The workmen and
soldiers also formed a committee, which undertook to influence the
troops now pouring into Petrograd. But the center of the revolution was
still the Duma, and crowds gathered to listen to its speeches. In the
evening Protopovo surrendered to the Russian guards, but General
Khabalov still occupied the Admiralty building with such forces as were
faithful.

On March 13th it became evident that the army in the field were
accepting the authority of the provisional government. The Duma
committee was composed mainly of men of moderate political views. They
moved slowly, fearing on the one hand the Reactionaries who still
preserved their loyalty to the Czar, and on the other hand the Council
of Labor, with its extreme views, and its influence--with the troops.
The siege of the Admiralty building was ended by the surrender of
General Khabalov. The police, however, were still keeping up a desultory
resistance, but the mob were hunting them like wild beasts. On
Wednesday, the 14th of March, the revolution was over.

The Executive Committee of the Duma and the Council of the Workmen's and
Soldiers' Delegates, now universally known as the Soviet, were working
in harmony. Every hour proclamations were issued, some of them foolish,
some of them, it is thought, inspired by German agents, and some of them
wise and patriotic. One of the most unfortunate of these proclamations
was one to the army directing that "the orders of the War Committee must
be obeyed, saving only on those occasions when they shall contravene the
orders and regulations of the labor deputies and military delegates."
This same proclamation abolished saluting for private soldiers off duty.
It was the beginning of the destruction of the Russian military power.
The proclamation of the Duma committee itself was admirable:

CITIZENS:
The Provisional Executive Committee of the Duma, with the aid and
support of the garrison of the capital and its inhabitants, has now
triumphed over the baneful forces of the old regime in such a manner as
to enable it to proceed to the more stable organization of the executive
power. With this object, the Provisional Committee will name ministers
of the first national cabinet, men whose past public activity assures
them the confidence of the country.

The new cabinet will adopt the following principles as the basis of its
policy:

1. An immediate amnesty for all political and religious offenses,
including military r