The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-11-19
Foreign Gossip.

The little czaravitch, whose illness is
| reported in consequence OF an accident
when thrown by his pony. is indeed a
child Of many prayers" Born August
L, 1904. at the darkest moment OF the
fortunes OF Russia. during the war with
Japan, his birth was hailed as a good
| omen and an encouragement to the
troops fighting in the far East. He is
the fifth child OF the Gar and Czarina
and their only son, and therefore the
heir to the throne OF Russia. The Rus
sian people. four times disappointed in
the expectation of an heir. welcomed the
little stranger with transports of en-
thusiasm, and tho baby. all unconscious
OF his great Importance, was hailed with
a salute OF 300 guns. The Gar was over
Joyed, and II was reported at the time
that he drank his little sons health in
champagne and declared that he felt
more happy at the birth of an heir than
IL his soldiers had secured a great vic
tory
As the years passed the little Grand
Duke Alexis Nicholsievitch developed
into a bright. healthy little fellow, the
darling OF his parents and the adored of
the people Of Russia. He is described as
a handsome child. with golden hair and
blue eyes. full OF mischief. No child.
perhaps, was ever more carefully at
tended, and he is more strictly guarded
than any OF the other members Of the
imperial family. although they have been
described as living the life Of prisoners
almost. The fear of Nihilist attacks ever
was in the minds Of the Gar, and espe-
cially Of the Empress, and night and day
the little CZarevitch is watched over by
the secret service officers. On several
occasions the illness OF the heir to the
throne has caused his parents consider
able alarm.
His mother. the Czarina. was the
Princess AliX Of Hesse, a niece of the
late King Edward, and therefore a cousin
Of King George OF England and also re-
lated. Of course, to the Kaiser.
There is a remarkable outburst OF feel
ing on the part OF the Russian press
against the action Of England and
France in their relation to the triple
entente Let me put the Russian case
in general terms. The Russian asks him
self the question as to whether the
triple entente is for the equal benefit
OF the three powers or whether 1t is for
the benefit of England and France and
to the detriment OF Russia. The latter
view is the one expressed at the present
moment. TIL NovOe Vremya, the gov
eminent organ, and thoroughly Anglo
phile. at last has lost patience, and in
a leading article has warned. II not
threatened. II points out that lit is
to England's advantage to re-establish
the power which she has lately lost at
Constantnople. and that. accordingly.
she-and also France-are most reluctant
to put pressure upon the Porte. Rus
sia's interests are quite the reverse. but
she is fettered by her agreemnt with
the other two powers. England thought
more OF her wounded pride at the time
Of the Bosnian occupation that she does
now of defending the Serbs. Austria is
anxious to keep open the road to Sa-
loniki. through the Sanjak, and thus may
occupy it. Russia will seek compensation
in the direction of the Dardanelles. but
England bends to Austria. she is in
the enemy's camp. but thunders at Rus
STA, because she is a friend. "
During the japanese war the alliance
was shown not to extend to the far East.
and now Il is made clear that Russia OBJ
tains no support in the near East. As
for England, the only effect that the
entente with her has been that Russia
has been tied hand and foot in Persia
Russia has her greatest interests in Eu-
rope, and II is there that she needs her
friends help. She Is treated like a sec
ondary power. Russia has huge army.
and If 1t is changed from one scale OF
the balance to the other II will be i'll
for some one.