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.
And on this trip the Sovereign, as always, was accompanied by a small suite: Count V.B. Fredericks, Count Benckendorff, Adjutant General Nilov, Palace Commandant V.N. Voyeykov, Count Grabbe, Count Sheremetev, Fligel-Adjutant Drenteln, Sablin, Life Surgeon Fedorov, Major General Dubensky, and other persons. The very next day, October 28, at 9 a.m., the Imperial train arrived in Reval. The hour was early, and there were few greeters at the station. The Naval Minister, Adjutant General Grigorovich, the Commander of the Baltic Fleet, Vice Admiral Kanin, the Commandant of the Emperor Peter the Great Sea 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, in an automobile, accompanied by the Naval Minister, Adjutant General Grigorovich, the fleet commander, Vice Admiral Kanin, and other commanding officers of the fleet and his suite, set out to inspect the fortifications and forts.
Here, in Reval, winter had already lasted three weeks; everywhere there were sleigh tracks. The road went through the city, the suburbs, and through some small woods. Along the way there were trenches, communication passages, dugouts; all of it dusted with snow.
His Majesty visited several batteries, inspecting infantry units and artillery along the route. At one fort, the laying of a concrete "shelter" for the garrison was carried out. At the laying, a prayer service was held, and the local naval choir sang very harmoniously and beautifully.
The appearance of the men was very good. Both equipment and armament were excellent for everyone.
The Heir Tsarevich followed the Sovereign everywhere. He was in 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 trip to the military harbor, where His Majesty, having walked past the ranks of naval teams, boarded the transport "Europa".
Here the Emperor awarded distinguished officers with combat decorations, and to some sailors, for feats of arms, personally pinned St. George crosses. Near the transport "Europa" were submarines. All these boats had just returned from the sea after their bold raids.
Also there, on the transport, were several English officers and a crew of English sailors with typical faces. The Sovereign decorated the Englishmen, Lieutenant Franz Guthort for sinking the German cruiser "Adalbert", and Crowley for sinking the "Undine", with St. George officers' crosses. Lieutenant Crowley, in addition to this feat, sank 8 German steamships and, having seized at sea a Swedish ship with contraband, brought it into our port. Among other English naval officers here was Captain Lorance, who blew up the "Moltke"—he was already a holder of the St. George award.
The Sovereign spent a long time on the submarines, attentively listening to officers' reports about their daring sea raids and clashes with the enemy.
After inspecting the submarines, the Emperor, with the Heir Tsarevich, departed for the Reval plant of the Russo-Baltic Shipbuilding and Mechanical Society. At the plant, the Emperor inspected work in the turbine shop. The plant workers joyfully greeted the Emperor and the Heir Tsarevich with shouts of "hurrah".
Returning from the plant to the city, the Emperor passed through the grounds of another shipbuilding plant of the joint-stock company "Bekker". Along the route stood the plant workforce, greeting the Emperor and the Heir Tsarevich with shouts of "hurrah". In the city, His Majesty visited wounded and sick warriors housed in a temporary naval hospital in the building of the Estonian Theater.
On October 29, the Emperor, with the Heir Tsarevich, arrived in Riga.