OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 20617, 16 October 1928, Page 7

OBITUARY

DOWAGER EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. Copenhagen October 13. The death of Marie, Dowager Empress of Russia, who was a sister of Queen Alexandra, is announced. INTEREST IN CURRENT AFFAIRS. London, October 14. The Copenhagen correspondent of The Times reports th it the Dowager Empress of Russia was interested in current events tiU her death, notably in the Zeppelin’s flight. She always had photographs of the Tsar and his family on the table before her. She only once mentioned the tragedy to strangers. When it was reported that the Grand Duke Cyril was attempting to secure the crown she said this was terribly like turning a knife in the wound. She frequently recalled revolution incidents, notably .sitting in her nightdress watching the soldiers searching her room and cutting up her mattress for letters. She declared that she only left Russia at the urgent representations of the late Dowager Queen Alexandra, King George and Queen Mary.—Times Cables. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. POSITION OF ROMANOFF FAMILY. (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) Copenhagen, October 15. The Duke of York represents King George at the funeral of the Empress Marie, whose body on Tuesday wifi be brought to the Russian Church at Copenhagen, which the Empress and Tsar Alexander 111. themselves built. The funeral will be on Friday at Roskill Cathedral, where many Danish Kings and Queens are buried. A family conference regarding the position of the Romanoff family is likely. Thg Dowager Empress clung to the belief that Nicholas’s family was still alive and refused to assent to a discussion concerning his successor. Apparently neither the Grand Duke Alexander nor the Grand Duke Nicholas is ready to assume the headship of the Romanoff’s with obligations implied unless a large body of opinion favours restoration.—Australian Press Association.