INSULT TO COLONEL WELLESLEY.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 4, 27 October 1877, Page 2

INSULT TO COLONEL WELLESLEY.

Military circles have been much agitated by the treatment which Colonel Wellesley has received at the hands of the Commander-in-chief of the Russian armies, the Grand Duke Nicholas. The event was certainly very irritating, for our " attache" was the victim of an intentional insult. Ido not believe that the real cause has been mentioned in any of the newspapers. It was this:—Some weeks ago Colonel Wellesley sent home a military report which was not particularly flattering towards the Russian head-quarters'staff. The Grand Duke heard of it through one of the American war correspondents, and when Colonel Wellesley presented himself at Bucharest, the Grand Duke bluntly told him that he did not want to see him, that he was not welcome, and that so long as he remained with the army he would be under police surveillance. Colonel Wellesley said he considered this an insult to his uniform. " Nothing of the sort," said the Grand Duke, " the uniform is not unwelcome, it is the wearer." The " British Mail " immediately telegraphed home, a Cabinet Council was called, and after negotiations with the Russian Ambassador here the matter was. smoothed over, and Colonel Wellesley was invited to transfer himself from the staff of the Grand Duke to that of the Czar. The matter was referred to in the House of Lords, when the Government stated that the amende honorable had been made in a note from Prince Gortschakoff.