The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-20

e. Petersburg. April 19.-Viceroy
,Alaxieff has applied by telegraph to
tha Emperor to be relieved of his po-
sition as viceroy in the Far East.
# is expected that the request will
be Immediately granted.
While no official announcement mas
vet been made, there is reason to be-
lieve that the above statement is cor
rect.
It is not expected that a successor
n Viceroy Alexieff will be appointed
as the importance of the post OF vice
roy has disappeared.
The Immediate cause of the viceroy
application is reported to be the APP
pointment of Vice Admiral Skrydloff,
one of Admiral Alexieff's strongest
enemies and sharpest critics, as sue
cessor to the late Vice Admiral Max
aroff in command of the Russian navy
in the Far East.
Vice Admiral Skrydloff had an in
terview with the Emperor to-day and
discussed with his majesty the ques-
tion of his (Skrydloff's) relations with
Alexieff.
His Policy at Fault.
The relieving from command of Vice
Admiral Alexieff would not surprise in
telligent observers of the Far Eastern
situation, who are familiar with the
gradual change in the Emperor's atti-
tude toward the Viceroy and M. Bez-
obrazoff, 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 its terrors They believed that
Great Britain would not go to war and
that Japan could not do so. To the in
dignatiOn of Japan they succeeded in
turning the policy of the empire from
carrying out the treaty for the entire
evacuation of Manchuria, pending fur
ther demands on China.
On Aug. u last. after Japan had
submitted an inquiry as to whether
Russia was disposed to reopen nego-
tiations respecting Manchuria and Ko-
rea, viceroyalty in the Far East,
special secretary of state and an adj
visory committee were created, Alex
left being appointed Viceroy and Bez-
ohrazoff 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
portfolio as Minister of Finance.
IL was through his new official ad
Nlsors that the Emperor conducted ne
EQUATIONS with Japan, and it is claimed
that they misjudged the temper and
purpose of the Japanese and left the
emperor in ignorance of the prepara-
tons for war which Japan was making
Elre.
me enemies of Alexieff have persist
sNlly asserted that as the man on the
epol ne should have kept the Emperor
Horned concerning these vital points.
Was Not Prepared.
IN the eve of the war Alexieff ap-
SeTently still had the confidence of
t4l1 Ear. but the lack of preparedness
~ NE Port Arthur fleet, as shown in
e,'7 cases of the battleships Retvizan
SHdreVltch, called the attention of
e.ie hnpenor to the slackness of the
dIaI administration in the Far East.
tNeXlefts position was still further
-. % %Nehed by the appointment of Maka-
~ iou and Kuropatkin as independent
Ainanders of the navy and army in
'-g Far East. This left Alexieff with
tTC uiiuei ms O0li
ne cause of the enmity between
teigNleH - and Skrydloff it is impossible
a. earn tonight. 1t is believed to be
per than a mere difference in the
slyy 20 be pursued in the Far East.
- H' yaioif has not hesitated in talking
lis friends to charge Alexieff with
pSp'oansibility b. for the disasters to the
''.c SQUADRON, by his division of
or Meet. which segregated four arm
~ cruisers at Vladivostok and sta
t'r.i'eu the Variag and Korietz at
roigII ulno. 1t is stated that Vice Ad-
ia skrydloff, in his interview to-
he let MS majesty understand that
Of ices not care to assume Command
6r.',.e me fleet until Alexieff has with
no, wh' Therefore, the two men will
meet at Port Arthur,