on february 24, the commander of the japanese army's people in nikolayevsk realized that there were too many enemy troops, so he allowed triapitsyn's troops to enter the town under a flag of truce. however, triapitsyn began rounding up all of his forces and deploying white army supporters, the only force cooperating, the small japanese garrison. he then demanded that the japanese garrison disarm–remove all their weapons they are holding, sure that the small japanese force would not agree with his request.