The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-05-08
By ANDRE MARTY (Paris).

! Edwards instruction. In spite
of strict censorship being exercised
by the government, the warships
which returned to France one after
the other brought detailed news of
the Russian revolution and of the
mutinies. A new phase was then
entered upon. 1t was no longer a
case of revolts, attempts were made
to bring about instruction. Almost
everywhere, sailors committees
were formed spontaneously which
worked more or less secretly and
were connected with revolutionary
labor groups. The first prepara-
tons for instruction were made.
Agitation developed with particu-
lar strength in Toulon. In spite Of
the condition of siege being declared
in that town, the sailors tried to
meet in the Sailors Home and, find
ing it closed, held meeting on an
open place in the town. Lacaze,
vice-admiral, was obliged to flee
from them. On June 18th, dread
nought of the name of provence"
refused to put to sea and to set out
to the Black Sea. The following de-
mands were raised: All mutineers
of the Black Sea should be set free!
An end should be put to interview
ton with Russia! Immediate demo-
bilization!-A sailors committee
tried to transform itself into re-
volutionary committee by endeavor-
ing to expand with the help of SOL
diers and dock workers. Mounted
gendarmes and cavalry took steps
to dispense the demonstrators and,
above all, to prevent them storming
the naval prison. The sailors, being
unarmed, were overpowered.
Scenes of similar vehemence also
occurred in Brest and, to a lesser
degree, in the other ports. On June
10Th, the armed cruiser "Voltaire"
refused to leave Bizerta and to sail
! for the Black Sea. On other war
ships also, reports received on
events in Russia occasioned great
demonstrations, not only in France
but also in very remote places, for
instance in Itea (Greece) where the
cruiser "Guichen" was at anchor and
on board the cruiser "D'Estrees" in
Vladivostok.
Trials of Rebels.
The government only succeeded in
checking this mighty movement by
organizing a mass rehabilitation
and the rapid disarming of numer-
Gus men-of-war.
In the meantime, the trials of the
mutineers had begun on June 18th
in Constantinople and Cattaro
against the mutineers of the "Pro-
tet" and of the "Waldeck- Rousseau"
The response was such, that the
first trial had to be postponed to
July 4th and that the government,
in order to proceed with the other
trials, had to wait until demobiliza-
ton was sufficiently advanced (Sep-
tember). Many of the accused show
ed great firmness of character dur
ing the trials.
Characteristic Features of Revolt.
Two specially characteristic fea-
tuers of the revolt can be clearly
distinguished:
1.-The overwhelming majority of
the soldiers and sailors was still
under democratic influence. This be-
came particularly evident in the first
two phases of the revolt. The sailors
and soldiers revolted above all be-
cause they were indignant at war
being carried on against Russia, al
though France was not at war"
with that country, war being there
fore against the constitution.
These were the chief arguments
which the mutineers used in their
defense before the court martial.
Some of them also pointed out that
the French revolution of 1889 had
proclaimed tho right to instruction
in cases Of infringement of the con-
stitution.
! Only a small number of the lead