1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/Alexeyev, Mikail

ALEXEYEV, MIKAIL (1857–1918), Russian general, was born in 1857, and entered the army in 1876. He completed his studies at the General Staff College in 1890, and joined the Russian General Staff. In 1904 he became a general. He took part in the war with Turkey in 1877–8. During the Russo-Japanese War he was the director of the operations on the staff of the II. Army. After further staff service he became in 1912 commander of the XIII. Army Corps. At the outbreak of the World War he was nominated chief of the staff of the south-western front. The first operations were skilfully carried on by him, and the great Russian victory in Galicia in 1914 was his work. In March 1915 he was called to command the group of armies of the north-western front. A stupendous task awaited him here; eight armies were confided to him, but these masses were destitute of all means of combat. The events in Galicia in April 1915 had their repercussion further north, where the position became desperate, and the army seemed lost. But by the end of Aug. the armies were saved, thanks to the energy and ability of their commander. In Aug. 1915 he was nominated chief of the headquarters of the supreme command, and worked there with the Emperor, who had just assumed the supreme command. He served in this capacity during the successful campaign of 1916, until in Nov. a breakdown, of health compelled him to give up his office. After the revolution of March 1917 he became commander-in-chief, but in May 1917 he was dismissed. Recalled by Kerensky in Sept. he remained at headquarters only 12 days in order to exercise a steadying influence during the conflict between Kornilov and Kerensky, and then left, being unable to work with men who he considered had brought misfortune and shame on his country. At the commencement of the Bolshevik regime he went to the south of Russia, where he soon became the leader of the "Volunteer Army," and took the field against the Bolsheviks. He died of heart disease Oct. 10 1918.