Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-03-30
NEW RUSSIAN REGENT
ONCE HEIR TO THRONE

SNSG HCin ~ InhUNE
Grand Duke Michael Alexandra
Witch. now regent OF Russia. was
heir TO the throne until the birth of
the czarevitch in 1904.
This energetic brother of the late
car is ten years younger than the
deposed monarch. He is the favorite
son OF the Dowager Empress Marie
Fesdrovana, sister of the Dowager
Queen Alexandra OF Great Britain.
All accounts agree that the Grand
Duke has loathed the German infiu.
ence in the Russian Imperial family.
court and army, which has resulted
in his present elevation. For two
years Immediately preceding the war
he lived I'm England, occupying for a
time the estate of Lord Lytton at
Knebworth.
Until the war began little was
known of the man who now rules
Russia, save for the fact that he had
married a morganatic wife and an
gered the car. with whom he was
at swords points. Immediately the
war began, however. he returned to
Russia and offered his sword to the
car.
In the army the grand duke, through
his fame spread but little from the
NF y
national idol for the moujik, second
only to the Grand Duke Nicholas. In
the campaign near Lonma he was
said to have handled his troops with
considerable skill, but what endeared
him especially to the Russians was
the fact that he exposed himself with
recklessness to shell and shrapnel
fire eXhorting his soldiers by appeals
to their bravery, love OF country and
devotion to the holy church.
On this occasion also it was pub
lishcd throughout Russia that the
grand duke was another such man
as the Gar Alexander H., who issued
the ukase giving freedom from seri
dom TO the peasants. Though in early
life he seemed to have the rather
fiabby qualities OF the Romanoffs. il
was said that in the war II not be
fore, he had amply proved his strength
of will.
The new regent of Russia was ban.
ished from the empire early in Jan.
uary, 1913. by the car, whom now
he virtually replaces on the throne,
save only for the pretcncc of rule
of a feeble boy. He was banished
because of the romance through
which mainly the grand duke is best
known TO the world, through that ro-
nance is often confused with sim
liar one in which his uncle. the Grand
Duke Michael Michaelovitch. and the
Coupntess Ada Torby We're the prin.
cipals
Unlike some affairs of the heart in
with Russians OF the blood royal
have taken part. this one shed no
duke. The grand duke refused a
mistress from the ranks of the i'm.
perial ballet, of course almost unprece-
dcntcd. and refused also wife from
the royal princcsses of Europe. In
stead he married in Vienna. on DC.
tObcr 10, 1911. the Countess Natane
~
Countess Natalie had been divorced
from Captain Won Woulfert, a Rus
sion officer stationed at Moscow. The
two children born during that period.
when the captain well knew that the
grand duke and not he had his wife's
were claimed by Michael
as belonging TO him. But by marry
ing the woman whom he loved the
grand duke had triumphed over the
of morality of the Russian
court, which held that to be highly
Though his wife was beautiful and
intelligent. the czar was Infatuated
at his brother. and banished him from
Russia. lie was removed from his
post rs colonel of the regiment of
Chevalier Guards at Petrograd, and
at the same time an imperial ukase
was issued establishing guardian.
ship over his personal property and
affairs, and his estates were taken
over the administered.
A year later II was reported that
Michael had refused to yield to the
'zar's desire that he abdicato his po-