New-York tribune., 1918-07-21

said to have insisted that Germany
should not be permitted to awe Russia
second time.
Although the influences leading to
the revolution of March. 1917, which
forced the abdication, were various and
some of them obscure, it was evident
that the leaders of Russian liberal
thought blamed the Emperor for fail
ure to prosecute the war successfully
for continuing the rule of the bureau
Gratis and for the growth of pro-Ger-
man influences at the Russian court,
which were undermining Russia 9
war strength.
One of these for which the Emperor
was held personally responsible was
the mysterious power exercised by
Gregory Rasputin, the mystic monk,
who had obtained great ascendency
over both the Emperor and Empress.
Crown Is Overthrown
The government had ordered the dis
, solution of the Council of the Empire
and the Duma. The hungry people
were incensed by lack of food supplies
and held the government responsible
for their sufferings. The Duma reject
ed the imperial ukasc of dissolution
continued its meetings and organized
an executive committee. 1t was believed
to represent the demand OF the people
that the war should be prosecuted with
greater vigor and efficiency. The troops
in Petrograd sustained the Duma, and
within three days from it's inception
the revolution was accomplished, the
government overthrown and Nicholas
forced to abdicate.
The Emperor was then at the Russian
army headquarters. He attempted to
n c Inn hA
Grand Duke Michael, but he, in turn,
abdicated, and the Romanoff dynasty,
which had ruled the destnies of the
Russian Empire for more than three
hundred years, was brought to an end
At the order of the executive commit
tee of the Duma, Nicholas, who had
signed his abdication at midnight,
March 10, was arrested and taken to
Tsars koe-Selo Palace. which was to be
his prison, and was placed under guard.
He delivered farewell address to his
soldiers, who listened unresponsivcly.
and at its conclusion sang the "Mar-
seillaise."
Transferred to Siberia
Nicholas seemed to be stunned by
the suddenness of the blow and made
no attempt to resist. He rejected the
suggestion of one of his generals that
the Russian lines be opened to let
the Germans pass through and "deal
with the canaille in Petrograd," declar-
ing that he was no traitor.
Last August the former Emperor and
his family were sent to. Tobolsk, in
Western Siberia, where so many hun
dreds of the political enemies of the
Gar had been sent into exile during
the years of the Romanoffs' power.
There they lived in shabby apart
ment house without servants or any
sort of convenlences.
Then in May word came from Mos
cow that the former Emperor, his wife
and one of their daughters had been
burg, ITO miles southeast of Perm, on
the Asiatic side of the Ural Mountains.
This transfer was ordered because it
was suspected monarchists in the vi
cinity of Tobolsk were seeking to pro-
mote the escape of the prisoners. Since
then there have been many and varied
rumors concerning the Romanoffs-
that Nicholas had escaped; that he had
been assassinated, and that he had been
executed.
His Fortune $2,000,O00,000
His state as prisoner must have
been in painful contrast with that
which he enjoyed as Russian autocrat.
His private wealth had been estimated
at $2,000,0Q0, 900, but it was confessed
that no accurate idea of it's vastness
was obtainable. His income was be-
lieved to exceed s5o,OO0,O0 a year. His
personal expenses were placed at $50
a day, but the expenses of maintaining
the royal state were almost incredible.
In appearance Nicholas was rather
slender and understood and, being
sensitive on that point, usually occu-
pied the foreground when a photo
graph was being made, so his size
would be exaggerated. His resemblance
to King George of England was often
remarked.