Page:The Proletarian Revolution in Russia - Lenin, Trotsky and Chicherin - ed. Louis C. Fraina (1918).djvu/31

 extension of powers to the municipality of Petrograd to enable it to control the food supply in the district. But the Duma was not disposed to tackle the problem of food. Its sessions were wasted in futile grumblings and expressions of dissatisfaction with the government. It was more interested in a military victory than in the starving people. Nothing definite was done. The "revolutionary Duma," subsequently so much eulogized, was preparing to pass, as did its predecessors, into the years of wasted opportunity.

But suddenly a change came. The proletariat forgot the Duma and turned to its own activity in mass action. On March 8 strikes were declared in several big munition factories in Petrograd. The impetus of this stirred the people into life, and food riots began anew and on a large scale. On March 9 more and more masses marched out into the streets, antagonisms developing acutely. Cossacks patrolled the streets. General Chavaloff, commander of the Petrograd district, issued a proclamation forbidding assemblages in the streets, and warning citizens that the troops had been ordered to use their arms or any other means to preserve order. On March 9 a correspondent cabled the New York Timess "A number of causes, working together, brought the crisis momentarily to a head, although I do not personally believe there can be serious trouble while the Duma is sitting. … Throughout yesterday the streets were full of people, although Petrograd is heavily patrolled by Cossacks and mounted police. The general atmosphere of excitement is like a bank holiday with thunder in the air." [My italics.]

There was thunder in the air. Military orders and Cossacks could not quell the people. More strikes were declared, the workers fraternizing with the masses in the street and stimulating events. The masses were at first timid, but the women of the working class, active and implacable in all revolutions, encouraged the masses by their aggressive attitude. These women organized the food riots; they marched boldly up to the troops, alert and intrepid, and cried out, now appealingly, now tauntingly: :You wouldn't kill us really, would you? You know all we want is food. Will you obey those who starve us?" The troops were impressed. The Cossacks, most of them young and new recruits, hesitated and were not rigorous in the execution of their orders. Clashes occured between the troops and the people, which enraged the masses and made the troops, already verging on revolt, sick of their jobs. Ob March 11 orders were issued to the troops to fire upon the populace, but only isolated detachments here and there obeyed. Soldiers and masses began to fraternize, the fetters of authority about to be snapt asunder. Practically every worker in the Petrograd district was now on strike. Then the people, spontaneously and as independent groups, began to fire upon the troops, barricades sprang up, and instead of "bread," the world revolution was on every one's tongue.

On March 12 the Revolution was definitely in action. Workers, armed and prepared for a struggle to the end, crowded out upon the streets, the unifying centre of all activity. Battles in the streets assumed formidable proportions btweenbetween [sic] the masses and the loyal troops. Then came news that five celebrated regiments had joined the revolutionists, and soon practicaly all the troops flocked to the colors of the Revolution. The centre of resistance to the masses was the police, and the battles with them were fierce and unrelenting. Women and children were in the thick of the fighting, while others scorned the flying bullets and took care of the wounded. Soldiers