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Show WM DIE IS GIVENNEW POST Emperor Makes Him Viceroy of Caucasus and Commander-in-chief of Russian .Armies in South. Petrograd, SepL 8, via London, 1:08 p. m. Grand Duko Nicholas has been transferred to tho Caucasus by Emperor Nicholas: Tho emperor took this action on assuming command com-mand of tho military and naval forces for-ces of Russia. In transferring tho Grand Duko ho appointed him viceroy of tho Caucasus Caucas-us and commander-in-chief of tho army in tho southern ifront. The transfer was mado In connection connec-tion with a gonoral reorganization of such importance that it has stirred the nation deoply. Tho grand duko replaces tho famous fa-mous Viceroy of the Caucasus, Count von Vorontzoff-Dashkoff. Emperor Nicholas addressed to the count a communication acknowledg ing uiu vuiuu oi nis laDors ana nulling null-ing that he "yields to his request to be permitted to devoto his energies to work, for which his state of health is more equal." Tho emperor therefore there-fore relieves him of the post of viceroy vice-roy and attaches him to his personal staff. In relieving the Grand Duko, tho omporor addressed a communication to him which read: "At the beginning' ol the war I was unavoidably prevented from following the inclination of ray soul, to put myself my-self at tho head of tho army. That was why I entrusted you with tho commandship in chief of all tho land and sea forces. Bravery of Grand Duke. "Under tho eyes of all Russia your imperial highness has given proof during dur-ing tho war of a steadfast bravery which caused a feeling of profound confidenco and called forth the sincere sin-cere good wishes of all who followed your operations through tho inevitable inevit-able vicissitudes of war. "My duty to my countrv which has been entrusted to mo by God impels mo today, when the enemy has penetrated pene-trated into the interior of tho empire, em-pire, to take supreme command of the active forces and to share with the army tho fatigue of war and to safeguard Russian soil from attempts of tho enemy. The ways of Provl-donco Provl-donco are inscrutable, but my duty and my desire determine me in my resolution for tho good of the 6tate. "The invasion of the enemy on the western front which necessitates the greatest possible concentration of civil civ-il and military authorities as well as the unification of command in the field, has turned our attention from the southern front At this moment I recognize the necessity of your assistance as-sistance and counsels on the southern front, and I appoint you viceroy of the Caucasus and commander-in-chief of the valiant Caucasian array. "I express to your imperial highness high-ness my profound gratitude and that of the country for your labors during the war." London, Sept. 8. 11:50 a. m An army order issued by Grand Duke Nicholas, who had been commander in chief of the Russian forces, conveys con-veys the inference that Emperor Nicholas, in assuming supreme command com-mand of his armed forces, has supplanted sup-planted the grand duke. Order to Army and Fleet. The order is addressed to "tho valiant va-liant army and fleet" The announcement, announce-ment, as forwarded from Petrograd to Reuter's Telegram company, says that the emperor has placed himself at the head of the military and naval forces. The grand duke thanks them for their heroism in tho past He predicts that, with the emperor leading lead-ing them, they will perform fresh exploits. ex-ploits. The text of the order is quoted as follows: "Today I have taken supreme command com-mand of all my forces of the sea and of the land armies operating in the theatre of war. "With firm faith in the elemenev of God and with unshaken assurance of final victory, we shall fulfill our sacred duty to defend our country to the last. Wo shall not dishonor the Russian land." The action of Emperor Nicholas in transferring his cousin, the Grand Duke Nicholas, to the Caucasian front. Is perhaps the most important change of this nature which has been made by any of the belligerent nations. na-tions. The only comparablo incident was the retirement by Emperor Williams Will-iams last October of Lieutenant General Gen-eral Count Helmuth von Moltko as chief of the German general staff. Tho post to which Grand Duke Nicholas has been transferred is of relative unimportance as compared with the prestige and vast powers of his former office as commander-in-chief of all Russia's great fighting forces. for-ces. The Caucasian campaign presents pre-sents only a minor aspect of tho war. The Russian and Turkish forces involved in-volved in the struggle In tho Black Sea region aro not large. Although there was heavy fighting In the Caucasus Cau-casus earlier in the war, hostilities have been conducted in only "a perfunctory per-functory manner for several months, as both of the nations Involved had need of all available forces in other quarters. |