Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-13
IN NEED OF REPAIRS
Result of Examination of the
Cruiser Lena.
FUTURE DISPOSITION
QUESTION NOT YET DECIDED BY
THE AUTHORITIES.
Demand Received From the Japanese
Consul at San Francisco-Minister
Takahira Passive.
FUTURE DISPOSITION

| the Russian transport Lena with an en-
| ergy which has earned him the praise of
| the Navy Department officials here. With
| out waiting for special instructions or fall
! ing into doubt as to his powers in the mat
| ter, the admiral not only was the first to
report to the government here the arrival
of the Lena in San Francisco harbor. but
| he subsequently detailed one of his expert
naval officers to visit the Lena and ascer-
| tain for himself her exact condition as to
| boilers and machinery.
Admiral Goodrich's Report.
| He has reported the result of this investi-
| cation to the Navy Department In the form
| of a telegram, which came over night from
| San Francisco, and was opened the first
| thing this morning by Capt. Pillsbury, the
acting chief of the navigation bureau.
The dispatch stated that the Lena was
unquestionably In need of repairs; that her
boilers were In bad condition. and that to
make temporary repairs would occupy a
period of six weeks. employing the full re-
sources of the San Francisco machine
shops. 1t was also stated that II new boil
ers were supplied as Capt. Berlinsky of the
Lena desired. the work of putting them in
would occupy no less than eight months.
Inclined to Grant Permission.
Capt. Pillsbury promptly laid this mes
sage before Secretary Morton. and then, by
his direction, carried 1t over to the State
Department to consult Acting Secretary
Adee and Solicitor Penfeld as to the course
to be pursued. 1t was the opinion of the
thres officers that the request for permits
sion to make temporary repairs at San
Francisco should be allowed.
But, as in the case of yesterdays confer
ence on the same subject, 1t was decided
that the Anal determination of this matter
rested with the Department of Commerce
and Labor, which appears, under the terms
of the circular of February ID last. issued
by Mr.. Cortelyou. then Secretary, to be
charged with the execution Of the neutral
ity laws.
Interference Prevented.
Admiral Goodrich further reported to the
Navy Department that he had taken pre-
cautions to prevent any interference with
the Lena as she lay in the harbor, and
had caused her to be surrounded by a cor
don Of torpedo boat destroyers OF course.
this guard will serve a double purpose: 1t
will not only prevent anything In the nature
Of cutting-out expedition as in the case
of the Ryeshitelni at Shanghai but will
also serve to insure the detention OF the
big transport until some final understand
ing is reached as to her disposition.
Japanese Minister Passive.
MI Takahira, the Japanese minister. who
returned mere ldbt NlSNt iTOIl d pi1Sl NioiI
to New York. called at the State Depart
ment just before noon today and had
short talk with Mr.. Adee. the acting Sec
rotary. The minister. having received last
night the report of the vessels arrival
from the Japanese consul general In San
Francisco, said that he called simply to
acquaint the State Department officially
with the fact of the Lena's appearance in
the harbor of San Francisco. but he did
not lodge any protest against her presence,
nor make any demand as to her with
drawal. He assured Mr.. Adee that he was
entirely willing to allow the United States
government to deal with this case with.
out interference or suggestion from him.
japanese Consul's Demand.
The expected protest of Japan against
allowing the Russian auxiliary cruiser
Lena to remain at San Francisco longer
than twenty-four hours came yesterday,
when the Japanese consul in that city.
through the collector of customs made
formal demand that the vessel be required
to leave at the end OF that time.
The collectors telegram was addressed
to the Secretary Of the Treasury, who "a
once sent copies to Acting Secretary OF
State Adee and Acting Secretary Murray
of the Department of Commerce and Labor,
who has direct jurisdiction IN the matter.
The telegram reads as follows:
japanese consul has made demand upon
me that Russian auxiliary cruiser Lena,
arriving at this port 11th instant, leave
within twenty-four hours. The captain re-
ports that he has entered for repairs or
engines and boilers. principally the latter.
| am requesting the inspector OF hulls and
boilers to make an examination of vessePs
machinery with the consent of the Russian
consul and the commander of the Lena.
Can find no authority in the law or reg
ulations for the collector assuming any
authority in the premises and request In
structions.
Instructions to Collector.
After a conference with the commissioner
of navigation Acting Secretary Murray sent
the following dispatch to the collector:
Your telegram addressed to the Secretary
of the Treasury concerning the Russian
steamship Lena received at 4:40 pm. You
should have addressed this department as
directed in circular %
"Wire this department hour Of steamers
arrival at your port and concise resume of
steamboat inspectors report, and If repairs
are necessary the probable time required
to complete them. On receipt of particulars
the department will instruct you further.
See circular %, end of page 2, and all OF
page g."
The circular referred to was issued
February 13 of the present year, immedi-
ately after hostilities between Russia and
Japan commenced and besides containing
the Presidents proclamation and the pro-