THE LATE EX-CZAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1858, 30 July 1918, Page 3

THE LATE EX-CZAR.

STORY OF lIIS LIFE. RUSSIA'S ANCIENT FRIENDSHIP WITH ENGLAND. NICHOLAS AND HIS ARMY, Many recent reports have alleged the death hy murder or official execution of Nicholas 11., ex-Czar of Russia, and are confirmed hy the fact that the English Court has gone into mourning. -The la.to ruler of Russia appears to have been exe-cuted-in a semi-secret way hy Bolshevik authorities, no doubt to pul a slop to plots intended to reinstate the monarchy.

Nicholas Alexandrovilch was horn on the 18th of May, IHtiS, and succeeded to the Imperial throne on 2nd November, 1894, t on the death of his father, Alexander HI, Since the reign of the first Tsar, Peter the Great, there have been nine Emperors and three ruling Empresses. Four of these Russian rulers were assassinated —Ivan VI., Peter 111., Paul, and Alexander 11. The latter was the grandfather of Nicholas IT., who carefully preserved in a glass case the unfinished cigarette laid down hy his beloved relative when he left the Palace on the fatfil morning, 13th March, 1881. The Emperor’s Consort is styled the Tsarina; and the heir to the throne Tsarevitch (Tsar’s son). The reigns of the Tsars have always been eventful, and that of Nicholas 11. has been no exception to the general rule. He has experienced the new friendship with France, the disastrous war with Japan, and the remoulding of the entire Russian political constitution. Our King has lost not only a first cousin, but up to quite recently a warm ally.

Far back in Russia’s'history, at the very rise of the Imperial House, England and Russia Avere bound together by ties of friendship and kinship. The Reigning Prince of Russia, Vladimir Monowaehus, wedded Gyda, daughter of the English King Harold, who fell on the field of Senlac. In later times Ivan (he Fourth (surnamed the Terrible) sent an Embassy to Queen Elizabeth to negotiate an alliance with England. He was also one of the many suitors for the hand of the Virgin Queen. Kinglake says: “During the eighteenth century Russia andGreat Britain were often allies. Once Russian soldier's garrisoned the Channel Islands. Russian fleets refitted in English dockyards. Russian and English soldiers fought side by side in many a hard conflict.” '

Nicholas 11., when Tsarevitch, received a military training, entering each of the three branches of the service in turn. Mr Gladstone, meeting him in Copenhagen during the 'eighties, described him as being “like an English public schoolboy of the best type.” The youthful Prince, whose likeness to King George is very striking, spent much time in travel, learning to know people and places in all parts of his great dominion, on one occasion making alour through Asia to Japan, and home via Siberia, where he laid the first stone and wheeled the lirsl barrow of earth for the Trans-Siberian Railway. He was also a member of the Council of Empire, and president of the Far Eastern Committee. Nicholas If. was crowned in Moscow, 16lh May, 1896 (Moscow and Pelrograd being both capitals of Russia, but Moscow being styled the premier capital). His marriage to Princess Alice of Hesse (daughter of England's Princess Alice, and grand-daughter of Queen Victoria), took place on 26th November, 1.894, three weeks after his father’s death. The Imperial pair had five children; four daughters—Olga, born 15th November, 1895; Tatiana, born 10(h June, 1897; Marie, born 261 h June, .1899; Anastasia, born 18(h June, 1901; and one son, Alexis Nieholoievilch (the Tsarevitch), born 30th July, 1904. The closest possible affection existed between the Tsarevitch and his father.

