The Letters of the Tsar

to the Tsaritsa, 1914-1917 [By arrangement with Messrs. John Lane, who will publish the complete book in the spring, we are able to print a series of extracts from " The Letters of the Tsar to the Tsaritsa, 1914- 1917." These letters and telegrams, originally written in English, are re-translated from the official Russian publication of " The Correspondence of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov "—the

only available text, and now appear for the first time in England. We have already published extracts in which the Tsar describes his taking over the Supreme Command.]

No. 506 (only think, what a big number !). Every evening, before Saying prayers with our Ray of Sunshine, I tell him (The Tsarevitch) the contents of your telegrams, and read all his letters aloud to him [i.e., the letters received by Alexis], He listens, lying in bed, and kisses your signature. He is

beginning to be talkative, and inquires about many things, because we are alone ; sometimes, when it is already getting late, I have to urge him to say his prayers. He sleeps well

and quietly, and likes the window to be left open. The noise in the streets does not disturb him.

I have less time for reading since the coming of the spring, because we spend much more' time in the open 'air—usually from 3 to 6 o'clock ; when ire' return 'hoine we drink • tea, and Baby has his dinner.

Now, my joy, it is time to finish. God guard you and the

girls ! I kiss your dear little face, and love you ardently.— Eternally, Wify mine, all yours, NICKY.

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Stavka. June 5th, 1916.

My dear,—I -thank you tenderly for dear letter. I have received Grabbe, and he has given me all your messages. I have absolutely no time for writing ; it is such a nuisance !

Some days ago Alexeiev and I decided . not to attack in the North, but to concentrate all our efforts a little more to

the South.—But I beg you not to tell anybody about it, not 'even our Friend (Rasputin). Nobody must know about it Even the troops stationed in the North continue to think that

they will soon take part in an offensive—and this keeps up their spirit. Demonstrations of a very pronounced kind, even, will be continued to be made here for the same purpose. We are sending strong reinforcements to the South. Brous- silov is calm and firm.

The weather is a little warmer and finer. Yes, I had quite forgotten to congratulate you on Anastasia's birthday.

May God guard you, my angel, and the girls ! I cover your dear little face with ardent kisses.—Eternally your NICKY.

" Not to attack in the North." The following quotation from Ludendorff is of special interest : " Russia's amazing victories over the Austro-Hungarian troops induced her to abandon her proposed offensive against the front of the Commander-in-Chief in the East, except for the move in the direction of Baranovitchi, and concentrate all her efforts against Austria-Hungary. The more the German front proved itself inviolable, the more eagerly did the Russians turn from it to hurl themselves against their weaker foe" (p. 220).

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Stavka. June 7th, 1916.

My own Sunny,—I thank you heartily for your dear letter and for the paste.

As we used to paste photographs into albums in former days when on the yacht, during rain, so I shall do now in bad weather. - After yesterday's lovely weather it started pouring with rain early this morning, and has not ceased till now. It is

so dreary I I told Alexeiev how interested you were in military affairs, and of those details which you asked for in your last letter, No. 511. He smiled and listened silently.

Of course, these things have been, and . are, taken into con- sideration ; our pursuit will end on the river Souchava ; all the narrow and broad gauge railways are being put right, and new ones are being constructed immediately behind our troops. Do not be surprised if a temporary lull now occurs in the military operations. Our troops will not move there until new reinforcements have come up and a diversion has

been made near Pinsk. I beg you, keep it to yourself ; not

a single soul must know of it Taking all these circumstances into consideration, I conic

to the conclusion that I shall have to stay here for an indefinite period. I have therefore given Voeikov orders to send my train home for repairs, which it is in great need of. The Ikon of the Vlad. -Mother of God returned from the front yesterday. The old priest who came with it from Moscow is delighted with the troops he saw, and with their spirit.

God bless you ! I embrace you passionately and cover your dear little face with ardent kisses, my dear little Wify.- Yours eternally, NICKY.

" I told Alexeiev how interested you were." Alereie v's attitude towards the Tsaritsa always irreproachably courteous, but firm and reserved, may be gathered from a statement which he made to General Denikin, " When the Empress's papers were examined fin the spring of 1917] she was found to -be in possession of a map indicating in detail the dispositions of -the troops along the entire front. Only two copies were prepared of this map, one for the Emperor and one for myself. I was very painfully impressed. God knows who may have made use of this map " (Denikin, p. 20). Akreiev is said to have

opposed the Taaritsa's suggestion that Re in should visit the Stavka, and even to :save threatened resignation if such a visit took place.

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Stavka. June 11th, 1916.

My own darling Wify,—I thank you tenderly for your dear letter, full of boring questions, most of which I have already touched upon in my conversation with St. He is an excellent, honest man, only, it Seems to me, he cannot make up his mind to do what is necessary.—The gravest and most urgent question just now is the question of fuel and metals—iron and copper for munitions—because, with the shortage of metals, the factoriei cannot produce a sufficient quantity of cartridges and shells. • It is the same with the railways. Trepov declares that they are working better than last year, and brings forward evidence to that effect, but complaints are being made, never- theless, thai they do not bring tip all that they could ! These affairs are a regular curse ; . from constant anxiety about them, I cannot make out where the truth .lies. But it is imperative to act energetically and to take firm measures, in order to settle these questions once for all. As soon as the Mims is' adjourned I shall call all the• Ministers to this plaCe for the discussion of these problems, and shall decide upon everything here. They persist in coming here nearly every day, and take up all my time ; I usually go to bed after 1.80 a.m., spending all my time in a continual rush, with writing, reading and receptions ! ! ! It is simply desperate !

It is warmer to-day, yet it rained twice. Yesterday I received two Persian princes. Baby amazed us all by con- versing in French, during lunch, with the younger of the two !

God keep you !—I kiss you passionately and tenderly, my treasure, the girls as well. Give her mygreetings.—Eternally yours, * * * Stavka. July 2nd, 1916. My precious Wify,—My warmest thanks for dear letter No. 536. I am writing, as usual, after lunch, having come in from the garden with wet sleeves and boots, as Alexey has sprayed us at the fountain. It is his favourite game with Solovoy, the French General Janin, Petrovsky, Gen. Williams and the Japanese. Great animation prevails while it lasts, and peals of laughter ring out ; sometimes other guests take part in it as well. I keep an eye on order, and see that things do not go too far. I hope you will see this game when you arrive. It is so hot now that it does not take a minute to get dry. Solovoy is a cheerful . and kindly lad, and Baby likes him very much. George has arrived ; thanks for the greeting sent by him.

There is a temporary lull now at the front, -which will come to an end about the 7th. The Guards will take part, too, because the time has come for breaking through the enemy's lines and taking Kovel. .

God guard you and the girls I I kiss you passionately,— " The time has conic for breaking through the" enemy's lines." Of this day (July 16th, new style) Ludendorff wrote : " On July 16th the Russians, in enormous force, poured out from the Riga bridge- head . . and gained- ground at once. We went through a terrible time until- the crisis here was overcome. . . . These battles were, not yet over at the end of July, when there were some indications that the attacks at Baranovitchi and along, the whole course of the Stockod would be resumed. We awaited these with a einking heart . . . out' nerves were strung to the highest pitch" (pp. 226-7). (A further extract from the Tsar's Letters will appear next week.)