The San Francisco call., 1904-02-18
CAREER OF ALEXIEFF.
REPRESENTATIVE OF
GAR IN FAR EAST

Eugene Alexien. admiral Of the Rus
sian navy and the Cars representative
IN the Orient, IS about sixty years Of
age. Heavy in build. broad shouldered,
full bearded and six feet tall, in all the
confidence Of well preserved and robust
manhood and the full favor Of his au
gust master, the "autocrat Of all the
Russies.' he is certainly a striking
figure on the Far Eastern warscape.
Though trained for the sea the vice
Car is an "all-round man." as the
saying is-strategist on land as well as
by sea, courtier, diplomat, hnancier,
business man and engineer, in fact few
men combine IN one body more widely
trained and eminent qualities. He be-
gan his career as a sailor and after
some years service. cruising in the
Mediterranean, was made a lieutenant.
The next four years were largely spent
exploring the Arctic shores Of Siberia.
on the expiration Of this service
Alexien returned home by way of San
Francisco, stopping over for some
weeks at Long Branch, then the fash
iona ble American summer resort, and
of which he is to this day fond Of talk
ing. on his trip through the United
States he made good standing with his
home Government by certain sugges-
tions and action looking TO a then pos
sible rupture between Russia and
Great Britain, and on his arrival in ST.
Petersburg he was made a captain and
given the command Of a ship.
Three years later Alexieff was made
ar admiral, and as such commanded
the warship on which the present Car
made his trip 10 the Far East in the
early nineties. It was on this voyage
that he became intimate with and won
the fun confidence Of his future SOW
ereign.
Later he was sent out as Governor
General Of Russia's Far Eastern pro-
vinces and there showed his great abil-
ity as a diplomat and an administrator.
Alexief was commander Of the Rus
sian contingent OF the allied forces
which marched TO the relief Of Peking
during the Boxer troubles Of 1899 1900,
and afterward went home to become
Minister Of Marine in the Cars Cabi-
net
Last fall he was again sent TO the
Far East as first Viceroy Of Russia
in that part Of the world. His author
fty within his sphere is as absolute as
that cf the Car himself
Alexied is a good fighter when fight
ing is 10 be done, but also a man Of
rare prudence, as was demonstrated in
the Picking campaign Of 1S99-1900 and
in Chefu at the close Of the Chinese
japanese war. when his GOODNESS avert
ed a premature conflict between the
Russian and japanese fleets. He is
very considerate Of his men, fraterniz-
ing with them when occasion permits,
and is, as a consequence, extremely
popular with them.
AIexien always appears in full regi-
mentals. with all Of his decorations in
evidence. and Of them he has an un-
usual number even for a Russian Vice
roy. Among these is the Cross Of st.
George. the wearers Of which, whether
rrivates or noble officers, are privi-
legged TO sit at table with the Car him
self. As the Vice Car on the last
celebration Of the day at Port Arthur
AIexieff sat at the table for several
hours. one Of a gathering in which
there were many private soldiers and
non-commissioned officers, the least Of
whom for the time was his recognized
equal.
Admiral Alexieff has gone and come
through San Francisco several times
and acquired quite a liking for this
city. II is largely due to this. ii is