The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-16
HIGH ADMIRAL
HAS RESIGNED
Grand Duke Alexis No Longer at
Head of Russian Army.
MANY UGLY RUM0RS ABOUT
DEPARTMENT ROTTEN TO The
CORE.

st. Petersburg. June IS, 800 q. 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 AvelIan, mead of the Russian
admiralty department, had resigned.
This announcement was followed a few
minutes later by an imperial rescript
relieving the grand duke of the su-
preme direction of the navy. which he
had held since the days Of the en-
Ieror's father, Alexander III, when
Russia resolved TO enter the lists as
a first class sea power and to build up
a great navy. the remnants of which
were destroyed in the battle of the sea
Of japan.
Although from time to time since the
war begun there have been rUmors
that the grand duke would retire on
account of the savage criticisms. not
to use harsheT terms, directed against
the administration of the navy. especi-
ally i'm the construction of ships, the
announcement of his resignation came
like d bolt from the blue sky
Ugly Stories AfIoat.
It was not preceded by any of the
rumors which usually give warning of
such an act. Consequently it was
assumed that some sudden event pre-
Cipitated it, and ugly stories immedi-
ately came to the surface
Among those sojoUrning late in the
cafes and hotels. the editorial in the
Nassa Shish yesterday demanding an
accounting of the popular funds sub
scribed for the rebuilding of the navy
and declaring that great names are
no longer guarantees" was instantly
recalled. The words of the rescript
give no hint OF imperial anger and the
real explanation probably will not
leak out for several days, but the in
slant disposition was to regard the re-
tirement of Grand Duke Alexis and
Admiral Avellan as a concession to
public opinion. following the crOwning
tragedy Of the sea Of Japan.
Tales of Corruption.
Charges of acknowledgement and
tales Of CORRUPTION and even worse
against the marine department have
been rife for years. After the war be
gan they Increased tenfOId and lately
a regular campaign against the de
paTtment has been openly conducted
iii the newspapers. Some startling
revelations have been made I'm this
campaign. and Captain CladO. who WAS
one Of the leading critics of the con-
duct of the navy. was dismissed from
the service for his persistence
It was felt. even in quarters where
charges Of corruption were not enter
tanned. that it would he Unwise to en-
trust the building of the navy to the
hands which were responsible for the
helpless fleets of the past
Condemned by Terrorists.
Grand Duke Alexis himself did not
escape personal attacks. and scandal
was 80 busy with mis- name that he was
several times the subject of public
demonstrations. The name of the grand
duke was high on the list Of thosz con-
demned by the terrorists. and after
Red Sunday" (Jan. - IasD it was re-
ported that he had fed abroad but it
developed that he was merely keeping
closely within his palace Recently he
has shown himself more frequently
than usual in a closed carriage. The
Associated Press correspondent saw
him Wednesday last driving down the
Neva Quay in low one-Seated drOsky
drawn by a fast-trottiuE OTloff stall
lion, which was going like the wind
The driver. it was noted. did not wear
the imperial livery The grand duke
who was neTvously gIancing to right
and left. kept his hand deep iii the
pocket Of his military OverCOat and
was evidently grasping a revolver
The retirement of Admiral AveIlan
has not yet b=en published. The names
Of Vice Admiral Biriloff. who Is re-
turning from VladivostOk. and of Vice
Admiral ChCUknin, commander of the
Black sea fleet. are mentioned among
those likely to succeed Admiral AveI-
Ian