Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-29
Eastern Situation Has Already
Produced a Man of Destiny
In Russian VicerOy.
VICE ADMIRAL ALEXLlEfF.
Who Rose from Humble Rank Unaidcd
BY Family or Fortune TO Post
Second TO Gar.
speclal Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
PekIn, DeC. 29.-The eastern stua-
ton seems TO have produced already n
man Of destiny In the person OF Vice
Admiral Alexeien. Russian vlceroy Of
the far east, communicative OF the
Russian forces on land and on sea and
Pooh Bah OF Manchuria. Whether II be
war or peace, he is fated to be q maker
Of history. Formerly aid-de-camp gem
eral to the car, he is now a car HIM
self. within the wide limits OF his Ju-
risdIctiOn he Is supreme He Is the only
Russian yiceroy and Is responsible TO
the Czar alone.
Vice Admiral AleXeieff has risen 60
his present emnence from obscurlty
without the aid of fortune or family In
nuence, His remarkable advancement
should be Of especial interest to Amerl-
cans since II was in that country that
he laid his first claim TO consideration.
He had landed I'm San Francisco IN
1875 a navy lieutenant from a tour Of
sea duty along the then almost unpopu-
lated shores OF Siberia. The air was
full Of rumors Of war between Russia
and England Hostities seemed inoN-
table. II was a time when few UNDER
officers would have dared address the
minister OF the navy even by cable eX-
cept to ask for orders. But AleXeieff
cabled to the ministry for power to buy
IN American commerce destrOyers. The
answer came that his idea was regard
ed with approval, but that the time
was too short, lie persisted I'm his re-
quest and was given the power he
asked, As he rushed across the conti-
nent he bought fast ships by telegraph,
Three days after his arrival In Phila-
dclphia he was able 10 inform the min
lister Of the navy that he had six ships
ready to sail and two others would be
ready within four days.
The war cloud blew over, and Alex
eiff was ordered to sell his ships, but
his capacity and activity were not for
gotten, When he returned to ST. PEE
tersburg he was given a ship, with the
rank of captain. I'm three years he
was an admiral Seven years ago
came his chance in the FAR east, Or
dered to the Aslatlc station, he built
up the great naval centers. Port Ar
thur and NladivostOck, and DaIny the
habitants arrived. was also his creation.
by diplomacy and by force he extended
Russia's sphere Of influence until Man
churIa had been practically absorbed
into the empire,
when the Boxer rebellion broke out
Alexelen dropped his administrative
duties for those OF the field. He led the
attack on the Taku forts and relieved
tut a. IVittgh Admiral
Seymour. He was for a time COM
mander Of the allied forces. The war
over he continued his work at Port
Arthur Dalny and Nladivostock with
such success that the car has con-
ferred on him distinctions and powers
no other Russian outside the imperial
family has ever enjoyed.
Many predicted that AleXeieft's ele-
walton meant war with japan. The
new vicerOy has, however, done more
% avert such Il war than any other
man could have done without aban-
doning Russias fixed policy regarding
northern China. He does not want
war, but he will fight II necessary
with the same vgor with which he
does everything else,
He has already prevented one war
In the spring Of 1895, when Russia de-
manded Of Japan the evacuation Of the
Lautong peninsula, there was mo-
ment when war seemed certain. The
time set IN Russia's ultimatum had ey-
PRED, Russian and japanese men.of-
war confronted each other In the har.
Dor Of Chefu IN battle array The frcn-
~ of fighting possessed the officers and
men Of both fleets, Tyrtoft, Alexeieffs
fellow admiral wanted to begin the
fight, but AleXeieff insisted on final
delay Of "a hours one hour before that
time was up word came that Japan
had yielded.
Alexeied IL man Of magnificent
physique. He Is six feet tall and broad
shoulderCG IN proportion His health
Is perfect Though SO many years Of
his life have been spent on the frontier,
ne is thoroughly cosmopolitan and Is
wen known at Nice and on the Riviera
and In most continental capitals
CHARLES DAVIS ANDERSON