Wednesday, June 15, 2011

and other news...

June 15, 1905


Kaiser Wilhelm II left Potsdam this afternoon for a trip to Sigmaringen, where he will attend the funeral of the Prince of Hohenzollern.   The funeral will take place tomorrow at Sigmaringen.


It was announced earlier today that Grand Duke Alexis of Russia has resigned his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy.    The Grand Duke, the fourth son of the late Tsar Alexander II. began his naval training when he was seven years old.  He was only twenty years old when he was appointed lieutenant of the Russian Imperial Navy.

This was not an unexpected development. During the Russo-Japanese war in 1904, the Russian First Pacific Squadron and their reinforcements were destroyed during the Battle for the Yellow Sea.  One of the reasons  for the Russian failure was the Grand Duke's decision to purchase French-made battleships, which were of a poor design.

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