The New York herald., 1920-01-04
HOW GENERAL GAIDA'S ATTEMPT
TO START A REVOLT IN SIBERIA
AGAINST KOLCHAK WAS FOILED
Vladivostok Railway Station
for Nineteen Hours Target
of Terrific Artillery Fire.


here yesterday and contain q story of
desperate street fighting. General Gaida.
who was released on his pledge to leave
Russia. is In Shanghai. and while he has
declared he will remain there tndefi-
nitely. Czechs and Slovaks in the United
states expect him in this country soon on
his way home and are preparing great
welcome for him
Before General Gaida left vladivostok
he declared his attempted revolution
against the Kolchak government had not
altered his good standing with the gov
ernment of Czechoslovakia and that he
was not only persona grata at home, but
would be decorated with the Czech War
Cross, the highest military honor This
youthful anti-Bolshevist leader formerly
was commander in chief of Siberian forces
under Admiral Kolchak. His attempted
revolution was directed against the Kol-
chak regime and in 1t he employed for
the most part Russian troops under the
green and white flag. bearing the motto
For the Constituent Assembly" This
was the banner Of the first Siberian Duma,
dissolved more than a year ago.
Eighteen Hour Battle.
The fighting at vladivostok began on
the afternoon Of November II and con-
tinued for eighteen hours before the mutt
neers were routed and General Gaida was
taken prisoner. Between 200 and 300 men
were killed and probably nearly thou
sand captured, many Of whom were exc
cuted. Non-combatants, among them
several Americans and Britishers, suf
fered and property damage was great
because Of the frequent use of artillery
in routing the mutineers from the build
ings they occupied. Gaida, his uniform
torn. his epaulets missing from his shoul-
ders, shocked by shells. was marched
through the streets between infantrymen
of an army that few months before he
had commanded with much success and
popularity.
Vladivostok Is shaped like an L, whose
inner angle is covered by Zolotoi Roc
Bay. To the south extremity OF the city
are the railway station and the docks, and
there General Gaida's train had been
stationed for several months. The revou-
flag was hoisted over this train,
and il became the revolutionary head
quarters and also the scene OF Gaidas s
last stand.
The firing at the station began about
two o'clock. Both sides denied beginning
the fire. Gaida first tried to occupy the
station, and before nightfan machine
guns, rifle fire and hand grenades were
employed generally. Some five thousand
shots were fired in the first three hours.
Gaida's men took the station after two
raids. While the station af-
forded protection, it was good mark
for the loyal troops. Gaida's men
were unable to extend their
operations.
Railway station Under Fire.
II was apparent that Gaida had under
estimated the strength of his enemy. The
cadets from the school on Russian Island
soon joined the government side The
station was pounded by artillery fire and
machine gun and rifle fire was constant.
The explosion Of one shell sent Gaida
tunbling down the steps, and he was
stunned and bruised painfully. The gov
ernment artillery was operated from the
hills, and az soon as the range was OBJ
Stained the torpedo boats in the harbor
opened fire. That night the city was
Illuminated by the bursting shells. fires
In buildings ignited by the shellfire and
tho searchlghts Of the Allied battle ships.
Tho Vladivostok Fire Department did its
duty The steel helmets OF the firemen
saved many a life by turning shrapnel.
At midnight battery of Russian artil-
lery was placed within hundred yards
Of the station. In the salvos that followed
y
pedo boats sent many more Tho havoc
TO assure the failure of the rising,
but Gaida told Allied representatives that
he would not give up, although he ad-
mitted defeat
The Allied agents in the city early an
nounced their neutrality. The Allied mill
tary council took the stand that the events
were Of a. political character and none
Of their concern. The international mill
=, St,o ~
territory outside the fighting zone, and
did important work in preventing looting
and in keeping order generally. The U.
S. S. Brooklyn and the L. S. S. New
Orleans and tho Japanese battle ship
Hizen used their searchlights in aid OF the
police.
Americans IN Rescue Work.
There were many casualties among nom
and foreigners. T. w. Row
land, of Hermosa Beach. Cal, an Ameri-
IAN sailor, was struck ny a bullet while on
the deck of the New Orleans and died soon
after. A Russian in the British Red Cross
service was struck down and killed while
ne was affixing British flag to his auto
Several Chinese and japanese labcrers
were killed One American officer saw
five civilians, one OF them girl, shot
down. The commander OF the Information
al Military Police was an American. Major
Samuel I. Johnson. and his bravery won
for him the official thanks OF the Allied
MISSIONS. Also active in keeping order in
the neutral zones were Colonel r. l..
intelligence officer OF the A.
z. F.; Major Graves, assistant chief of
staff, and Lieutenant r. V. Martinek. in
teIligence officer of the New Orleans. They
were in the streets at all hours and often
inder heavy fire.
Major johnson found himself dictator of
that large portion Of the city not domnat-
ID by either the government or the revo-
utionary troops. He had under his COM
nand a motley but formidable little army
of 1900 Allied troops including a battalion
" Japanese and two additional companies,
a company OF American infantrymen, one
of American Marines, one OF Japanese, and
wo companies Of Czechoslovaks, who re-
mained neutral. and detachments Of
French. italian and Lettish troops, as well
as the 200 special military police.
Major johnson often went to the rail-
way station TO bring out non-combatants.
and each time at great risk to his life. He
brought many women and children TO
safety. The telephone connections were
not broken. and during the night the.
military police received an appeal from
three women who were marooned at the
station. Major johnson ueysonaiiv rom