The Washington times., 1922-06-18
BY Irma Flexer Dreaming
BERLIN, June II.

r INTIMATE details Of the cir
cumstances leading up to the
L. abdication OF the late Car
Nicholas II are told, in the memoirs
of the septuagenarian Countess
Kleinmichel. whose salon In Peters.
burg was the rendezvous OF all the
leading actors who took part in
the great political drama played on
the stage Of the Cars court during
the fateful years of the war.
AS the distinguished memorial
ist bases her recital upon facts fur.
nished her by Count Fredericksz,
the personal adjutant of the Gar.
there b no reason to doubt either
its authenticity or accuracy.
The Countess related that when
in the year 1915; the Gar. acting
upon the advice Of the empress,
decided to take active command Of
the Russian troops. Fredericksz
summoned up the courage to say
to him:
'"Your majesty. implore you to
do nothing Of the kind. The
laurels which your majesty hopes
to win will soon be transformed
into thorns."
"In other words, you think me
incapable" replied the car, with
injured accent.
PREPARATION INADEQUATE.
Il am going to be perfectly
frank with you, majesty. The
science Of war must be seriously
studied and then put into active
practice. In reality, the only
practical experience you have had
was in commanding battalion Of
the guard huzzars. You were
about to be given the command Of
a regiment when fate called you to
the throne. This preparation is
entirely inadequate particularly In
time Of war"
,"You overlook the fact that I
have constantly occupied myself
with maneuvers and matters OF
military administration" said the
czar. ..and in any case, i shall have
General Russlxi as my aide. whose
, knowledge and authority. Is un-
questioned" IT,.
BE that as II may! But permit
me as your humble and devoted
servant to implore you once more
not to assume the responsibility.
Place the chief command In the
hands Of General Russki. or any
other general you think fit, but do
not desert Petersburg.
- "Do not deprive yourself Of the
possibility of exercising your right
of criticism and do not lay your
self open to criticism. AS COM
mander-in.chief, you would be held
responsible for our defeat. and God
only knows what It would lead to-"
In reply, the czar argued:
'"The people love me as does also
the army, and I feel myself per-
fectiy safe in their midst, More
over, my mind is made up"
EMPRESS INDIGNANT.
Two hours later. Fredericksz was
called to the empress. whom he
found in an indignant mood.
"The car has told me of your
conversation. Why was It neces-
sary to excite him to such q de-
gree at a moment when he is in
need OF his utmost strength and
energy7'
IL acted only at the bidding OF
my conscience" he assured II
consider his decision a most por-
tentous one, as he will no longer
be the monarch. the appointed
one, but the commander chief
at the mercy Of everyons's
criticism"
"You would undoubtedly have
preferred to see Grand Duke Mix
CLAUS wrest his power from him
piece by piece and fragment by
fragment, under the pretext that
It, was made by request Of the
general headquarters. to which
everything must be subordinated,"
the, empress declared. b.
THE grand duke demands that
the minister's should 60 to Baroni-
witschi. the better to cooperate
with the military authorities. He
ts wrestling from the czar his au-
thority in all branches Of the gov
,srnment. and his commando are