Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-22


overthrown by the Duma leaders, who
met In the Maveritchisky palace after the
regular session had been adjourned by
imperial ukase, and In a telegram to the
Emperor the popular representatives de.
clared that special committee, composed
OF the leaders Of the various parties IN
the Duma. would submit a list Of names
for the new cabinet.
simultaneously II was reported tina, all
the ministers except NJ. Protopopoff had
resigned.
The imperial palace at Tsarskoe-Selo Is
said to be In a state Of siege, but thus
far no firing has been reported between
the guards defending the palace and the
revolutionists and troops.
1t Is stated that General Michael v.
Alexien, former chief Of staff. has been
onered the military dictatorship.
On Monday, which was the turning point
In the battle all the PRINCIPAL strongholds,
arsenals, factories and barracks, including
the Peter and Paul fortress and artillery
headquarters fell into the hands Of the
revolving troops, and the revolutionists
were plentifully supplied with rifles and
ammunition. Al the same time all the
prisons for political offenders were thrown
open by the revolutionists and the prison.
crs marched out to Join their emancipa.
tors.
THE BATTLE SPREADS
The battle spread from one part Of the
town to another with the rapidity Of a
thunderstorm. and as the day progressed
1t became apparent that nothing could
stem the tide Of revolution, which swept
westward from the neighborhood OF the
Dums. and the chief military barracks up
the Nevsky Morskaya to ST. 1saac'e
square. The economic and industrial life
OF the city came to a complete standstill.
The two leading hotels which housed off,
GERS were wrecked: others restricted their
service to regular patrons. In response to
an appeal by tho revolutionsts commit
tees, citizens distributed food to the sol.
diers
The puma was dissolved by imperial
order. effective March II, the imperial
ukase reading as follows:
The sittings of the Duma are adj
journed owing to extraordinary cir
cumstances until further notice. They
Will be resumed not later than April"
On Monday the Duma members, ex.
ccpt the Hightists. met in executive
session. notwithstanding the dissolu-
tion order. The result was virtually
unanimous vote to place the Duma
squarely on the side of the revolution
and to authorize the executive council
of that body to declare the present gov
eminent overthrown and organize
provisional government. President
Rodzianko. who presided. sent a tele.
gram to the Emperor informing him
of the developments and calling on
him to listen to the voice Of the peo-
pie.
COSSACkS WERE PLAYFUL.
The early period Of the uprising bore
the character rather of a mock revolu-
ton staged for an immense audience.
Cossacks cahrging down the street did
so in half-hcartcd fashion. plainly
without malice or intent to harm the
crowds which they playfully dispersed.
The troops exchanged good natured
raillery with the workingh,en and women,
and as they rode were checred ny the
popuace
Long lines of soldiers stationed across
Nevsky prospect, with their guns pointed
at all imaginary foe. appeared to be TAX
Ing part IN n realistic tablean. Machine
gurs firing roulsdes Of blank cartridges
seemed only to add another realistic touch
to tremendous theatric production,
which was using the whole city as a
stage.
LOSES THEATRIC QUALITY.
Until Sunday night this pageant con-
tinued without serious interruption. Then
In a fash the whole scene lost its Theatre
quality: it became a genuine revolu-
ton.
The regiments had received an order
from the commandment to fire upon peo-
pie assembled in the street. This
caused immediate dissenson among
the troops, who did not understand
why they should be compelled to take
violent measures against fellow citizens.
whose chief offence was that they We're
hungry and were asking the govern
ment to supply bread. Several reRi-
nents deserted. and a pitched battle
began between the troops who stood
with the government and those who.
refusing to obey orders. had mutinied.
POLICE TAKE TO HOUSE TOPS.
a long night battle occurred between
the mutinous regiments and the police
at the end OF st Catharine canal. I'M
in front Of the historic
church built over the spot where Alex
ander II was killed by bomb. The
police finally fled to roof tops all over
the city and were seen no more in the
streets during the entire term OF the
lighting.
Still, on Monday morning the govern
ment troops appeared to control all the
principal squares of the city. Then came
a period when 1t was impossible to dis
tinguish one side from the other. There
was no definite line between the factions.
The turning point appeared to come about
three o'clock in the afternoon. For two
hours the opposing regiments passivcly
confronted each other along the wide
Lteiny prospect in almost complete
silence.
RESULT HUNG IN BALANCE
From time to time emissaries from the
revolutionary side rode to the opposing
ranks and exhorted them to join the side
Of the people. For a while the result
seemed to hang in the balance. The
troops appeared irresolute awaiting the
Of their officers. who them.
selves were In doubt as to what they
should do.
Desultory firing continued along the
side streets between groups OF govern.
ment troops and |revolutionists. but the
regiments upon whose decision the out
come rested still confronted each other
with machine guns and rifles in readiness.
Suddenly few volleys were exchanged:
there was another period Of silent sus-
pense and the government regiments n.
nally marched over to Join the revolution
lists. A few hours after the first clash.
this entire section Of Petrograd. in which
are located the Duma building. artillery
headquarters and the chief military
barracks. passed into the hands OF tho
revolutionary forces. and the warfare
swept like tornado to other parts OF the
city. whore the scene was duplicated.
SEEMED MIRACLE.