Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1904-09-14
ADMIRAL GOODRICH ACTIVE.
Moving With Vigor In Case of Rus.
sian Transport Lena.

sian transport Lena.
Washington, Sept 13-Admiral
Goodrich, commanding the Pacific sta.
ton, is moving in the matter of the
Russian transport Lena with an en-
ergy which has earned him the praise
of the navy department officials here.
Without waiting for special instruc
tions or calling into doubt as to his
powers in the matter, the admiral not
only was the first to report to the
government the arrival of the Lena In
San Francisco harbOr, but he subse.
quently detailed one of his expert ma.
val officers to visit the vessel and as
certain for himself her exact condi.
ton as to boilers and machinery. He
has reported the result of this inves.
tigation as to boilers and machinery.
He has reported the result of this in.
vestigatiOn to the navy department in
the form of telegram which came
overnight from San Francisco and was
opened the first thing this morning
by Cptain Pillsbury the acting chief
of the navigation bureau. The dis
patch stated that the Lena was un-
questiOnably in need of repairs, that
her boilers were in bad condition, and
that to make temporary repairs would
occupy a period of six weeks, employ.
Ing the full resources of the San Fran.
cisco machine shops. 1t was also stat.
ed that if new boilers were supplied,
as Captain Berlinsky, of the Lena, de.
sired, the work Of putting them in
would occupy no less time than eight
months.
Captain Pillsbury promptly laid this
message before Secretary Morton and
by his direction carried it over to the
state department to consult with Act.
ing Secretary Adee and Solicitor Pen
field, as to the course to be pursued.
1t was the opinion of three officers
that the request for permission to
make temporary repairs should be al.
lowed. But as in the case Of yester.
days conference on the same sub.
ject it was decided that the final de-
ctsion in this matter rested with the
department of commerce and labor,
which appeared under the terms of
the circular of Feb. 13 last, issued by
Mr.. Cortelyou, then secretary, to be
charged with the execution of the neu.
trality laws.
Admiral Goodrich further reported
to the navy department that he had
taken precautions to prevent any in
reference with the Lena as she lay
in the harbor, and had caused her to
be surrounded by a Gordon of torpedo
boat destroyers. This guard will
serve a double purpose, as it will not
only prevent anything in the nature
Of cutting out expedition as in the
case of Ryeshitelni at Shanghai, but
also will serve to insure the detention
of the big transport until a final un-
derstanding is reached as to her dis
position.
Minister Takahira called at the state
department today and had a short
talk with Mr. Adee The minister
having received last night the report
of the vessels arrival from the Jap.
anese consul general in San Francisco,
he called simply to acquaint the state
department officially with the fact OF
the LGps's appearance in the harbor
of San Francisco, but did not lodge
any complaint of her presence nor
make any demand as to her withdraw.
al. He assured Mr. Adee that he was
entirely willing to allow the United
States government to deal with this
case without interference or sugges,
tion from him.