It became evident that the situation was becoming
serious, yet we all felt that the Government could handle it. When I went
out on the street Monday morning, the first thing I saw was the placard
of the military commander announcing that unless the workmen went to the
shops, they would be sent to the front the following day. Groups of people
were talking excitedly and from them I learned that the Volynski regiment
had revolted and had killed its officers, because the day before they had
commanded the soldiers to shoot on the people. It seems that the soldiers
returned home much excited over their deed and full of remorse. In the
course of the night some of the revolutionary soldiers from the city
upbraided them and they were greatly incensed with their officers and the
Government. They, as well as other regiments, were particularly worked up
over the report that hirelings of the secret police dressed in soldiers'
uniforms went about firing on the crowd and that the new recruits, under
penalty of death, were commanded to shoot on the people in the streets.
When in the morning the officers congratulated the men on their deed of
yesterday, they jumped on them and murdered them. I heard that other
regiments had also revolted; but there were so many rumors afloat that
it was not easy to know what to believe. About four in the afternoon,
I started for home and found the Nevski full of frightened and nervous
people, and hardly any soldiers.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78