant army in concert
with our glorious allies, will finally
overthrow the enemy.
Owe Close Union.
I'm these decisive days we realize
We owe to the people a close union
and organization OF all forces for
realization of a rapid victory.
Therefore, in agreement with the
imperial Duma, we realize 1t is for
the country's good that we should abb
dictate the crown and lay down SUI
preme power.
Not wishing to separate ourselves
from our beloved son. we bequeath
the heritage to our brother, the Grand
Duke Michael, with our blessing for
the future throne that he may gov
ern IT in full union with the national
representatives and take inviolate
oath to them in the name of our well
beloved fatherland.
1--WE call all faithful sons OF the
fatherland to fulfill their sacred pat
rioUc duty of obeying the Car al this
painful moment of national trials, and
to aid him together with the nations
representatives to conduct the Rus
sian state in the way of prosperity
and glory.
MAY God help Russia"
The British government Is dealing
with the provisional committee OF the
Duma as the de facto Russian govern
ment, IL was announced today: