The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-20
Royal Visitor Now in New York.
Edited a NavaleN
paper.

BY IA MAR0UISE DE FONTaTOY.
n RAND DUKE ALEXANDER
MICHAILOVITCH, who arrivch
In New York few days ago.
under the strictest incognito. and IL
now staying with Barclay Warburton,
hood OF Philadelphia. is the only mem
Der of the rcigning house of Roman
on who can boast Of having dabbled
in journalism. For he owned and
himself edited for years monthly
publication at ST. Petersburg. entitled
the Sea and Its Life. In which he de-
voted considerable space to the pro-
pagation CT his ideas In naval mat
ters. which are of very advanced
character.
Thay are views which constantly
brought him into conflict with his cou-
sin. the late Grand Duke Alexis, who,
as grand admiral of the imperial navy
and its ranking officer, until the war
with Japan In 1904, repeatedly com
planned to the Car, though without
obtaining any satisfaction. Nor was
there ever any attempt made by the
authorities at st. Petersburg to inter-
ferc with the publication of Alexander
Mictnilovitch's paper.
The grand duke, who talks English
cNtrer1el! we'll, is very warm adj
mi"er and friend of Admiral Alfred r.
Mahar. U. s. N, 8nd has not only
translated all the latters works into
Russian. but has. by distributing them
gratis in the most broadcast fashion,
brought them within the reach OF
nearly every officer of the Russian
navy. This, too. excited the i'll will
of the late Grand Duke Alexis Fin
ally the quarrels between the two be-
came so acute that the Car, in order
to put an end to 1t, relieved Alexander,
who is his brother-in law, of his ac-
tive command in the navy in which
he holds the rank of vice admiral and
in.ru@ted him with the creation of the
Department Of Maritime Trade and
Commercial Ports Under his drec-
ton. works OF Improvement were ini-
tiated in all the ports. fresh docks
and auHys constructed. harbors dredg
ed. and schools of commercial naviga-
ton. both for sailing masters and for
steamers were established. State en-
couragement was given to the organi-
zation Of steamship lines and to ship
building. The so-called Volunteer
Fleet increased. and, in word. every
thing that one can imagine was done
by tho grand duke to develop Russia's
maritime trade and prosperity.
Naturally, the outbreak OF the war
with Japan played havoc for time
with all the grand dukes plans and
projects in this connection. and, reaIlZ-
ing this inevitable result OF the con-
hict, he did all In his power to avert
hostilities. In spite OF all that has been
written and printed to the contrary.
It is perfectly true that he is respon-
sible for bringing Besobrasof into
close touch with the Emperor, and,
for time. both of the two imperial
brothers-in- law allowed themselves 20
be Influenced by the advice of this
former member of the Holy Band"
But when theS realized. about Christ
mas, 1908, that, instead of seconding
their efforts In favor of peace he was
using his position as Secretary of
State and as director of the affairs In
the extreme Orient to promote n war
with Japan, they turned their backs
upon him. Early in 1904 he received
an order from the Emperor to travel
abroad. and it may be added that both
the Gear and the grand duke were
rather gratified by the terrible black
balling which Besobrasoff received j
few t-eeks later at the so-called Eng
lish Club, the leading institution of
its kind at st. Petersburg.
All of Grand Duke AleXander's crit
icisms of the administration OF the
navy, criticisr-& which had brought
him into conflict with Grand Duke
Alexis, were verified in the war with
Japan. and there is no doubt that III