This newspaper published in her edition that day several telegrams dealing with the mutiny at Kronstadt.(1)
St. Petersburg, 10 November. The martial law in Kronstadt was announced. Sjipof who was asked to become part as general controller in the cabinet of Witte refused.
St. Petersburg, 10 November. The press agency reported that the rumours abroad that there were new revolts in Kronstadt were nonsense. The situation was now ‘calm’.
Kronstadt, 10 November. The revolt was suppressed and the rebels arrested. Thousands loyal soldiers were sent in the mean time to the city to prevent a further increase of the mutiny. According to estimations were 100 men killed and several hundreds wounded.
St. Petersburg, 10 November. All crews of the ships at Kronstadt were involved in the mutiny and rifles fire could be heard for more as 12 hours. The most of the several thousands of mutineers were drunken. Sailors prevented the putting out of the fires which broke out during the night of 7-8 November. Yesterday afternoon became the situation more calm when the mutineers were divided over several parties and in which the party for peace became the most important. The sailors circulated a manifest to stop with the mutiny. Yesterday evening marched thousands of sailors with a white flag through the streets in which at some points machineguns were prepared.
Berlin, 10 November. Russian naval officers returning from Kronstadt at St. Petersburg said that the Russian government requested the German and French warships anchored off Kronstadt to act against the mutineers. It was doubted if this request was granted. The heavy fire could be heard in St. Petersburg just like men could see around 30 enormous fires in Kronstadt where the naval depot was partly in fire. According to one rumour was the mutiny started when the sailors asked for permission to smoke, to live outside the barracks, shortening their service and so on. According to another rumour started the mutiny when a steamship arrived from St. Petersburg with on board 125 sailors who were involved in the latest uprising in St. Petersburg and sent to the prison in Kronstadt. The prisoners started underway to mutiny and appeared with red flags in Kronstadt where they were within short time joined by the artillery troops and sailors. Officers who tried to prevent the revolt were killed while liquid stores and public houses were plundered. Several debauched wives increased the tumult which ended in murdering and setting fire to several buildings. Two regiments infantry sent from St. Petersburg and the quick firing guns of the guard succeeded within a few hours to restore partly the calmness and with as result hundreds of dead and wounded. The main reason which caused the end of the mutiny was lacking ammunition by the rebels who didn’t succeed in entering the naval arsenal and finally broke their riffles half and throwing the remains in the waters just defending themselves by throwing stones. The authorities still feared a new outbreak of the riots.
Note
1. The war between Russia and Japan was just ended (8 February 1904-5 September 1905) which ended desastrous for Russia with a large number of lost warships and killed sailors.
