The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-05
War Secretary Taft Gets Private Audience.
REVIEWS RUSSIAN TROOPS
Soldiers Received the American
 Party With Cheers.
War Secretary And His Party Were Entertained At Dinner Last Night By Foreign Minister Iswolsky.

St. Petersburc. Dec. 4.-Secretary Taft was received in audience today by Emperor Nicholas at Tsarskoe-Seio and received from his majesty me frankest expression of Russia's senti- inents and of sympathy and regard for the United States. The Emperor re- quested MT. Taft to convey ms greet ings to President Roosevelt. The Secretary spent about five, hours in company with the Emperor and en- joyed the honor of a long and intimate conversation regarding the situation In the United States and the problems con fronting the American government. Enc Empress Is suffering so severely from an attack of influenza that She was obliged to refrain from taking part In any of the official ceremonies, conse- quent MT. Taft did not see her. lie was presented. however. to other mem bers of the imperial family and to many high military and court officials. on account Of the Secretary's expressed desire that he be received unomciaiiy no salute was fired. but the reception was given a military setting by a pa- rade and regimental festival of the zmnosky Regiment. the officers of which attended the luncheon with Mir. Taft.
 The Secretary, accompanied by Brig adler General Clarence K. Edwards, who Is of his party. Captain $. l.. n. Slocum, the American military attache here, and Count Konitz. the Russian of- fcer who is acting as his aide during his sojourn in this city, left St. Peters- | burg at an early hour on a special train for Tsarskoe-Selo.
 At Tsarskoe -Selo the party was met I by a state equipage and several court | officials. The visitors were driven di- 1 rect to the so- called Little Palace l nf a and corted through the palace with the usual ceremonial.
 1 Secretary Taft was received by his | majesty in his private study. There | the Emperor diseussed with him mili- | tary topics at considerable length. He l questioned MT. Taft concerning his | Journey over the trans-Siberian Rail- road. and drew contrast between ths i present means of communication aild l the methods in vogue--three liorse l sieigha and steamers across the rivers
 and lakes--when he made his trip across Asia to inaugurate the trans | Siberian lines. The Emperor showed l a keen interest in the problems which | the American government has to solve | in the Philippines and many questions | concerning the new Philippine Islands. | He referred also in a complimentary | manner to the work done by the Amer | ican government on the Isthmus of | Panama in it's fight against yellow l fever.
 General Edwards was presented sub
 sequently after the Secretary had re- 1 tired. The party then proceeded to tn c
 Riding School, where the Semosky | Regiment 1000 strong and accompa-
 nied by 8 machine gun battery and
 several other attachments. was drawn l up.
 | The Emperor and Secretary Taft was | received with cheers Then the Elm peror and his guests. accompanied by | their respective stafrs, walked together | through the lines of the regiment and Inspected its formation. When this in-
 spection was over, the troops passed | twice at a quick step before the re-
 viewing party, and then the host and
 his guests returned to the palace for luncheon.
 It was a late hour in the afternoon before the visitors returned to st. Petcrsbuis. tonight Secretary Taft
 and the members Of his party were en
 tertained at dinner by Foreign Minis
 ter Iswolsky.