Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-20


Alexief 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 be inl-
mediately granted.
While no official announcement has
vet been made there is reason to be-
lieve that the above statement is cor
rect.
st. Petersburg. April 20.1he i'm
mediate cause of the viceroy's applica-
ton is reported TO be the appointment
of Vice Admiral Skrydloff. on. of Ad-
miral Alexieff's strongest enemies AMI
sharpest criticiser, as successor to the
late Vice Admiral Makaroff in COM
mand OF the Russian navy In the far
east.
Vice Admiral skrydloff had an inter-
view with the emperor Tuesd day and
discussed with his majesty the question
of his (Skrydloff's) relations with Alex
Jeff.
The relieving from command of Vice
roy Alexieff would not surprise intelli-
gent observers Of the far eastern situa-
ton, who are familiar with the grad
ual change in the emperor's attitude
toward the viceroy, and NJ. Be4obrazoff,
who represented the militant, or adj
vanced element, which was. anxious
that Russia should remain in Manchu
ria. 1t was to these two men that the
Anglo-Japanese entente first lost Its
terrors. They believed tfat Great
Britain would not go to war and that
Japan could not do so. To the, indigna :
ton OF Japan they succeeded in turn
ing the policy OF the empire from car
rying out the treaty for the entire
evacuation OF Manchuria, pending fur
Their demands OIL China
On August -, last, after Japan had
submitted an inquiry as to whether
Russia was. DISPOSED to reopen the ne
gotiations respecting Manchuria and
Korea, vicercyalty in the far east,
a special secretary of state and an ad
visory committee We're created.
Alexieff being appointed viceroy and
Bezobrazoff secretary of state.
Seventeen days after these appoint
ments were made, Mr.. Witte who had
been opposed to the policy OF Alexieff
and Bezobrazoff, was relieved of his
portfolio as minister of finance.
1t was through his new official ad-
visors that the emperor conducted ne
EQUATIONS With Japan, and 1t is claim
ed that they misjudged the camper and
purpose of the Japanese and left the
emperor in ignorance of the prepare
tons for war which Japan was max
ing and the rising war spirit of that
empire.
The enemies Of Alexieff have persist
emily 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 APP
parently still had the confidence OF
the car. but the lack of preparedness
of the Port Arthur fleet, as shown II
the cases of the battleships Retvizan
and Czarevitch called the attention Of
the emperor to the slackness OF the ma
val administration in the far east.
The anti-Alexieff party in st. Pet
ersburg held that Vice Admiral Stark
who was the viceroy's representative
was responsible under him for the firss
reverse at Port Arthur
yViceroy Aleisieff recommended the
appointment of either Vice Admiral
Deubassof or Vice Admiral Makaroff
to command the fleet in succession to
Vice Admiral Stark The emperor Sc
lected Maffaroff and at the same time
| issued special ukase making him alb
solutely' independents This was the
first blow publicly given to Alexieff
The second was the appointment o!
General kuropatkin as commanders in
chief of the Russian army in Man
churia. Kuropatkin sided With Count
/ Lamsdorff, the foreign mini ster, and NJ
White, against the policy of Manchur-
ian annexation and stated to the Chi
nese minister to Russia that the whole
trouble originated with Alsxieff. Tina.
there might be no Doubt Of Kuropat
kin's exact jurisdiction, the emperor is
sued another ukase defining it and gave
| the former minister of war complete
control of military operations In the far
east.
Officials irl ST. Petersburg say ii
must then have been evidlentto Alex
| Jeff that his star had waned He had
neither the army nor the navy under
his control, being charged merely with
l
of war there is no civil administration
or at least little At first the viceroy
received the official dispatches from
tMakaroff and Kuropatkin but even
this last shred of his dignity was re-
moved when the two commanders
communicated directly with the emf
peror.
When the Pstropavlovsk was sunk
! A1exieff started from Mukden for Por,
Arthur. telegraphing to the emperor
| on his arrival there that he had hoist J.
| ed his flag on the ibattleship Sewasto-
pol and would direct the operations OF
! the fleet until a new commander was
sent out. 1t is said that no answer to
this was sent by the emperor. With
out consulting Alexieff's wishes and
without considering Vice Admiral
| Deubassoff, whom he had originally
recommended the emperor telegraphed
Vice Admiral Skrydloff to proceed to
Port Arthur via st. Petersburg and as
sumo commend of the feet. It is said
that not even this fact was officially
communicated to Alexief' and he was
allowed to learn of lit through the
press dispatches. Alexiaff considered
the matter for three days, at the end
of which he is said to have reached a
decision TO apply for leave.
The Gauss of the enmity between
Alexieff and Skrydloff is was impossible
to learn last night. It is believed to be
deeper than mere difference of opin-
ion as to the policy to De pursued in
| the far east.
Skrydloff has not hesitated to talk tc