The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-16
DISARM[NG OF LENA ORDERED.
ROOSEJELT ACTS on REQUEST
or RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.
Our Nayyl Authorities to Superintend
Disnyantins OF Vessel and Repairs
Made to Her and Hold Her Until War
Ends-Dispositi0n OF Crew Unsettled.

hABHINOIOS, sept Nuooloh
armed transport Lena, whose presence in
The harbor Of San Francisco created an
international furry, will be disarmed and
remain at the Golden Gate until the close
of hostilities in the Far East.
Acting upon the written request OF Capt
Berlinsky, the commander Of the Lena,
made under instructions from his Govern
ment at st. Petersburg, President lRoose-
welt to-day issued an order to this effect
and the incident, so far as it's possible effect
upon the friendly relations now existing
between the United States and the two
belligerents is concerned, may be regarded
AZ closed. The following statement was
made public at the State Department this
afternoon.
The President to-day issued an order
through the acting Secretary OF State. direct
ing that the Russian armed transport Lena
now at San Francisco. be taken into custody
by the naval authorities OF the United States
and disarmed.
The main features OF the conditions pre-
scribed are that the Lena be taken to the
Mare Island navy yard and there dlsarmed
by removal Of small guns. breech locks OF
large guns. small arms. ammunition
and ordnance stores. and such other dis
mantlement as may be prescribed by
the commandant of tho navy yard;
guarantee 'la that the Lena shall not
leave San Francisco until peace shall have
been concluded; that the officers and crew
shall be paroled not to leave San Francisco
until some understanding as to their dis
posal may be reached between the United
states Government and both the belligerents:
that after disarmament the vessel may be re-
moved to a private dock for such reason
able repairs Us will make her seaworthy
and preserve her In good condition during
her detention. or may be so repaired at the
navy yard, II the Russian commander should
so elect that while at q private dock the
commandant OF the navy yard at Mare Island
shall have the custody Of the ship and the
repairs shall be owe rseen by the en- gineer officer
to be detailed by the commandment. and that.
when so repaired. II peace shall not then
have been concluded the vessel shall be
taken back to the Mare Island Navy Yard
and be there held in custody until the end
OF the war.
This action has been taken on the written
request OF the commander Of the Lena. ad-
dressed to Rear Admiral Goodrich. setting
forth that as the vessel Ia incapable OF put
ting to sea without needful repairs she must
disarm, and asking that needful repairs be
permitted after disarmament
The Secretary OF the Navy has telegraphed
the Presidents order to San Francisco and
given instructions to Admiral Goodrich and
to Capt. McCalla. the commandant OF the
Mare Island Navy Yard, to carry out It's pro-
visions
HER CAPTAINS REQUEST GRANTED.
As stated this morning in Washington
dispatches to THE Sun, Capt. Berlinsky
told Admiral Goodrich unofficially soon
after the arrival OF the Lena at San Fran
cisco that he did not desire to make tenn
porary repairs and leave the Golden Gate
to face almost certain capture or deetruc-
ton by the enemy. and he thought the
only wise course to pursue was that which
included the disarmament and dismantle-
1neht Of his vessel and her intsrnment at
San Francisco until the end Of the war.
Capt. Berlinsky had no authority to take
this step, however, without consulting his
Government and for a time yesterday
the cables to st. Petersburg and the tele-
graph lines between San Francisco and
Bar Harbor, the summer home Of Count
Cassini, the Russian Ambassador, were
kept busy with messages on the Lena case.
President Roosevelt, through Admiral
Goodrich, urged Capt. Berlinsky to secure
an immediate reply. Finally, this morning,
Capt. Berlinsky notified Admiral Goodrich
that bis Government had instructed him to
disarm his vessel and remain at San Fran
cisco after making proper arrangements
with regard to repairs to the Lena ard the
disposition OF her crew. The officials OF
the State and Navy departments In Wash
ington were very glad to terminate the
Lena incident by granting the desired per-
mission, and Capt Beriinsky was immedi-
ately informed to that effect
The details with regard to repairs and
to the disposition OF her crew were agreed
upon as a result OF number Of telegraph
messages that passed between the State
Department and Count Cassini during
the day.
Theodore Hansen, First Secretary
OF the Russian Embassy, who reached
Warrington this morning to handle the
Lena case for his Government, found that
there was practically nothing for him to
do. ALI arrangements had either been
made or were so nearly contaminated
that his aid was not necessary, and he con-
tented himself with calling at the State
Department and paying his respects to
Acting Seer etary Of State Adee.
JAPANESE MINISTER SATISFIED.
Kogoro Takahira, the Japanese Minister
apparently felt confident that whatever
action the United States Government
might take on the Lena affair would be fair
and just to both belligerents, and did not
call at the State Department to-day. He
was informed by note from Mr.. Adee Of
the permission granted the Russian Gov
eminent to disarm and dismantle the Lena
and inferno her at San Francisco until
the close OF hostlities. and expressed him
self as well satisfied with this termination
Of the incident.
Mr.. Takahira was also informed that no
immediate decision had been reached by
the United States as to the disposition
OF the crew Of the vessel, and that pending
such representations by the Russian and
Japanese diplomatic representatives on
the subject the officers and men would be
quartered on Angel Island under parole
not to leave San Francisco.
1t Is probable that the Russian Ambassa-
dor will ask that the crew OF the Lena be
permitted to return to Russia by way OF
New York Taking the case OF the Russian
cruiser Askold at Shanghai as a precedent,
it Is very probable that the Japanese Minis