Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1906, (In two parts), Part II
Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State .
St. Petersburg , January 5, 1906 .
Sir: I beg leave to inclose copy of a report from the American consul in Moscow, giving in detail an interesting and daily account of the disturbances from December 20 to 31, inclusive, a brief digest of which I gave in my cable of to-day.
I have, etc.,
Consul Smith to Ambassador Meyer .
Moscow , January 2, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to report to you regarding the riots which took place in Moscow, commencing the 20th and continuing until the 31st of December, giving each day separately:
December 20.—At 12 o’clock noon a general political strike was ordered by the deputies of the workmen and it was resolved to turn the strike into an armed revolution to upset the present existing Government, to attack and arrest the officials and proclaim a temporary government, and to call an assembly to elect representatives. It was recommended at the meeting of the workmen that no demonstration should be made until all were armed and to withhold from attacking the military forces.
At 12 o’clock the strike commenced and all works, mills, and factories stopped work and the strikers congregated at different parts of the city and marched around to every manufacturing establishment and made the workmen join the strikers. All workmen in the employ of the Moscow municipality joined the strikers, excepting the workmen of the city water and gas works, who were allowed to continue to work.
The strikers held a meeting at the large printing establishment of Sitin & Company and decided to issue a newspaper called “News of the Union of Russian Deputies.” This paper was published for seven days and contained proclamations to the workmen, orders to the chiefs of the several revolutionary militia forces, reports about meetings held by the different unions, and reports about progress of the strike.
Revolutionary militia forces were formed in large numbers and ordered to parade the streets, carrying red flags and singing the Marseillaise anthem. The chief of police ordered out at once the dragoons and cossacks to disperse the mob, but as soon as one mob would be dispersed another would gather in another part of the city. In these charges of the cavalry several were wounded and killed. Toward evening the policemen were ordered off their posts and replaced by soldiers armed with guns and bayonets.
[Page 1276]All the railways stopped operations with the exception of the Nicolai Railway, and the workmen joined the strikers. All restaurants, club houses, theaters, and other amusement places were closed for an indefinite time.
The same evening a mass meeting was held at the theater in the city, called the “Aquarium,” where nearly 10,000 men congregated and while the meeting was in progress a cordon of cavalry and infantry were ordered to the place and surrounded the same. The strikers were, however, informed in time of this movement and made good their escape by climbing over the fences of the adjoining houses and only 70 men were arrested. At this meeting it was resolved to capture the governor-general at any cost.
December 21.—Life in the city seemed to be extinct, as all business offices, stores, and banks were closed, no newspapers came out, the schools were closed and the post and telegraph offices worked, but only in a confused state until approximately 2 p.m. Several leading delegates of the workmen committee were arrested this day.
December 22.—A meeting of the revolutionary party, consisting of about 500 men, took place in Mr. Fielder’s house, located on Lebkevsky Péréoulok. The police ordered the revolutionists to leave the building and to surrender, but they refused, and military force, consisting of cavalry and artillery, were ordered to the place. The revolutionists were given two hours to do so, but they refused, fired at the military forces and threw several bombs into the street. Then the artillery opened fire on the house and bombarded same by shells. The casualties were, two officers and several soldiers killed and a number wounded, several of the revolutionary party were killed and a great many wounded, and 120 of them arrested. The police confiscated a large quantity of rifles, revolvers, knives, and 13 bombs.
During the night the revolutionists commenced to construct barricades in different parts of the city, from all sorts of rubbish, using wooden and iron gates, bricks, and cutting down telegraph and lamp posts and using the telegraph and electric light wires for making all kind of entanglements to stop the quick movement of the cavalry.
December 23.—During the night of this date two bombs were thrown into the detective department, a tremendous explosion took place, and the building was almost demolished. A sergeant of the police, one policeman, and one soldier were killed. Barricades were again constructed in several parts of the city, but soon destroyed by the soldiers. The revolutionary committee issued a proclamation in their paper, prohibiting citizens to be on the street after 6 o’clock in the evening, and ordering the cab drivers to retire after 2 p.m. Three gun stores were ransacked and all the guns and ammunition carried off by the revolutionists. Several skirmishes took place between the revolutionary militia and the military forces.
December 24.—Barricades were continually built during days and nights. The revolutionists were in hope that about 20,000 or 30,000 workmen from the factories in the suburbs would enter the city and join them, but this was not accomplished, as the military forces were sufficient to prevent this.
The revolutionists spread a rumor amongst the workmen that the soldiers were in sympathy with the strikers and that they would not fire on the mob and would join their ranks, but this rumor turned out to be untrue as the troops were loyal to the Government. They also circulated another rumor to the effect that a large party of revolutionists from the Baltic provinces was on the way to Moscow, all well armed with guns and cannon, but this also turned out to be untrue.
A squad of gendarmes were ordered to destroy the barricades on the Sadovaia street and Karetni Riad, and while at work in demolishing the barricades was attacked by 400 armed revolutionists, who demanded the gendarmes to surrender, and when they refused fired on them and wounded all but one. Such attacks were made on the military forces in different parts of the city. Late at night the Nicolai Railway station was attacked by a large number of revolutionists, but the military forces dispersed them by using Maxim quick-firing guns, field guns, and making cavalry charges.
