The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-23

' IT Ia hAAAhhh atsfstN~"'+-
Ion. che OF Admiral Alexief's strong
est enemies and sharpest critics as
successor 90 the late Vice Admiral
Makaroa IN command Of the Russian
navy I'm the Far East
Vice Admiral Skrydloff had an inter
view with the emperor and discussed
with his majesty the question OF his
(Skrydlon's) relations with Admiral
AleNien.
The relieving from command Of
vicerol AlexieG would not surprise in
tellieent observers Of the Far Eastern
situation who are familiar with the
gradual change i'm the emperors atti-
tude toward the yiceroy and NJ. Bezo-
brazon. who represented the militant.
or . lvanced. element which was anx-
lous that Russia should remain in Man
CT ria. n was lo these two men that
tie Anglo-Japaucse entente first lost
It's tefrors They believed that Great
Britain would not go 10 war and that
Japan could not DO SO To the indig-
nation of Japan. they succeeded In
turning the policy of the empire from
carving ont the treaty for the entire
evacuation OF Manchuria. pending
further demands on China. on August
70 last. after Japan had submitted an
inquiry as 10 whether Russia was dis
posed 10 reopen the negotiations re-
specting Manchura and Korea. a vice
ROYALTY I'm the Far East, a special sec
retarv OF state and an advisory com
mittee were created AleXien being APP
pointed vlceroy and BezObrazoG sec
rotary or state.
Seventeen days after these appoint.
ments were made ~ White. who had
been opposed 10 the policy Of AleXieff
and Bezobrazon. was relieved Of his
portfolio as minister of finance
II was through his new official ad-
visors that the emperor conducted ne
gotiations with Japan. and II Is claimed
that they misiudged the temper and
purpose Of the japanese and left the
emperor I'm ignorance Of the prepara-
tions for war which Japan was max
ing and the rising war spirit OF that
empire.
The enemies Of Aleyielf have per
sistently asserted that as the man on
the spot. he should have kept the EN-
peror informed concerning these vital
points
Yiceroy Alexief recommended the
appointment of either Vice Admiral
Deubassof or Vice Admiral Makaroff
10 command the fleet in succession to
Vice Admiral Stark The emperor Sc
lected Makaroff, and at the same time
issued special ukase making him abb
solutely independent.
This was the first blow publicly
given to AleXieff. The second was the
appointment OF General KurOpatkin as
commander.ln.chief of the army in
Manchuria. Kuropathin sided with
Count Lamslorff. the foreign minister
and NJ. White against the policy of
Manchurian annexation, and stated to
the Chinese minister to Russia, Mr..
Hoo Wei Teh, that the whole trouble
originated with Alexieff That there
might be no doubt or hurOpatkln eX-
act Jurisdiction. the emperor issued an
other ukase defining it, and gave the
former minister of war complete con-
troll of military operations in the Far
East.
II is said that Vice Admiral Skryd-
loft in his interview let HIS majesty
understand that he does not care TO
assume command of the feet until
Alexieff has withdrawn. Therefore the
two men will not meet at Port Ar
thur.
Viceroy Alexieff IS expected to come
directly to St. Petersburg and MS
friends hore that he will be elevated
To the council of tie empire. BY his
from the Far Feast he VIII
not only lose the dignifed position OF
lirect representative of the emperor,
but the salary of $4,000 and an allow.
lnce of $4,000 per annum.
When Alexieff sewers his connection
With the Far Eastern question, none
IF the men responsible for the policy
pursued before the war will be in
power. VI. Bezobrazoff having already
ost the confidence of his majesty, and
he advisory committees duties at
present being purely perfunctory.