The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-06-17
.GIR|i!lANDADUKE
ALEXIS RESIGNS
AccEPTANcE 9 EsleNATiloNy
n BY Ri + q CAR q s REGARp 1
l5i| ED As G oNcEssloN N Va Il
TO JAPAN.

ST. PETERSBURG. June IL
Grand Duke Alexis, High Admiral of
the fleet, who Is an uncle Of the EN-:
peror, and Admiral Ayellan, head Of
the Russian Admiralty Department,
have resigned. VI, s {, s
The Emperor Nicholas has accept
ed the resignation Of the Grand Duke
Alexis in the following rescript:
"iis Imperial Majesty, my father.
highly esteeming your experience In
naval service and your personal and
moral qualities, selected you in 1881
as his immediate collaboration in the
work of renoyating and strengthening
our feet. Since then, for twenty.four
years, Your Imperial Highness has de.
voted your labors to the development
of our naval armed forces and to the
training Of the personnel Of the fleet
in proportion to the resources it was
possible to accord you for that pur-
pose. 4.
Now, yielding to your reiterated
request, have consented TO relieve
you of the administration of the fleet
and marine department. In accept
ing the resignation of Your Imperial
Highness ] direct YOU TO retain the
rank Of Grand Admiral as an expires.
sion OF my gratitude for all>your work.
81 remain, as ever, your constant
well wisher, with every expression
of my love. "NICHoLAS.n"5
The name Of the Grand Duke was
high on the list of those condemned
by the terrorists and after red Sun.
day" it was reported that he had fed
abroad, but 1t developed that he was
merely keeping closely within his pal.
ace. Recently he has shown himself
more frequently, usually in a closed
carriage. A correspondent saw him
Wednesday driving down the Neva
Quay In low one seated droshky
drawn by fast trotting Orloff stall
lion. The driver, It was noted, did
aot wear the imperial livery.
The retirement Of Admiral Avellan
has not yet been announced. The
names of Vice Admiral Birileff, who
is returning from vladlvostock, and
of Vice Admiral Chouknin, command.
er of the Black Sea fleet. are mention
ed among those likely to succeed Ad-
mlral Ayellan.
Although from time TO time since
the war began there have been ru-
mors that the Grand Duke would re.
tire on account Of the savage criti
clsm directed against the administra.
ton Of the navy, especially in the
construction OF ships, the announce,
ment Of his resignation came like a
bolt out of the blue. 1t was not pre-.
coded by any of the rumors which
usually give warning Of such an act
Consequently It was assumed that
aome sudden event precipitated it
and ugly stories Immediately came
to The surface.
Among those soiourning late in the
cafes and hotels the editorial in the
Nasha shisn yesterday morning, de
manding an accounting Of the popular
fund subscribed for the rebuilding o
the navy and declaring that "grea
names are no longer guarantees" wa
instantly recalled.
The words Of the rescript gives n,
hint of imperial anger and the rea
explanation probably, will not be dis
closed for several days; but the in
slant disposition was to regard the re
tirement of Grand Duke Alexis an
Admiral Avellan as concession t
public opinion following the crown
ing tragedy Of the Sea Of Japan.
Charges of mismanagement and II
, efficiency and tales of corruption, an
even worse, against the marine d,
!. partment have been rife for year
After the war began they increase
!, tenfold, and lately a regular campaig
: against the department has bee
!. openly conducted in the newspaper
Some startling revelations ha,
been made in this campaign, and Ca
tain. Clado, who was one Of the lea
ing critics of the conduct of the nav
was dismissed from the service for h
y persistence.
+ It was felt even IN quarters whe
charges of corruption were not ente
tanned that it would be unwise to
trust the rebuilding of the navy
e. the hands which were responsib
l. for the helpless fleets of the pa!
h o.
H. II n AaG n.