By order of the police authorities all local telephone communication was stopped. My telephone was kept intact, but was only to be used for official business.
December 25.—One of the largest printing establishments was taken possession of by the revolutionists for the purpose of holding meetings, and to issue from there orders to their detachments for further attacks on the authorities. The soldiers were ordered to surround the building, which was accomplished, but [Page 1277] the strikers set the house on fire, by which means the larger number of the strikers made their escape during the commotion and conflagration. The balance was either killed or wounded. Fighting between the troops and strikers was kept up continually in different parts of the city.
December 26.—The revolutionists had posters put up on prominent places with instructions for the strikers to go around in small squads and to fire on the troops whenever they had a chance, also to disarm all policemen, officers, and soldiers and to arrest them when that could be done. To conceal themselves around corners of streets and take refuge in yards and houses, and to fire from there on the troops at every opportunity. An attack was made by a large number of strikers on an incoming military train with troops returning from Manchuria, and all the officers and soldiers were disarmed. Fighting was kept up all day in different parts of the city and many were wounded and killed. The troops used cannons in destroying the barricades and firing on several houses which were occupied by the revolutionists. Many policemen were killed while standing in their posts.
December 27.—At 6 o’clock p.m. the house where the chief of the secret police, Mr. Voilochelnkoff, resides, was surrounded by a revolutionary party and by their insistent demands the front door was opened. Six men rushed into his apartments and arrested the chief, and read the death sentence of the revolutionary party to him. His wife and three children pleaded to the revolutionists for mercy, but the revolutionists would not listen to their pleading, and allowed Mr. Voilochenkoff a short time to prepare for death and then took him out into a side street where he was shot to death, and his body left in the street.
Disturbances and shooting were carried on in the different parts of the city, and new barricades erected.
December 28.—A feeling of dissatisfaction spread among the strikers, and quite a number desired to return to work and gradually resumed work at different works and mills.
The Semenoff Guard Regiment and artillery arrived from St. Petersburg and was temporarily put under command of General Michenko, who had just arrived from Manchuria. The general at once gave severe orders to the military garrison, and the soldiers did excellent service and put terror amongst the revolutionists and mobs. All the policemen were given rifles, which had a good effect on the mobs. Barricades commenced to disappear in the central streets of Moscow.
December 29.—Shooting was going on as usual in all parts of the city, but not so much as before. The city is overrun with tramps and peasants, who are mostly begging and holding up people for the purpose of robbing them. Houses in places where people have deserted their homes and where disturbances took place are being robbed.
The revolutionists removed their headquarters to the outskirts of the city and commenced to build new barricades and to take possession of houses from where they could do damage to the troops when attacked.
December 30.—The governor-general increased the staff of policemen by 1,000 men.
The stores and business offices commenced to open, but closed at 4 p.m. The stock exchange opened, but hardly any business was transacted as everything is paralyzed by the riots; the Nicolai station is still under the command of military forces. No one is allowed near the station excepting persons showing railway tickets and baggage. It was dangerous for any one to venture to reach the station and only for the last few days traffic is noticeable in the neighborhood of the station. Shooting was continued on the outskirts of the city.
December 31.—The troops bombarded the large Prochoroff spinning mills, where a large number of revolutionists made their last stand. Many houses in the vicinity of the mill were either burnt down or wrecked by cannon balls. Many of the revolutionists and strikers were killed, wounded, or captured and the weapons confiscated. The general strike has been called off.
The governor-general issued several proclamations to the people asking all peaceable citizens to assist him in subduing the disturbances.
Moscow is under a strict state of siege. No one is allowed to carry any weapons. Many are being searched, and when weapons are found on them are arrested and the weapons confiscated. Everyone who is on the streets after 9 p.m. is being searched, and nobody is allowed out after 9 p.m. The proprietors of houses out of which shots are being fired are liable to a fine up to 3,000 rubles. The proprietors are also asked to search every tenant that they have suspicion of having arms.
[Page 1278]Mr. Thomas Purdy, of New York Air-Brake Company, referred to me and requested me to make appeal for military protection for their works at Lubertzy station, on the Moscow-Kazan Railway, which I did, and the governor sent a squad of Cossacks to the works.
Most of the post-office employees are going back to work. The higher ranks of post-office employees, I understand, are not accepted back. Letter carriers are expected to deliver the mails in a day or so. The mail at the post-office is in a great disorderly condition, and no late mail expected to be received soon, as only the mail bags that were received in Moscow about a month ago are being opened now.
The telegraphic office does not as yet receive any private telegrams; official telegrams only are accepted.
The long-distance service was interrupted for several days, the wires having been cut between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
I have been informed that on many railways the freight cars were broken open and a large quantity of merchandise stolen.
The railways are gradually commencing operations, as the employees are going back to work.
At the present moment it is quite impossible to state correctly how many were killed and wounded during the riots, but there should be approximately 1,000 killed and 3,000 wounded from both sides.
The city telegraph system is completely wrecked, as all the poles were cut down and the wires used in barricading the streets. Many of the electric tram cars and horse cars were also used for barricades, and it will take several months to put everything in proper order.
All newspapers and periodicals stopped printing from the 20th to the 31st of December.
I am, etc.,