The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-04-20
ALEXIEF
RESIGNS
Russian Viceroy Asks to Be
Released.
HIS STAR ON THE WANE
Having Lost the Confidence of His
Sovereign He Seeks to Retire
TO Private Life.

LONDON, April 20A dispatch from
st. Petersburg says Viceroy AlexeIeff
has applied by telegraph to the emper.
or to be relieved of his position of vice
roy in the far east.
1t is expected that the request will
be immediately granted.
The immediate cause of the viceroy's
application is reported to be the ap-
pointment of Vice Admiral Skrydloff.
on of Admiral AleKeieffs strongest
enemies and sharpest critics, as sue
cessor to the late Vice Admiral Maka-
rolf In command Of the Russian navy
in the far east.
Vice Admiral Skrydloff has had an
interview with the emperor and dis
cussed with his majesty the position
of Niceroy AleXelerr's relations with
that officer.
The relief Of Yiceroy Alexeieff would
not surprise intelligent observers Of
the far eastern situation who are ia
miliar with the gradual change in the
cinporPr's attitude toward the yiceroy
and NJ. Bezobrazoh, who represented
the militant or advanced element
which was anxious that Russia should
remain In Manchuria 1t was these
two men for whom the Anglo-Japa-
nese entente first lost terrors. They
believed that Great Britain would not
go to war and that Japan could not do
so.
To the Indignation Of Japan they
succeeded in turning the policy of the
empire from carrying out the treaty
for the entire evacuation Of Manchu-
ria pending further demands on Chi
ma. on Aug. - last, after Japan had
submitted an inquiry as to whether
Russia was disposed to reopen the ne
gotiations respecting Manchuria and
Korea, a yicerOyalty in the far east, a
special secretary of state and an ad-
visory committee were created, Alex
eieff being appointed viceroy and Be
Zobrazof secretary of state. Seven
teen days after these appointments
were made NJ Witte, who had been op-
posed to the policy of Alexeief and
Bezobrazofr, was relieved of his port
folio as minister of finance.
1t was through his new official ad-
visers that the emperor conducted ne
gotiations with Japan, and ii is claim
ed that they misjudged the temper
and purpose Of the Japanese and left
the emperor in ignorance of the prep
arations for war which Japan was
making and the rising war spirit Of |
that empire.
The enemies Of Alexeieff have per- !
asserted that as the man on |
the spot he should have kept the en-
)eror informed concerning these vital |
points.
On the eve of the war Alexeieff APP
still had the confidence of
he czar, but the lack Of preparedness
If the Port Arthur feet, as shown in
he cases Of the battleships Retviza1
md Cesarevitch, called the attention
# the emperor TO the slackness of
he naval administration in the far
'ast.
This was the first blow publicly CIV
N to Alexefeff. The second was the
appointment of General kuropatkin
IS commander in chief of the army in
ianchuria. Kuropatkin sided with
,ount Lamsdorff, the foreign minister,
nd NJ. Witte against the policy of
annexation and stated to
he Chinese minister to Russia, Mr..
loo Wei Teh, that the whole trouble
riginated with Alexeieff That there
light be no doubt of Kuropatkin's ex-
ct Jurisdiction the emperor issued an
ther ukase defining 1t and gave the
Drmer minister Of war complete con-
rol of military operations in the far
asst
officials in st. Petersburg say it
lust then have been evident to Alex
Ieff that his star had waned. He had
either the army nor the navy under
is control, being charged merely with
le civil administration, but in time of
ar there is no civil administration or
least little. At first the viceroy re-
lived the official dispatches from Ma
aroff and Kuropatkin, but even this
st shred Of his dignity was removed