Tragic Story of a Grand Duke

Levin Daily Chronicle, 11 June 1918, Page 4

Tragic Story of a Grand Duke

OFFICIAL STOKY AS TO WHY HE SHOT HIMSELF. Some week 'a ago '' Suicide of a Grand Duke" was a Continental newspaper line. It referred to the Hereditary Grand Duke of Meeklenburg-Stre-litz ,th e latest grand ducal victim, it was said, of his own hand. Leaving the castle of Neustrelitz for a walk with his dog, his absence was not noticed until the next morning, when his body was found in a near lake with a gun shot wound in his chest. On his desk several sealed letters were found. For the moment there was official silence. But now the MeeklenburgStrelitz Government has published an official explanation of Tiis death. Owing to contrary rumours about the death being ascribed to murder, says the document, it is desired to state that the Grand Duke killed himself because of a love affair which had obscured his judgment.. The Prince was about to be engaged to a German Princess, and negotiations were progressing to rid him of another sentimental tie which could not be crowned Dy marritge on account of illegality of birth. Negotiations reached their acuto stage, and when the Grand Duke heard that they had failed, and that lie could not marry the Princess in conformity with his hopes and duties as a ruler, he shot himself. Many .Continental papers point out the insincerity of the explanation, and in Berlin the later theory of murder has been widely disseminated. Grand Duke Adolphus Frederick, as already stated, was the last German heir to the Dutchy. In his younger days he made a sort of agreement with his younger brother, Karl Borwin, that the latter should marry a princess of equal rank and raise a family to continue the succession; while Adolphus, who was a mystic and a dreamer, should nominally rule when the tii»" ~>me. f bul' actually should cievote himseii tu encouraging art, and not be under obligations regarding the succession. '' MARRIED'' BENEATH HIM. But' during Karl Borwin's lifetime Adolphus met and maried p lady whost name was not mentioned, but who was not an equal in rank. Their children if any, could, therefore, not inherit the Grand Duchy. Although it was a mesalliance, it was overlooked while Karl Borwin lived. But he was killed some years ago without leaving legal heirs. Pressure was then put steadily ana incessantly on Adolphus to divorce the lady he had married, and to marry a German princess ,whose children* could continue th 0 succession. Very reluctantly, Adolphus, who had become Grand Duke, was brought to consent, and the triumphant intriguers set to work to buy off' Adolphus's legal, but not equal-born, wife. .

But, much to the surprise of officialdom the lady raised strong objections and flatly declined to be divorced.

Negotiations reached an acute stage, and when the' Grand Duke heard that they had failed, and that he could not mary the princess in conformity with his hopes and duties as a ruler, he shot himself.

To many Continental papers that is an insincere explanation, and, as already said, Berlin sticks to the theory of murder.

Grand Duke Adolphus was a godson among his Christian names those of Albert Edward.

He was first cousin to our Queen Mary, his age being thirty-six.

Military Medal, did fine work, and when many of his men were casualties, he held, with six' men, a difficult position under shell firo till others came up. Though wounded, he refused to leave the field of battle until ordered away by his commander.

A lieutenant who was directing tho assault against an enemy pogt that held between 40 and 50 men and six ma-chine-guns, organised three bombing attacks and then led his men with great dash in a final assault that succeeded in getting the guns and 25 prisoners. Ho directed the consolidation of the captured position. One private, who was the loading' man of a mopping-up party, killed 10 Germans within as many minutes' Lewis gunners had a busy time at the commencement, and when the enemy resistance was broken had a still busier time firing into the retreating Gcirman infantry. They went boldly into action, and some continued to fire their guns after they wero wounded.. One fired his gun until it was blown away, and then got another gun and continued firing. ,