Tlio Tsar sot his son a good example of industry, energy, and method. In the sendee u.f the State he was tireless, achieving every day an extraordinary amount of work. In short, he was aetive and skilful; walking, riding, bicycling, rowing, and tennis were favourite amusements. He was an expert in swimming and diving, and like King George, his cousin, a first-rate shot, being gifted by Nature with a good eye and a steady hand. His ancestor, Peter the Great, once lived for a, month on bread and water in order to determine the needful allowance of bread per day for the private soldier. Nicholas 11. took the same deep personal interest in the soldiers’ welfare. When staying in Livadia he constantly went for long rambles, carrying the accoutrements and rifle of an infantryman, in order to test for himself the weight they were required to march under. He improved the men’s quarters, and ordered the issue of a tea ration, the latter being a wise and thoughtful provision in a country where in the humblest cottage the samovar is always at hand, and the offer of tea an ordinary civility between the poorest persons. He often gave assistance to widows of soldiers and sailors, especially in the bringing up and education of their children. He always endeavoured to preserve the dignity of the Russian sailor and soldier, and expressed his view that the latter should above all be “a soldier of Christ.” Many heroes were immortalised by the Tsar’s decree to 'name famous regiments after then;, and his sympathy endeared Imp. to the j’/uik and lile of his gnuy, Iff 1898 Nicholas set hiat>

self steadily to improve his army hy raising the officers pay, so that zealous and .capable men might be attracted and retained. The disastrous war with Japan only strengthened his purpose. It is universally believed that the Tsar was averse to this war, but that he was rushed into it by the Russian Grand Dukes, who were financially deeply interested in a certain Royal timber company on the Upper Yalu River, promoted by one BebrazolT, a Russian speculator of plausibility and influence, formerly a State Councillor in the Tsar’s Civil Service. It was he who (probably at the instigation ol the Grand Dukes, and without the Tsar’s knowledge) suddenly demanded of Admiral Alexioll that he should .garrison Feng-huang-chang and Sha-ho-tzu, and (-ease the withdrawal of Russian troops from Southern Manchuria. According' to General Kuropatkin, this evacuation was suddenly “stopped by an order from Admiral AlexielT, whose reasons for taking this step have not to this day been sufficiently cleared up.” So lately as September, 1903, the Tsar had desired Admiral Alexieff to do all in his power to avoid war. The Tsar knew that Russia was practically a continent dividing Europe from Asia, and that her trend should be southward and northward, not eastward.

A Selection Board for, officering the highest Army posts, age limits for retirement, increase of pens!'ons, transformation of the General Staff Academy into a military school for all officers, the founding of railway, aeronautical, gymnastic, and automobile schools, and of special courses for artillery officers before commanding a battery, were only a few of the innovations introduced by the Tsar, whose greatest act was the issuing of a Rescript at the commencement of the present war abolishing the sale of “vodka.” It was the immediate means of causing national thrift, as nothing else had ever done, but “stiffened” the army as well. The Tsar of his own free will issued manifestos reconstituting the order of the State. By these manifestos the Duma became representative of the people, who elected their own members. He declared on 30th October, 1905: “It is the unalterable will of the Tsar . . . . that no law shall have force without the approval of the Duma, ami that the people’s representatives are as-, sured of an active participation in the control of affairs.” At the same time the Tsar did not lay down his autocratic power. He stall'd: “God has entrusted-me with the rule over my nation. 1 will answer for my rule before His Throne." At his coronation the Tsar prayed (like his ancestors) that the Almighty would give him counsel and wisdom to rule and .judge (he Rassiau Umpire: for aid, so to order all for the good of his people and (lie glory of God that, at the Day of Judgment, he might answer without situ me for the country commit led to Ids charge, Of late years Nicholas fell under the spell of spiritualism and other occult influences that appear to have robbed him of bis virility, for he certainly fell away from his ideals and became a puppet in the hands of a vicious camarilla, at the head of which stood the infamous Rasputin, (he equally vile Boris Sturmci —both really German tools —and I lie unprincipled ProtopotolV, who became Procurator of the Holy Synod, and in that capacity held men's lives in the hollow of his hand. That such an out-ami-out pro-Ger-man as Stunner should have become Prime Minister of Russia, and as such have been abb l to encompass the ruin of Rumania, is one of the great mysteries of-the war.