Did GD Alexis Alexandrovich administer from St. Petersburg?

[tzolper]

Hello,

Does anyone know if GD Alexis Alexandrovich administered his position as commander in chief of the navy strictly from afar, from St. Petersburg, or did he also travel to Vladivostok and Port Arthur before and during the war? In his book "Big Trifles and Little People" Anatol M. Kotenev relates that in 1904 there was an unnamed "Grand Duke who visited the Far East frequently." I assumed this might be GD Alexis. But there seems to be very little written about Alexis during this period, surprisingly, with much written about his tour to the US, his main love affairs, etc.

Thanks for any help.

Tom

[Mike]

GD Alexei visited Vladivostok only twice: in 1872-73 and in 1876, both times aboard the frigate Svetlana. The "Grand Duke who visited the Far East frequently" was apparently Cyril Vladimirovich who in 1904 served there as a senior staff officer of the Russian Pacific fleet.

[tzolper]

Ok, thanks. And of course both GDs Boris and Cyril were briefly in Port Arthur also in spring of 1904 before Cyril survived the sinking of the Petropavlovsk. Maybe for some reason Kotenev is thinking of Admiral Alekseev as a GD.