The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-09
ADVANCED TO OFFICE
OF ADMIRAL OF FLEET

Home Affairs. and then first lord OF the
admiralty.
Sir edward May. ~ present COM
mander- in chief at Portsmouth. is one
of the abiest officers OF the British
navy. II was no who added Christmas
Island to the British empire, assuming
charge of the annexation, and has PROB
ably done more than rny other oiflcer
in the service 70 develop the use OF the
TORPEDO. OF which he is regarded as
the leading naval expert OF the day.
He took part in Admiral Sir George
Nares's Arctic expedition in 1875, being
badly frost-oitten. and was a partic-
ular favorite of Queen Victoria; also
standing high in the good graces OF
the Kaiser, to whose service he has
generally been attached whenever that
monarch has visited England. he en-
Joys the distinction. somewhat rare
among British naval men. of being
remarkably good linguist. a1c in spite
Of his having been called upon to su-
persede Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
ford on the occasion CT that popular
officers somewhat sensational removal
from the command Of the home feet,
four years age, BY Reginald Mckenna-
has never forfeited the goodwill OF
either the navy or of the public
one Of the most notable features of
the season a st. Petersburg is the
annual Charity Eazaar. usually held
in the palace Of the Grand Duchess
vladimir and under her personal d.
rection, this being her particular pet
philarthropic enterprise L IS always
made the occasion of N uch Hospitality
All the festivities in connection there
with this year were rudely Interrupted
by the tragic death Of General Prince
Nicholas Obolenski. - universal fav
orlte lie had just been talking with
the grand duchess and was leaning
against column when suddenly,
without the slightest warning. he
slipped down on TO the floor, stone
dead. the result Of an aneurism OF IT,
heart.
Prince Nicholas was one Of the boy
hood friends Of the present Emperor,
with whom he had always been on such
terms of intimacy as to be addressed
by him with the familiar ;'roRoun of
thou" He acco-npa MED TIE Gar
on his memorable visit to india. China
and Japan. ard was for several years
his principal private secretary. OF
-ather chief OF his private chancel-
iery.
The prince Insisted on resigning this
post some four years ago. owing to
connection with the mana cement Of the
Czar's huge siberian estates Nc one
dreamt of impugning the integrity OF
Prince Nicholas OboleEski. who was
the soul % honor. BIT he himself
felt that his lack Of experience and
the consequent facility with which he
ha1 Teen hoodwinked by corrupt sub
ordinates. was In a measure accounta-
pl. for the losses Viii. y TIE Emperor
4. D,
treated his sovereign 20 relieve him
Of the Office. to confide IL to more cap
able hands than his own and TO accord
TO him some other less responsible post
ia his ertourare.
At this juncture the Empress
Mother. who had known Nicholas
DboIenski from infancy and who to
the last was wont e. call him BY his
childhood nickname OF "Kotik." put
forward a request that he sqould be
attached to her household As one
her principal gentle men waiting.
and since then he has been constantly
about with her everywhere and last
year spent much If his time in attend
ance on her in Engiand-tha: Is at
"a ndringham-snd In Denmark.
The CbOicnskis are a very powerful
and influential family One Of them.
John b. name. a brother OF Nicholas.
succeeded the murdered General Bor-
rikof az Governor General or Finland.
Prince John had previously been shot
Al while governor At Kharkod. His
vouid-be assassin fred three times at
him. while standing AZ distance OF
about a few feet. and II the prince es-
capped with a slight wound In the neck.
IL Is due 10 the fact that he wore be
meath hts uniform a shirt OF exquisite
liz tempered ard very rne steel nail
Another % the Obolenskis. Naleriar-
vas assistant secretary OF state for
foreign affairs under c. ant Iausdorn.
He was generally slated AZ one time
a. successor TO the count For he not
only acted as minister whenever
Iamsdorn was away on leave or ~.
but likewise accompanied the Emperor
when the latter went 20 bis shooting
lodges IN Poland. 70 the Ni.lagistura
at L.vadia. IN the Crinea. and during
hir trips abroad, Count Lsmsdorf
meanwhile remaining at 80. Peters
burg. where he Old little more than
register and execute the commands Of