Evening journal., 1904-07-20
PAPERS
ADVOCATE WAR
Seizure Of Merchantmen by
Cars Ships Denounced.
SPEEDY ACTION IS DEMANDED.

Well Known Naval Authority Says
Russian Volunteer Fleet In Passing
pardanelles Under Commercial Flag
Acted Practically.
London, July 20. - Once again the
leading English newspapers editorialize
in the gravest tones on the Russian
seizure of British vessels. Even the
conservative Standard declares that
the nation looks to the foreign office
TO take more effectual action than the
ordinary conventions of diplomatic in
tercourse prescribe. The case is not
one for fastidious treatment If moth
ing is done officially to relieve the pain
full strain the irritation of this country
may grow into stubborn resentment.
We cannot, even for the sake Of peace,
sit down under a series OF undisguised-
" provocative measures"
A similar warlike tone pervades al
most every other paper. The Morning
Post says Great Britain cannot tolerate
the seizure of the steamship Malacca
except by the abandonment of her
self respect as a great power" The
paper declares that either the volunteer
feet steamer St. Petersburg is an arm
ed pirate or Russia has violated the
treaty Of Paris. The action of Ear
Percy. undersecretary of foreign af
fairs. who in the house of commons OF
Monday asked General Laurie. Con
servative and Unionist, TO postpone un
til Thursday a question which he pro
posed to ask regarding the doings OF
the Russian volunteer feet steamer 81
Petersburg in the Red sea, the paper
regards as unnecessary and dilatory
'Palmerston,' says the Post signih
cantly, would not have required hal
an hour to make up his mind what Il
do in such a case"
The Daily Telegraph, though speak
ing with reserve and counseling the na
! tion to repose full confidence in Lorl
Lansdowne, admits that "dangerou
issues TO international law have bee
/ raised with every circumstance Of os
tentatious provocation. and the natioI
must realize that a farreaching ques
ton has arisen"
Action Was PirateaL
Admiral Sir Edmund Robert Fireman
tie. writing i'm the Daily Chronici,
says there is no doubt that the Ru,
sian volunteer fleet steamers are actin
practically. having passed the Dard,
nelles under a commercial flag. 9Th
situation the admiral says, demand
something more than a mere prote.
from the government The crisis n
doubt is grave. but / hold that on
safest course would be TO at once gras
the nettle and inform the Russian go
ernment that our cruisers have orde
TO prevent our merchantmen being il
J terfered with by vessels which we ca
not admit TO be men-of-war and TO +
quest that their proceedings be di
avowed and that they be immediate
recalled TO Russian ports after the
prizes have been released"
All details i'm connection with Il
seizures Of ships by the Russian vC
unteer feet steamers are printed
the most prominent type. No su,
bitter feeling has been aroused in II
English press since the German Ell
peror's telegram 70 the Beers.
: Intense apprehension prevails
Cardiff and other British coal port
] and the charterlng Of vessels for Il
{ far east is practically at a standstiH
3 From all sides come urgent deman,
that the government take swift a
. tion 10 prevent a recurrence Of seizur
by the volunteer fleet "Russii
piracy" as one paper heads it, TAX
precedence OF all other news.
Dispatches from the seat Of war
self are relegated to secondary poi
o tions and call forth but little editori
mention. Comment on Russia's at
tude and Great Britain's duty Occur
columns
Dispatch Of Fleet Denied.
The foreign Office authorizes 4
statement that there Is absolutely
truth in the story circulated in 4
United States by news agency. tn
+, Great Britain had informed German
Of the dispatch Of a British feet
Alexandria with the intention
checking Russian illegaIlties in t
Red sea.
The foreign Office also says there
no foundation for the belief express
in the dispatches from Malta to {
Daily Express OF London that the Br
} ish Mediterranean squadron's dep,
= ture from Malta might be connect
with the presence of the Russian v
unteer feet vessels in the Red sea-
The admiralty asserts that the NJ,
iterranean squadron Is on its way
Alexandria in accordance with
rangements made prior to the rece
incidents in the Red sea. No comm
nication on this subject has been ma
= to Germany.
There is no denying the fact, no
ever. that in British official circles
recent seizures and overhauling
ID British ships in the Red sea by