In the same session of the Council, in the presence of Semosenko and Kiverchuk, it was voted that the guard of the city should be entrusted to the aviation corps, with the commander of which Verkhola had succeeded in speaking previously. Verkhola himself was appointed supervisor of this guard. Losing no time, he sent the following proclamation to a printing shop to be printed: "On the Ataman's orders and with his consent, expressed in the council, the massacre of the peaceful population is terminated. The Cossacks are ordered out of town. The guard of the city is entrusted to the aviation corps, and the council guarantees complete security to the inhabitants. Normal conditions of life should be re-established. Order has been issued to shoot all who are caught in the act of looting, and likewise Cossacks who appear in the city after 6 P.M." When this order was set up, Verkhola took the proof of it to the commandant's to get permission to have it pasted up around town. But there he was arrested, because Semosenko and Kiverchuk found that he had no right to issue such a proclamation, which furthermore was couched in improper language. By Semosenko's orders Verkhola was to be taken to the station for trial — which, in reality, meant to be shot. But the mayor Sikora and members of the Ukrainian national union, who came to the commandant's and found out about what had happened, declared to Semosenko and Kiverchuk that to deal
UKRAINE
so with Verkhola would call forth violent revenge from many Ukrainian organizations, which knew him well. Finally Semosenko ordered an investigation of Verkhola, and he was immediately released.
Instead of the proclamation which Verkhola intended to issue, Semosenko issued an order in which he declared Proskurov and the canton under martial law, and forbade any movement in the streets after 7 P.M. In this order he writes, among other things: "I warn the population to stop anarchistic revolts, since I have the power to suppress them. I call the attention of the Jews in particular to this. You are a people hated by all nations. And yet you bring such confusion among the baptized. Do you really not want to live? Are you not sorry for your own people? As long as no one bothers you, be quiet. Such a miserable nation, and yet they cause so much disturbance among a poor people." Further on in the same order Semosenko demands that all shops, stores, and places of business should at once begin to function. He also orders that in three days' time all shop-signs be translated into Ukrainian, "that I may not see a single Muscovite sign." The signs must be inscribed in good style; pasting on of letters is strictly forbidden. Persons guilty in this regard will be delivered over to courtmartial.
On the same day another proclamation was issued, in which Semosenko writes that "In the night of the 14th of February, some unknown, dishonorable, conscienceless persons raised an insurrection against the existing regime. According to information at hand, these persons belonged to the Jewish nation, and intended to take the power into their own hands, in order to produce confusion in the affairs of state and to bring Ukraine, which has suffered so much, to anarchy and disorder. Most decisive measures were taken to suppress the revolt. It is possible that among the victims were many innocent persons, since nothing can be done without mistakes. But their blood must fall as a curse upon those who showed themselves provocators and adventurists." On the next day another proclamation was issued, in which Semosenko writes that the sad fact is established that at the time of the bolshevist uprising of the fourteenth and fifteenth of February the local garrison supported the bolsheviki; that the soldiers of that garrison went over openly to their side. Therefore he declares the 15th Bielgorod regiment and the 8th Podolia disbanded. For -the purpose of taking from them their property and documents he appoints representatives of the 3rd Gaidamak regiment and a commission from
PROSKUROV:
the "beyond-the-rapids" brigade. (All these proclamations published; see p. 3.)
As is evident from Verkhola's testimony, as well as from that of other witnesses, the murders continued during the course of three days. But after the session of the municipal council, mass slaughter was terminated. However, all day Sunday and likewise Monday, there were numerous cases of isolated murders of Jews, both in houses and on the streets. Massacres of Jews also took place in neighboring villages, into which the Gaidamaks penetrated either at their own discretion or upon invitation of the peasants. The Jews cast about in all directions, seeking escape from the situation. Most of all they placed their hopes on Verkhola.