The Irish standard., 1904-09-17
RUSSIAN RAIDER ARRIVES.
Warship from Vladivostok Suddenly
Appears in Port at San
Francisco.

San Francisco, Sept. 12.-The Rus
sian converted cruiser Lena, direct
from Vladivostok, arrived unannounced
Sunday and claimed the facilities Of
this port, because her boilers were in
worthy. Her officers declared she
would be dismantled and might stay
here month. Capt. Berlinsky is in
command of the Lena, which carries
"a guns, 4SS men and 16 officers.
Manager Harnett, OF the Japanese
steamboat line, who was promptly
warned of the arrival OF the Russian
cruiser, cabled to his company in Yo-
kohama to hold the America Maru, now
between Shanghai and Nagaski on her
way to this city. Harnett's theory is
that the Russian cruiser was sent out
from Nladivoslok on a rowing commits
sion to capture Japanese vessels. He
boilers as ruse TO permit the vessel to
stay here and dismantle. Then, at a
days notice, she could resume her guns
and sail out ready to hold up any Jap
anese ship.
Washington, Sept. 13.-Japan has
formally protested to the United States
against allowing the Russian auxiliary
cruiser Lena to remain in port longer
than "a hours. Through her consul at
San Francisco the complaint was filed
with the collector Of the port, who late
Monday wired for instructions.
Washington, Sept, 1S.-The navy de-
partment Monday received dispatch
from Rear Admiral Goodrich, COM
mandant of the Pacific station, stating
that the Russian transport Lena had
arrived there and that her commanding
officer asserted that his ships engines
and boilers were in need of repairs. Sec
rotary Morton has telegraphed Rear ADJ
miral Goodrich, directing him to detain
the Pacific squadron at San Francisco
and to inquire of the commander of the
Lena what his intentions are.
Oyster Bay, l.. L., Sept A.-Rus-
sla's auxiliary cruiser Lena, which put
into the port OF San Francisco last
Sunday, presumably from Vladivos-
tok, either will have to leave that port
within brief time prescribed by this
government or will have to disnantle.
That in brief, it can be stated authori-
tatively, is the decision of the Ameri~
can government
All official reports relating to the
arrival Of the auxiliary cruiser at San
Francisco have been transmitted to
President Roosevelt, and he is thor
oughly cognizant of the facts thus far
developed. The reports indicate that
the ship is not seaworthy. Her boilers
are in such condition as to render 1t
dangerous for her to proceed farther
without repairing.
In order to determine definitely just
what repairs may be necessary to
place the ship in seaworthy condition
the chief engineer OF the American
Pacific squadron and the chief inspect
or at San Francisco of the United
States steamboat inspection service
have been ordered to make thorough
examination of the Lena, and as ex-
perts to make written report of their
examination to the authorities. On
this report will be based the action of
the government. Pending its receipt
the vessel will remain at San Francis
co. II, in the judgment of these ex-
perts, the vessel can be made sea-
worthy in "a hours, orders will be is
sued to her commander to leave port
at the expiration of that period. In
deed, it may be within the discretion
of the government to give her COM
mander little more time if that be
advisable. On the contrary, if the re-
port should show that the ship is in
actual need of extensive repairs and
overhauling, and the making of the
repairs would occupy any considerable
time, the captain will be directed to
dismantle the vessel and she will re-
main in that condition until the ter
mination of the Russian-Japaneso
war.