CZAR'S COUSIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 5, 7 January 1929, Page 7

CZAR'S COUSIN.

Death Of Grand Duke Nicholas

Of Russia.

WORLD WAS FIGURE.

(Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) LONDON, January 6.

The death has occurred at Nice of the Grand Duke Nicholas, cousin of the late Czar of Russia. He commanded the Russian armies, 1914-15.

The Grand Duke, Nicholas, Micholaieviteh, was born at Leningrad, then St. Petersburg, in 1856. He Teceived & military training at the War Academy and he took his career as a soldier seriously. Aβ a youth of 21 he fought in the RuseoTurkish War and if he was not a great strategist himself he had the wisdom to rely upon the men who were wise. He started on his political career in 1905 during the revolutionary outbreak in that year. He became one of the most trusted counsellors of the Czar Nicholas and urged him to put oown the rebellion with arms used with the utmost severity. During the Balkan

crisis of 1912-13, he was reported to have advocated war with Austria-Hungary. It was common talk at the time that in the event of hostilities he was marked down for the chief command, and, as a matter of fact, when the world war broke out he led the Russian army. He was regarded in Russia as a ruthless, but, at the same time, a just and upright soldier of unimpeachable character. The military situation was in his favour. The spring; of 1915 brought him the capture of Przemysl. though he was unable to cross the barrier of the Carpathians. Then came the German and Austrian break through on the Dunajetz *nd the great Rusian retreat, which cost the Duke his command. He was sent to the Caueasea as Viceroy, but instead of sulking in his tent he waged a successful war against the Turks, capturing several towns, although he was unable to effect a junction with the British in Mesopotamia and his troops did not do very well in Persia. The revolution of the Bolsheviks, in 1919, closed his military career. For some time he was a prisoner in the Crimea and was in danger of being murdered. Eventually he escaped and went to Germany and later to France, where' he lived ever since. The service that the tirand Duke did to Russia was that he cleared the path for the men of brains and did not disdain to go to Germany for his lessons. The action of the Czar in abolishing vodka has also been attributed to the influence of the Duke. In the political aspect rather than the military aspect of the Grand Duke his influence is less sure. It was he who issued the famous promise of liberty to Poland, but that promise again was a military necessity and events did not strengthen the hopes that it awakened. In his sympathies, Nicholas was Pan-Slavist, a fact in some measure due to his marriage with the daughter of the King of Montenegro.

LOSS OF LEADER. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 1 p.m.) PARIS, January fl. The death of the Grand Duke Nicholas has created a difficult situation for millions of Russian emigres throughout Europe as he was the head of a secret military organisation embracing practically all exiled ex-officers. The Grand Duke lived in state at Antibes and directed a large general staff. His house was defended with machine-guns day and night, which prevented several planned attempts at assassination. The organisation was ready to return to Russia and establish a military dictatorship the moment the Soviet regime fails. The Grand Duke'e organisation was opposed to the Grand Duke Cyril's claim to the Russian throne to which Nicholas was never a claimant, but it is believed he was designated in the will as a candidate for favours for the Crown.