The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-20
Breach Between Himself and the Emperor Has Gradual
 y Become Too Great
NICHOLAS TOOK MATTERS
 INTO HIS OWN HANDS
Appointment of skrydloff to Succeed Makaroff Was a Direct Slap at the Far Eastern Com
 mander.

St. Petersburg, April 19.-Viceroy Alex jeff has applied by telegraph to the em- peror to be relieved of his position of viceroy in the far east. It is expected that the request will be granted.
 While no official announcement has yet be8k made there is reason to believe that the above statement Is correct
 The immediate cause of the viceroys application Is reported to be the ap- pointment of Vice Admiral Skrydloff, one of Admiral Alexieffs strongest enemies, as successor to the late Vice Admiral Makaroff In command of the Russian navy in the far east.
 Admiral Skrydioff had an interview with the emperor today and discussed with his majesty the question of his (Skrydloff' s) relations with Alexieff.
 The relieving from command of Viceroy Alexieff would not surprise intelligent ob- servers of the far eastern situation. who are familiar with the gradual change i.: the emperor's attitude toward the viceroy. and M. Bezobrasoff. who represented the militant or advanced element which was
 
 Manchuria. It 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 indignation of Jaran they succeeded in turning the pol icy of the empire from carrying cut the treaty for the entire evacuation of Man churia, pending further demands on China.
 viceroyalty Was Created.
 On August 12 last after Japan had sub mitted an inquiry as to whether Rus sia was disposed to reopen the negotia- tions respecting Manchunia' and Korea. a yiceroyalty in the far east special sec retary of state and an advisory commit tee were created. Alexieff being appoint ed viceroy and Bezobrasof secretary of state.
 Seventeen days after these appoint ments were made. M. Witte who nad been opposed to the policy of Alexier and Bezobrazof was relieved Of ms port folio as minister of finance.
 If was through his new official advis- ors that the emperor conducted negotia- tions with Japan and 1t Is claimed that they misiudged the temper and purpose of the Japanese and left the emperor m ignorance of the preparation Tor war which Japan was making ana the rlsins war spirit in that empire.
 The enemies of Alexieff have persist entIy asserted that as the man on the spot, he should have kept the emperor informed concerning these vital points.
 On the eve of the war Alexieff appar- entlv still had the confidence Of the czar. but the lack of preparation of the Fort Arthur fleet as shown in the cases or the
 nd ed inc attention of the emperor to the slackness of the naval administration in the far east.
 ResponsIbIe for First Reverse.
 The anti-Alexieff party in St. Petersburg hald that Vice Admiral Stark, who was inc viceroys representative. was respon- sinle under him for the. first reverse at Port Arthur.
 vicerov Alexieff recommended the ap- nointment of either Vice Admiral Doub- rassoff or Vice Admiral Makaron to com mand the fleet in succession to Admiral stark. The emperor selected Makaron and at the time issued special orders mak- ing him independent. This was the first blow publicly given to Alexieff. The sec ond was the appointment of General ku- ronatkin as commander-in-c chief of the army in Manchuria. Kuropatkin sided with Count Lansdorff. the foreign minis fer. and M Witte against the policy or Manchurian annexation, and stated to the 1-h,nese minister to Russia, Mir Hoo Wei Teh. that the whole trouble originated with Alexieff.
 That there might be no doubt of Kuro- patkin's exact jurisdiction, the emperor issued another order placing the former minister of war in complete control or military operations in the far east.
 Officials in St. Petersburg say 1t must tn his star had waned. He had neither the army nor the navy under his control, be- ing charged merely with the civil admin istration, but in time of war there Is no civil administration or very little.
 Emperor Takes Hand.
 When the Petropavlovsk was sunk Alexieff started from Mukden for Port Arthur telegraphing to the emperor on his arrival there that he had hoisted his flag on he battleship Savastopol and would direct the operations of the fleet ,ntil A new commander was sent IL Is said that no answer to this was sent by the emperor. Without consulting Alex ieffs wishes and without considering Vice Admiral Doubrassoff. whom he had originally recommended the emperor tel egraphed Vice Admiral Skrydoff to pro ceed to Port Arthur via St. Petersburg and assume command of the fleet. It is said that not even this fact was of- 'ficially communicated to Alexieff and he was allowed to learn of 1t through the press dispatches. Alexieff considered the matter for three days. at the end of which he is said to have reached a de- cision to apply for leave.
 The cause of the enmity between Alex jeff and Skrydloff, 1t is impossible to learn tonight. It is believed to be deep CT than a mere difference of opinion as to the policy to be pursued in the far