The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-04-21
REQUEST WILL BE GRANTED
APPOINTMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL
SkRYDLOFF CAUSE OF VICE.
ROY'S ACTION.
RECOMMENDATIONS IGNORED
RUSSIAN RULER PAID NO ATTEN.
TON TO ALExiEFF's sue.
GESTIONS OF LATE.

st. Petersburg, April 2O.-Viceroy
Alexieff has applied by telegraph to
the emperor to be relieved of his posi-
ton of viceroy in the far East.
1t is expected that the request will
he Immediately granted.
While no official announcement has
yet been made there is reason to be-
lleve that the above statement is cor
rect.
The Immediate cause of the viceroy's
application is reported to be the ap-
po1ntment of Vice Admiral Skrydloff,
one OF Admiral Alexieff's strongest
enemies and sharpest critics, as sue:
cessor to the late Vice Admiral Maka-
ron In command of the Russian navy
In the far East.
Vice Admiral Skrydloff had an inter-
view with the emperor Tuesday and
discussed with his majesty the ques-
tlon OF his (SArydloff's) relations with
Alexieff.
The relieving from command of
VlcerOy AleXieff would not surprise in
telllgent observers of the far Eastern
situation who are familiar with the
gradual chance in the emperor's atti-
tude toward the viceroy and M. Bezo-
braZoff, who represented the militant.
or advanced element, which was
anxious that Russia should remain in
Manchuria.
1t was to these two men that the
Anglo-Japanese entente first lost it's
terrors. They believed that Great
Britain would not go to war and that
Japan could not do so. To the indig-
nation of Japan they succeeded in
turning the policy of the empire from
carrying out the treaty for the entire
evacuation of Manchuria, pending
further demands on China.
Alexieff Rises to Power.
After Japan had submitted an in
Quiry as to whether Russia was dis
posed to reopen the negotiations re-
speeding Manchuria and Korea, a
viceroyalty in the far East, special
secretary of state and an advisory
committee were created, Alexieff be-
ing appointed viceroy and BezobrazoR
secretary of state.
Seventeen days after these appoint
ments were made, M. Witte, who had
been opposed to the policy of Alexieff
and Bezobrazoff, was relieved of his
wi IAO11S do 1AAu1SIcI VI uudIlC0.
1t was through his new official ad-
visors that the emperor conducted ne
gOtlatiOns with Japan, and it is claimed
that they misjudged the temper and
purpose Of the Japanese and left the
emperor in ignorance of the prepare
lions for war which Japan was making
and the rising war spirit of that en-
pire.
The enemies of Alexieff have per-
sistently asserted that as the man on
the spot he should have kept the en-
peror informed concerning these vital
points.
On the eve of the war Alexieff ap-
parently still had the confidence of
the car, but the lack of preparedness
OF the Port Arthur fleet, as shown in
the cases of the battleships Retvizan
and Csarevitch, called the attention
of the emperor to the slackness of the
naval administration in the far east.
The anti-Alexieff party in st. Peters,
burg held that Vice Admiral Stark,
who was the viceroy's representative,
was responsible under him for the
first reverse at Port Arthur.
Viceroy Alexieff recommended the
appointment of either Vice Admiral
Debassoff or Vice Admiral Makaroff to
command the fleet in succession to
Vice Admiral Stark. The emperor Sc
1ected Makaroff and at the same time
issued special ukase making him alb
solutely Independent. This was the
first blow publicly given to Alexieff
Second Blow Administered.
The second was the appointment of
General KurOpatkin as commander
in-chief of the army in Manchuria.
Kuropatkin sided with Count Lams-
dorff, the foreign minister, and M.
White, against the policy of Manchu-
rian annexation and stated to the
Chinese minister to Russia, Mr.. Hoo
Wei Teh, that the whole trouble origi-
mated with Alexieff
That there might be 20 doubt of
Kuropatkin's exact Jurisdiction the
emperor issued another ukase defining
it and giving the former minister of
war complete control of military opera
tons in the far East.
Officials in st. Petersburg say it
must have been evident to Alexieff
that his star had waned. He had
neither the army nor the navy under
his control, being charged merely
with the civil administration, but in
time Of war there is no civil admins.
tration or at least little.
The viceroy received the official dis.
patches from Makaroff and Kuropat-
kin, but even this last spread of his
dignity was removed when the two
commanders communicated directly
with the emperor
When the Petropavlovsk was sunk
Alexieff started from Mukden for Port
Arthur, telegraphing the emperor on
his arrival there that he had hoisted
his flag on the battleship Sevastopol
and would direct the operations of the
fleet until new commander was sent
out. It is said that no answer to this
was sent by the emperor.
Without consulting Alexieff's wishes
and without considering Vice Admiral
--~- ------.-. So