The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-13
UNDER GUARD.
Russian Transport Lena Is Be-
ing Watched.
The Destroyer Paul Jones An
chOrs Alongside.
SHE NEEDS REPAIRS.
Rear Admiral Goodrich Reports
to Secretary Morton.
War Risks ON Cargoes to japan
Are Advanced.

day the destroyer Paul Jones, Lieut..
G. G. Dawson commanding, was sent
to an anchorage off the Union iron
works close to the Lena. Later the
Paul Jones was reinforced by steam
launch from the Marblehead, in
charge of Midshipman Davis with an
armed crew and four marines with
loaded rifles and belts filled with am
munition. Assisted by the launch as
a picket and patrol boat, the Paul
Jones will keep a close watch over the
Lena as long as she remains in port
to see that the neutrality laws are rig
idly enforced. Vigilance is being ex-
ercised that no fanatic, Japanese or
other, creeps upon the Lena for the
purpose of doing her harm and pos
siby repeating the Maine incident in
this port, and equal vigilance is being
exerted to see that she herself receives
no military help in the shape of arms,
ammunition, men or equipment, or any
coal beyond the quantity to which she
is entitled, namely, enough to carry
her to the nearest home port. Every
boat that approaches the Lena is
arrested by the alert launch until the
officers in charge are satisfied that
the boats errand is legitimate.
She Needs Repairs.
Washington, Sept. 13.-Secretary
Morton today received a report from
Rear Admiral Goodrich, commander
in-chief of the Pacific fleet, stating
that he had an inspection made yes
terday of the Russian ship Lena at
San Francisco and that she was great
ly in need of repairs. The report
pairs said to be necessary, but the
officials of the navy department de-
clined to make this part of the te1e-
gram public. The report has been
| ofa1 fn I10 tot 6aT0- ri ant for
action.
Admiral Goodrich's report shows
that to make temporary repairs to the
boilers and machinery of the Lena, ac-
cordfng to the naval experts opinion,
would require about six weeks time
The captain of the vessel claims that
it needs new. boilers and if the request
to put these in is granted, no less than
eight months time will be required to
make the change. State and navy de-
partment officials were in conference
this morning and the indications were
that the temporary repairs would be
allowed.
War Risks Advance.
San Francisco, Sept. 13.-War risks
on cargoes to Japan jumped yesterday
from quarter of 1 per cent. to from
3 to per cent as a result OF the
arrival of the Russian cruiser Lena in
this port.
May Keep the Lena.
sian transport Lena is still at anchor
in the harbor, guarded by several
American vessels belonging to the
fleet of Rear Admiral Goodrich. Cap
tain John K. Bulger.s United States
inspector of hulls and boilers, acting
under instructions from Collector of
the Port Stratton this morning began
an examination of the Lena's boilers
and machinery. He will make very
thorough inspection and it may not
be completed today. His report will
be forwarded to Washington, and
probably will not be given out here.
Among government officials best in
formed regarding the situation the
impression prevails that permission
will be granted the Lena to make all
the repairs found to be necessary. 1t
is also thought that the vessel will
then be disarmed so that it may re-
main here until the close of the war.
Moving With Energy.
Washington, Sept. 13.-Admiral Good
rich, commanding the Pacific station, is
moving in the matter of the Russian
transport Lena with an energy which
mas earned him the praise of the navy
department officials here. Without
waiting for special instructions fall
ing 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 detailed one of his ex-
pert naval officers to visit the vessel
and ascertain for himself her exact con-
dition as to boilers and machinery. 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
Captain Pillsbury, who is acting chief
of the navigation bureau.
The dispatch stated that the Lena
was unQuestionably in need of repairs;
that ner boilers were in bad condition;
and that to make temporary repairs
would occupy a period of six weeks,
employing the full resources of the
San Francisco machine shops. 1t was
also stated that if new boilers were
Lena desired, the work of putting them
in would occupy no less than eight
months.
Captain Pillsbury promptly laid the
message before Secretary Morton and
then by 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. It
was the opinion of three officers that
the request for permission to make tenn
porary repairs should be allowed. But
as in the case of yesterdays conference
on the same subject it was decided that
final decision of this matter rested with
the department of commerce and labor
which appeared under the terms of the
circular of February Is last, issued by
charged with the execution of the neu-
trality laws.
Admiral Goodrich further reported to
the navy department that he had ta-
ken precautions to prevent any interfer-
ence with the Lena as she lay in the
narbor and had caused her to be sur
rounded by a Gordon of torpedo boat
destroyers. This guard will serve a
double purpose: it was not only to pre-
vent anything N the nature of a cut
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