Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-18
ROMAN0FF Line
LEAVES THRONE,
Gar PRISONER
Double Abdication Marks End
of Four Hundred Years of
Autocracy in Eastern
Europe.
REPUBLIC IS PROBABLE
Prince Lvoff, Head of New Lib.
eral Cabinet, May Become
" the First President.
MANY RUM0RS ARE AFLOAT
MANY RUMoRs ARE AFLoAT
(By Associated Press.)

Decision whether Grand Duke
Michael Alexandrovitch shall occupy
the Russian throne, abdicated by his
brother, Emperor Nicholas, is left to
plebescite of the Russian people, ac-
cording to a manifesto issued by the
grand duke. This is taken in some
quarters TO mean that Grand Duke
Michael does not intend to accept the
regency temporarily, but only after
the holding OF elections.
The whereabouts OF former En-
peror Nicholas is left somewhat in
doubt by conflicting advices. one OF
which asserts that he is being held
prisoner in the House OF Parliament
and another that he is in monastery
at Phkotf, where he signed his abdi-
cation Of the throne at the demand OF
committee of the Duma. The Rus
sian empress and crown prince arc
reported safe in Finland.
The Russian garrison at the fortress
OF Sveaborg, which defends Helsing-
fors, is reported to have mutinied and
refused to join the revolution.
Gar Not Arrested.
Washington, March 17-A dispatch
from American Minister Morris at
Stockholm today informed the State
department that the ezar OF Russia
had abdicated, but had not been ar
rested, Mr., Morris has been IN
sstructed to send all available informa-
ton.
Emperor a Prisoner.
London, March 1.-THE Nya Dag
light Allehanr OF Stockholm as quoted
in an Exchange Telegraph dispatch
from that city, says, IN a telegram
from Haraparanda, that Emperor
Nicholas is held prisoner aud fiat
the empress has been sem. to kiey,
The Social Demokraten of Stockholm
says M. Golitzine, the dcposed Rus
sian premier, has committed suicide
in prison.
- Safe in Finland.
New York, March 1.-THE en-
press and crown urincc are. now safe
in Finland and the emperor is at the
Snetogorsky monastery in Pskoff, ac-
cording to cablegram made public
here today by the Russiall- ll-American .
Asiatic corporation. According TO
Ivan Norodny, head OF the corpora
ton, the cablegram was from their
Representative in Petrograd and was
transmitted through the Belgian min
istcr
Mr., Norodry announced the receipt
nf ltstatcltne alea ttnf tba
Duma is promulgating orders for the
formation of government to be
known as the United States of Russia,
with Prince Lvolf as president.
Autocracy at End.
Petrograd. March l6.--(Via Lon
don, March l7.)-The autocracy
which has held Russia in its grip since
the beginning Of history fell today.
The house of Romanoff. which has
ruled the empire for 400 years, came
to an end with the abdicataion of
Nicholas II, perhaps the weakest rep
resentative of his line. Tonight the
death Of the little son of the emperor.
whose abdication was included in that
of his father, was rumored,
Although apparent from the begin
ming of the revolution that the re-
moval OF the monarch was the ineyi-
table end, the actual fact came today
and was an actual surprise to the
population. Within four hours ter
the abdication of Grand Duke Mi
chael, who automatically became re-
gent on the passing OF the emperor.
the crowds in the streets had secured
ladders and began to tear the imperial
insignia from the Winter palace and
the front of the buildings on tie main
thoroughiares. In short time all the
emblems of the old empire literally
lay in the dust.
Great Cheers from Crowd.
In anticipation of the news bigger
crowds than ever filled the halls and
grounds of the Tauris palace, await
committee of the rumors which had
4, excited the people to fever pitch DUR
| ing the last twenty-four hours. When
the tidings at last leaked out from
the committee rooms orators, who
had been haranguing soldiers and
workingiuen from the balcony OF the
palace, suddenly interrupted their dis
courses and shouted the news to the
crowds below them. A roar OF cheers
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