Willmar tribune., 1904-08-03
MUST NOT SINK
NEUTRAL Ships
GOVERNMENT TO ENTER SIREN
UoUs PROTEST IF PRACTICE
IS CONTINUED.
CLAIMS OF AMERICANS
TO BE PRESENTED.
Russia to Indemnify German Shippers
and Consignees for Losses Sus-
tained-Czar Lodges Protest with
British officials.


tained-Czar Lodges Protest with
British officials.
Washington, July 30.-W. Mynderse,
a New York attorney, representing
some of the cargo owners of the
steamer Knight Commander, sunk by
the Russian Vladivostok squadron,
called at the state department Friday
and had a. short informal conference
with Solicitor Penfield respecting a
formal presentation to the Russian
government of the claims of these
owners for the destroyed cargo. 1t
was arranged that written brief
should be submitted later on, embody-
ing the legal points sought to be made
in this case. 1t is clear to the officials
here that regardless of any rules
which Russia may have laid down for
her own government respecting the
sinking of neutral ships, the practice,
opposed as it is to all modern prin-
ciples of international law, cannot be
permitted by this government with
out strenuous protest.
Will Pay Indemnity.
Berlin, July 30.-The foreign Office
Friday Informed the press that Rus
sia has agreed to fully indemnify Ger
man shippers and their consignees for
any losses sustained by the seizures
of German ships and the detention of
the Prinz Heinrich's mail. An inquiry
is now in progress to determine what
claims shall be presented. Russia also
agrees to restore and forward the con-
tents of the two seized MALL packages.
Russia Files Protest.
London, July 30-Russia has filed
formal protest at the foreign Office
against British shipments of contra
band to Japan. The press learns that
the Russian government since the be-
ginning of the war has carefully
watched the manufacture of goods in
tended for the use of the Japanese
government, and as soon as it was
established that such goods were about
to be shipped to hostile destination
the facts were officially communicated
to the British government, with the
request that measures be taken to put
stop to it. It is further asserted
that in many cases the government
has not taken action, and it is under
stood that when the war ends Russia
proposes to present bill for damages
to the British government which will
Offset the indemnities claimed for the
seizure of British steamers. 1t is also
learned that Russia does not intend to
hasten the settlement of the question
of the right of vessels of the volunteer
feet to pass the Dardanelles since, if
negotiations on the subject were con-
Quoted at this time, as desired by
Great Britain, Russia might be forced
by the existing situation to grant con-
cessions she would afterwards regret
Arabia Arrives at Vladivostok.
Vladivostok, July 30.-The German
steamer Arabia, under charter of an
American company, which was cap
tured by the Russian cruiser Gromoboi
July %, 100 miles north of Yokohama
has arrived here in charge of a prize
crew. That portion of the steamers
cargo which is alleged to be contra
band comes from Portland, Ore. The
Arabia, with two other ships of the
Hamburg-American company, is under
charter for three years to the Amer
lean Trading company, which, it is as
serted, is engaged in carrying contra
band. She is commanded by Capt
Bahle and has a crew of ten Germans
and 27 Chinese. According to state
ments by the Chinese on board many
American steamers are engaged in
carrying contraband, including fire.
arms.
The Arabia left Portland July with
cargo of -four and railroad material
The greater portion of the four-2, ,706
tons-was addressed to Hongkong and
is not liable to seizure, but 466 tons OF
flour and 542 tons of railway material
are addressed to Yokohama, Kobe and
Nagasaki, and, consequently are con-
traband. The iron of the cargo con-
sists of platforms, wheels, axles, boil
ers and parts of bridges. AS the con-
traband of war aboard the Arabia
forms less than half her cargo, the
vessel herself is not liable to seizure.
After the contraband has been dis
charged, therefore, the ship will prob
ably be released.
Declare Sinking Justifable.
The naval men here cannot under
stand why the British and American
papers should be questioning the legal
ity of the actions of the Vladivostok
squadron in the Pacific. The Russian
cruisers, it is asserted, are acting un-
der the rules formulated in regard to
prizes and imperially confirmed March
81, 1895. They were then published
for the information of all the powers
and for nine years neither Great Brit.
ain nor any other power has protest.
ed. The destruction of the British
steamer knight Commander is held tc
have been justifiable under these rules
It is further claimed that the British
government, instead of complaining
should take steps to compel her shir
owners to desist from carrying con.
traband, in accordance with King Ed.
wards neutrality proclamation, ir
which he said:
II give notice that all our subjects
who transgress will DO so at their ow1
peril and risk and will under no cir.
cumstances receive our protection"