The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-09
WINTER PALACE VAS
SCENE or URECk4GE
Bodies OF the Slain Guards Removed But
All About Were Traces OF the
Bolshevik Looting.

Bolshevik Looting.
New York, Feb, 0,-The Petrograd cor.
respondent of the Moscow newspaper
outro Rossii Morn of Russial, who in
/ the issue OF Nov. 81 described the siege
and capture OF the winter palace by the
Bolshevik forces and the peFilous march
OF the arrested kerensky ministers from
the palace to the fortress of Peter and
Paul, gives in the same paper a picture
of the looted winter palace and of the
events OF the next six days, including
the attempt of Ike municipal council OF
Petrograd TO assume the reins of power
IN the capital and form a coalition min
lstry with representatives of all parties
Il succeeded, he says, I'm walking
through the palace a few hours after the
bombardment. The corpses of the sol.
diers OF the womens battalion. killed in
defense of the palace, had already been
removed, but through the iron gate could
be seen the heaps of empty shells, torn
munition belts, books and leaflets. The
whole facade of the palace was riddled
by shells the white scars standing out
in striking contrast TO Inc red of the
walls, The palace guard consisted of
strong pickets of sailors and soldiers,
heavily armed and covered with cartridge
belts.
when | entered the first floor | saw
picture OF complete devastation amid
which moved soldiers and sailors search.
ing the rooms and adding to the confu-
sion. All the drawers of the sideboards
and cupboards had been broken Open all
the chairs smashed and the wrecked fur.
niture thrown together in heaps. On
the beds and sofas were broken boxes.
lamps, chandeliers and porcelain had
been thrown. The corridors were filled
with torn papers. fragments and scraps
of the magnificent tapestries and broken
furniture. Everywhere absolute chaos.
in the rooms whore the electric fit
tings had been stored the soldiers, hav-
ing carried off everything that seemed
to have any value, were amusing them.
selves and q crowd of applauding specta.
tors by smashing the electric bulbs In
one room | saw a soldier hacking away
the valuable tapestry from a couch with
a table knife. On the second floor the
scene was even gloomier. Everywhere
dirt indescribable, mattresses over all the
floors, soldiers squatted at their meals
on the wonderful couches of the imperial
furniture, splitting soup and greasy bits
of meat upon the priceless tapestries
'The palace servants were no whit be
hind the soldiers at the loot:ng and went
around with bags collecting what struck
their fancies. In the round hall the sol
diers had set up an enormous kettle and
were cooking their soup In the room :
Of the press bureau all the papers had !
been torn to bits. In the picture gallery :
many pictures had been slashed to strips /
of painted rags. In one room heavy guns !.
lad been set up. Windows were pierced !
with bullets. 1t was nightmare of de-
The sth of November the day follow
ng the siege passed quietly, the street !
airs Were running everywhere, the mum :,
ler of patrols had decreased and abso- !,
ute order prevailed The municipal :
ouncil had passed e resolution, instruct y
ng the population to defend itself !"
gainst looting by use of arms If neces-
airy, and though the Bolshevik author y
ties opposed this order the formation of !
iouse committees Of self defense went
teadily forward.
The representatives Of the allied pow :,
rs held long conferences but no decision =
egarding recognition OF the new regime =
vas taken and it was stated that special :"
from the respective govern
nents would be necessary, as there was :,
ow no one established government in the
ountry. Leon Trotzky had visited the >
oregn office, announced himself as the
oreign minister of the new government T.
nd asked for the secret treaties OF the I
lies ''He was told, to his amazement, !"
hat documents relating to arrangements =
lade during the war were Incorporated y
j the protocols OF the interallied con
arences and were not available IN Pet y
1grad" -
November a. In view of the overthrow =
{ the provisional government and the e.
issolution OF the temporary council OF -
ne Russian republic, the municipal coun- ~
/ became a center of political life. By ii
Don the Hobbies of the municipal council -
lildings We're filled with representatives i,
all democratic organizations, united &,
, protect against the seizure of power ~
' the Bolshevik leaders. Demands were -
ade for guarantees for the safety and
possible the release of the members of
ie women's battalion.
November TO- The extraordinary SEES r;
on of the municipal council was most
ormy, owing to a proposal to expel the
Dishevik members of the council. Great
was caused by reports of the to
rest of five members of the council sent I'll
emissaries to the army in an attempt in
prevent bloodshed. and by street fight ca
g started near the building of the coun- in
. A Bolshevik woman representative he
led to explain the irritation of the ws
ldiers and sailors against the council, vi,