Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-09

Gar, I'm assuming personal command o
tho Russian forces by land and SEES
had deposed Grand Duke Nicholas a
commander n-ch.cf of the Russian
army. and had "rusticated" him to
IS comparatively obscure position. tn
Caucasus.
Dispatches from PetrogrSd declar
the nation was stirred by the announce
ment as never before. 1t brought con
sternation when the whole world wa!
hailinE the commanderin-ch chief as 'th,
biggest man in Russia"
Aside from HIS, brilliant feats in bat
tie. even In retreat. Grand Duke Mich
olss has been exceedingly active eve,
since the war began. He is credited
with practically SCATTERING the graf,
bureaucracy and with being largely re-
sponsible for the enactment and en-
forcement 70 the vodka prohibition or
der.
AS his popularity increased. he in
CURED the enemity OF the court in
Petrograd. II was recently insinuatcd
that. urged on by his ambitious cen
sort. Grand Duchess Anas,asia. he
{ planned eventually TO seize tie throne.
4 DEPoSNG OF GRAND DUKE
CAN'T BE CoMPREHENDED
The RELOCATION OF the grand duke.
who has been acclaimed as one OF the
greatest styateg!st of the war. 10 the
reiatveiI u1!nlportant position of lead
er Of the RUSSIAN forces opposing the
Turks in the Caucasus. cannot be com
pretended either here or in Petrograd.
Norninailv and. according 10 his state
'rent the Emperor is 10 take up the
burdens th.t are being laid down by
the grand duke.
II IS generally conceded. however,
that some military man wili assume
the active leadership ot Eussia's hard
pressed forces. O1e dispatch from Pc
'rosrad hints that the man will be
.AleXiev.
Even This instnuatioa added TO the
CONSERVATION. as il IS feared the dis
patch refers TO Vice-Adr7iral Atex,ei:.
former viceroy in the Far East. pronli-
neat IN he Russo-Japarese War who
was charged many times with i.reeu-
,nrities.
An announcement made las, week al
Petrograd was Of the appointment; %
Colonel Nicholas Alexiev to the grand
dukes staff, and it may BE- that this
obscure soldier is the man 10 be Sc
lected is his chiefs successor.
The only consolation tina, London can
get from the Enperors move is that,
as religious head Of the Russian ma
ton. II should prove great moral
stimulus to his troops
AT the same time he dispatched his
letter TO the grand duke, the Emperor
issued the following signed army
order:
To-day have taken supreme com
mand Of all my forces of the sea and
of the land forces operating In the
theatcr OF war.
With firm faith in the clemency Of
God and with mistaken assurance %
final victory, We shall fulfill our sacred
duty to defend our country 10 the Ia st
We shall not dishonor the Russian
land"
GRAND DUKE RECEIVES
HIS FATE LOYALTY
Then came the following sta,emen,
from the grand duke.
Valiant Army and Fleet:
To-day your august supreme chief
HIS Majesty, the Emperor. places him.
self a your head. l bow before your
heroisnl Of more than a year and ex.
press 10 YOU my cordial, warm and
sincere appreciation.
Il believe steadfa silly that because
the Emperor himself, 10 whom you have
taken your oath, conducts YOU. you will
display achievements hitherto un-
known. believe that God from thia
day will accord to His fleet His all
powerful aid and will bring TO him
victory"
Emperor Nicholas. like the heads Of
all nations, is accorded the honorary
command of the army and navy in times
OF peace and the announcement that
frs. bring on. lis real import II was
believed that he was merely impressinr
upon his troops the fact that he was
their leader for the moral effect
The London newspa pers all took this
view OF the matter until the announce
ment came that the grand duke had
been removed Then began speculation.
The rccent-recerd OF tho grand duke
was gone into. his conduct OF the Rus.
sian retreat from Galic!a. through Po-
land from Warsaw and then from the
second line Of Russian defcnses beyond
the Fis,ula-al! described as crici.n,
and mastery. All this accomplished
too, with lack OF ammunition and
with an army which frequently had
Only hludgeons FOR weapons
CAN FIND NO REASONS
FROM MILITARY STANDPOINT
NO reason can be given by any Of
The military eXperts-from a military
stsndpoint--for the removal OF thn
grand duke
Grand Duke Nicholas virtually held
the army In the palm OF his hand This
popularity, however, did not find re.
fection among the Russian officers
many OF whom he has treated win
marked severity. His punishmcnts Of