The visit of Emperor Nicholas II to Reval on October 28, 1915.
Wishing to visit our naval forces after their glorious deeds in early autumn, His Imperial Majesty on Tuesday, October 27, at 11 p.m., together with the Heir Tsarevich, departed from Tsarskoye Selo for Reval.
On this journey the Sovereign, as always, was accompanied by a small suite: Count V.B. Fredericks, Count Benckendorff, Adjutant General Nilov, the Palace Commandant V.N. Voeikov, Count Grabbe, Count Sheremetev, Fligel-Adjutant Drenteln, Sablin, the Chief Physician Fedorov, Major General Dubensky, and other persons. The next day, October 28, at 9 a.m., the Imperial train arrived in Reval. The hour was early, and there were few people to meet it at the station. Among those present were the Naval Minister, Adjutant General Grigorovich; the commander of the Baltic Fleet, Vice Admiral Kanin; the commandant of the Emperor Peter the Great Naval Fortress, Vice Admiral Gerasimov; an honor guard from the naval crew and militia units. In the streets stood crowds of the local population.
From the station His Imperial Majesty, together with the Heir, rode by automobile, accompanied by the Naval Minister, Adjutant General Grigorovich, the fleet commander Vice Admiral Kanin, other senior naval officers, and his suite, to inspect the fortress works and forts.
Here, in Reval, winter had already lasted three weeks; everywhere the roads were fit for sleighs. The route went through the city, the suburbs, and some small woods. Along the way there were trenches, communication passages, and dugouts, all covered with snow.
His Majesty visited several batteries, inspecting infantry units and artillery along the route. At one fort, the foundation stone was laid for a concrete “shelter” for the garrison. A prayer service was held at the ceremony, and the local naval choir sang very harmoniously and beautifully.
The men looked very good. Both equipment and armament were excellent in all units.
The Heir Tsarevich followed the Sovereign everywhere. He wore a soldier’s greatcoat, and the St. George medal was already visible on his chest. On the Sovereign’s greatcoat the St. George ribbon could be seen.
After breakfast there was an interesting поездка to the military harbor, where His Majesty, after walking along the formation of naval detachments, boarded the transport ship “Europa”.
There the Emperor awarded distinguished officers with combat decorations, and for certain sailors, for feats in action, personally pinned St. George crosses on them. Submarines were stationed near the transport “Europa”. All these boats had just returned from the sea after their daring raids.
Also on board the transport were several English officers and a crew of English sailors with typical faces. The Sovereign decorated the English lieutenants Franz Guthort for sinking the German cruiser “Adalbert”, and Crowley for sinking “Undine”, with officers’ St. George crosses. In addition to this feat, Lieutenant Crowley sank eight German steamships and, having seized at sea a Swedish vessel carrying contraband, brought it into our port. Among other English naval officers present was Captain Lawrence, who blew up the “Moltke”—he was already a Knight of St. George.
The Sovereign spent a long time on the submarines, attentively listening to the officers’ reports about their bold sea raids and clashes with the enemy.
After inspecting the submarines, His Imperial Majesty, together with the Heir Tsarevich, departed for the Reval plant of the Russo-Baltic Shipbuilding and Mechanical Society. At the plant the Emperor inspected the work in the turbine shop. The factory workers joyfully greeted the Emperor and the Heir Tsarevich with shouts of “hurrah”.
Returning from the plant to the city, His Imperial Majesty passed through the grounds of another shipbuilding plant of the Becker joint-stock company. Along the route stood the plant’s workers, greeting the Emperor and the Heir Tsarevich with shouts of “hurrah”. In the city His Majesty visited wounded and sick soldiers housed in a temporary naval hospital in the building of the Estonian Theater.
On October 29, His Imperial Majesty, together with the Heir Tsarevich, arrived in Riga.