Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-16
GEAR AND DUKE SCRAP
Call Each Other Names and
Haven't Made Up Yet.
NAVY CAUSE OF THE ROW
Vladimir Loses Temper and Calls
Ruler a Weakling.
AND NICHOLAS SHEDS TEARS
Also He Calls His Uncle an Migrate
and Talks Of Dying in the
Harness.
NAVY CAUSE OF THE ROW
AND NICHOLAS SHEDS TEARS
Special Cablegram to The Star.

| Special Cablegram to The Star.
ST. PETERSBURG, August 15.-News
of a violent quarrel between Emperor
| Nicholas II and Grand Duke Vladimir
| his uncle. has just leaked out.
The quarrel arose from the cars sud
| den decision to disregard the advice o,
| his elder relative in naval and military
matters and to follow the dictates of his
| best judgment. The grand duke has some
pet schemes for the Improvement Of Rus
sia's navy. of which the car disapprov-
ed. and the grand duke returned to his
| palace to revise his ideas. He returned
| to Peterhof about ten days later with
his revised plans, but again the car ap-
! peared dissatisfied.
An attendant who overheard the con-
versation relates that the grand duke in
| formed the car that he was not COM
| petent to pass upon suggestions for the
reconstruction of the navy Of q leading
nation, whereat the car showed an out
burst OF anger that amazed the usually
stolid Vladimir.
Refers to the Late War.
The cars display of temper however.
only discounted the grand duke for a
minute. He took exception to the cars
criticisms, in which. for the first time, he
publicly blamed the grand duke and his
other advisers for the blunders of the
were allowed to adopt measures advanced
by practical army and navy men. Rus
sia's troops and ships would not have
suffered such crushing defeats.
Vladimir denied that he was responsible
in any way for the marine and land dis
asters Of the war with Japan. but the
car insisted that he was, and he ought
to be punished. He added that only their
relationship saved him from the punish
ment he and others deserved.
Duke Loses His Temper.
Here, it IS said, the grand duke COM
pletely lost control Of himself and de-
nounced his royal nephew in unmeasured
terms, calling him q weakling. and one
who showed a cringing spirit in the face
of national difficulties. It was the first
time that the grand duke had ever spoken
to the emperor In this manner, and the
emperor. SO the story runs, burst into
tears and exclaimed that the duke was
the worst kind of an migrate. Recovering
himself. he said that many times he had
considered the ACCESSIBILITY OF abdication.
but hesitated about doing SO, fearing that
he would be universally accused of cow
ardice-that is. 1t would be confession
that he feared the nihilists and revolu-
tionists. He told the grand duke that he
was ready at any time to sacrifice his
life for his country, but preferred death
while discharging his duties as ruler Of
the empire.
They Don't Speak Now.
The car and his uncle are not on speak
ing terms now. 1t Is within the power Of
the car to Danish his relative, but 1t is
improbable he will do SO, as he has al
ways looked upon Vladimir as his best adj
viser A paper here that made mention
OF a slight disagreement between the
car and Vladimir has been suppressed
but no official denial of a quarrel between
the pair has been printed.
Owing to the verbal clash between the
emperor and Vladimir the new naval pro-
gram providing for the appropriation of
100, COO 900 rubfes for Russia's new fleet