The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-16
Comes as Result Of Scandal
in Russian Navy
NO HINT Of IMPERIAL ANGER
Grand Duke Alexis Has Been HarshIy
Criticised and He Was Lona
Ago Condemned BY the
Terrorists.

st. Petersburg, June l6, 2:s0 n. m.-The
sensational announcement was made
shortly before midnight that Grand Duke
Alexis, the high admiral, who is an uncle
of the Emperor. and Admiral Avelan.
head of the Russian admiralty depart
ment, had resigned.
This announcement was followed a few
minutes later by an imperial rescript re-
lieving the Grand Duke of the supreme
direction of the navy, which he had held
since the days of the Emperor's father,
Alexander ILL.,. when Russia resolved to
enter the lists as a first-class sea power,
and to build up great nay, the REM
nants of which were destroyed in the bat
tie of the Sea of Japan.
Criticism Has Been Savage.
Although from time to time since the
war began there have been rumors that
the Grand Duke would retire on account
of savage criticism not TO use harsher
terms, directed against the administration
of the navy, especially in the construc-
tion of ships, the announcement of his
resignation came like bolt out of the
blue sky, 1t is not accompanied by any
of the rumors which usually give warn
ing of such an act. 1t is thought that
some recent event precipitated 1t. and
some ugly stories are ahoat
The words of the rescript give no hint
of imperial anger and the real explana-
ton probably will not leak out for several
days, but the instant disposition was to
regard the retirement of Grand Duke
Alexis and Admiral Avellan as a con-
cession to public opinion following the
crowning tragedy of the Sea of Japan
Many Tales of Corruption.
Charges of msmanagement and inef-
nrodded, and tales Of corruption and even
aon,t lsy yeilfst the marine department have
i,+s s.elq.e for years. After the war began
they increased threefold and lately "a
regular campaign against the department
has been openly conducted in the news
papers. Some startling revelations have
been made In this campaign. and Captain
Clado, who was one of the leading critics
CT the conduct of the navy, was dismissed
from the service for his persistence.
1t was felt even in quarters where
charges of corruption were not entertain
ed, that 1t would be unwise to entrust the
building of the navy to the hands which
were responsible for the hapless fleets
of the past.
Did Not Escape Personal Attack.
Grand Duke Alexis himself did not es-
cape personal attacks, and scandal was
so busy with his name that he was sew
eral times the subject of public demon
strations. The name of the Grand Duke
was high on the list of those condemned
by the terrorists, and after red Sunday
January % last. 1t was reported that he
had fled 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
He was seen Wednesday last driving down
the Neva Quay in a low one-seated drosky
drawn by fast trotting Orloff stallion
which was going like the wind The driv-
er, 1t was noted, did not wear the i'm
perial livery.
The Grand Duke. who was nervously
glancing to right and left, kept his right
hand deep in the pocket of his military
overcoat and was evidently grasping a
revolver.
The retirement of Admiral Avellan has
not yet been published.