GRAND DUKE BORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 11

GRAND DUKE BORIS

PLAINTIFF IN AN ACTION.

HONOUR VINDICATED.

[FROM OTTR OWN COBSESPONBENT.] London, December 19. In Munsey's Magazine of last April there appeared an article by Mr. Cunliffe Owen, entitled "The 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 the Grand Duke instituted libel proceedings, citing as the defendants : Frank A. Munsey Company, Fifth Avenue, New York (proprietors and printers of the magazine); Horace Marshall and Son, Temple House, Temple Avenue (publishers of the periodical in England); and Mr. Cunliffe 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 there was not the slightest warrant of any kind for the gross statements made, a.nd it was quit© impossible for the plaintiff or any person, however exalted his position, to allow charges so injurious to his reputation as a citizen, so wounding to his honour as a soldier, without submitting them to some public scrutiny. It was not the Grand Duke's desire to use these 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 witnessbox and answered the questions in excellent English. The facts brought out may be summarised :—When the wa* 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 Kuropatkin on March 15, 1904- He accompanied his brother, the Grand Duke Cyril, part of the way home. His brother's health had broken down owing to the sinking of the flagship on which he was serving, and of which he was the sole survivor. On April 11 the Grand Duke Boris returned to General Kuropatkin. There „was continual fighting. From June 30 to July 12 he was detailed to join General Kellier, and saw. constant fighting. For several days he was continually under fire. On July 13 General Kuropatkin bestowed on him the Order of St. Ann's of the Fourth Class, in recognition of his military services. On August Ihe was chosen (by no means at his own desire) by General Kuropatkin to return to St. Petersburg to convey 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 the squadron of the Emperor's Hussars, one of the chief regiments of the Russian Array. In 1912 he was promoted to the rank of colonel. On his birthday the Tsar presented him with a golden sword of honour, inscribed, " for bravery." Until these 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 the defendants great regret was expressed that the statements should have been published, and the Lord Chief Justice, in closing the case, said it had been made plain beyond all doubt that there was no ground whatever for any of the grave reflections which were made.