Nobles, which represents
the landed aristocracy.

But with the nobility, much of the bureaucracy, the army, the navy,
the Duma, the professional classes, and the working classes all ranged
against them, the "dark forces" of the empire held obstinately on their
way. The murder of the court favorite, the infamous monk Rasputin,
only intensified the reaction, though its story and sequel showed
significantly how far many members of the Imperial family were from
supporting the reigning head and his consort in the policy which was
jeopardizing the dynasty. But the Czar's political blindness was
incurable. In a kind of panic he got rid of every remaining progressive
minister; a nonentity of no importance from the Czar's personal circle
was made prime minister, and the real power fell to Protopopoff, the
strong man of the "dark forces," who was to see their designs through,
but was the first victim of the popular uprising. As minister of the
interior he defied all Russia, precipitated the revolution, and in his
violent death the career of the "dark forces" in Russia was ended, no
doubt for all time.

UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE.

On February 1 Germany entered upon unrestricted submarine warfare, a
last resort of desperation. Ten ships were reported sunk and eight lives
lost that day. Neutral vessels and belligerents were destroyed without
discrimination, and in the first six days the tonnage of the vessels
sunk by German U-boats was 86, tons, including 45 ships of all
nationalities. The British liner California, formerly of the Anchor
Line, was torpedoed on the seventh day, and sank with a loss of 100
lives. Transatlantic ships were held in New York and other eastern
ports, pending instructions from the Government as to sailing in the
face of the German warning, against which President Wilson had strongly
protested.

RELATIONS WITH GERMANY SEVERED.

Diplomatic relations were broken with Germany on February 2,
when President Wilson appeared before a joint session of Congress and
announced that the German Ambassador, Count von Bernstorff, had been
given his passports, and that Ambassador Gerard had been recalled from
Berlin. War with Germany was then believed to be only a matter of hours,
awaiting the first German overt act. The reserve force of the Atlantic
Fleet was ordered to make ready for immediate service. But the hour had
not yet struck for war.

INTERNED SHIPS DAMAGED BY GERMANS.

Examination of a number of