GRAND DUKE BORIS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14886, 28 January 1914, Page 10

GRAND DUKE BORIS.

PLAINTIFF IN LIBEL ACTION. HONOUR VINDICATED. (j-ROM OUR OWK CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, December 19. In "Munsey's Magazine" of last April 'there appeared, an article by ■Mi* Cunliffe" Owen, entitled <: Thb Succession to the Russian Throne," in which the following reference was made to the Grand Duke Boris, first cousin of the Tsar and second son of the Grand Duke Vladimir:—"During the ■war with Japan, he distinguished himself only by misconduct so gross as to cause the Russian Generalissimo to threaten him with court-martial and to compel him to, take his departure from the seat of war." In due time, tho Grand Duke instituted libel proceedings, citing as defendants :—Frank A. Alunsey Company, Filth avenue, New York (proprietors and printers of' the magazine), Horace Alarsnall and Son, 'leniple Mouse, Temple avenue (publishers oi : , tho periodical in England), and Mr Cun-liffe-Owen, the author. In the original defence, the Munsey Company formally denied any libel, and denied the innuendoes put on the words by the Grand Duke, and; Messrs Marshall pleaded that they merely distributed the magazine in innocence of any libel. When the case was called in the Lord Chief Justice's Court, Mr F. E. Smith announced that a. settlement had been arrived at. Counsel said that thero was not the slightest warrant of any kind for the gross statements made, and it was quite impossible for plaintiff or any person, however exalted his position, to allow charges co injurious to his reputation as a citizen, so wounding to his honour as a soldier, to pass without submitting them to some public scrutiny. It was not the Grand Duke's desire to use theso proceedings to put money into his pocket. He had no object except publicly to vindicate his honour. If, however, in the future there was any cause for complaint of attacks of this kind a very different course would be taken. Counsel also described in detail the Grand Duke's movements during the war. His Royal Highness entered the wit-ness-box and answered tho questions in excellent English. The facts brought out may be summarised: — When the • war broke out he went to the front at his own request to the Tsar, and was appointed equerry on the Special Staff. He went down to join General on March 15th, 1904. Ho accompanied his brother, the Grand -Duke Cyril, part of the way home. His brothers health had broken down, owing to the sinking of the flagship on which he was serving, of which he was the sole eurvivor. On April 11th, the Grand Duke Boris returned to General Kuropatkin. There was continual fighting. From June 30th Jo July 12th he was detailed to join General Kellier, and saw constant fighting. For several days he was continually under fire. On July 13th, General Kuropatkin bestowed on him the Order of St. Ann's of the Fourth Class, in recognition of his military sen-ices. . On August Ist, he was chosen (by no means at his own desire) by General Kuropatkin to return to St. Petersburg to convoy the congratulations of the army to the Emperor on the birth of an heir to the throne. Since the war he had been given the command of a squadron of the Emperor's Hussars, one of the chief regiments of the flower of tho Russian Army. In 1912, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. On his birthday, tho Tsar presented him with a golden sword of honour, inscribed for braverr. Until theso imputations were made, added the Grand Duke, no suggestion had ever been made that he did not behave as a soldier should have done. For tho defendants, great regret was expressed that the statements should hare- been published, and tho Lord Chief Justice, in closing: the.case, fiiiid it had been plain borond all doubt that there tras no ground xrhaterer for any of the grave reflections which, were made.