The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-13
DO NOT. ADHERE TO
 THE USE OF FRENCH
FAY IS DEVOTED TO SPEECHES OF FELIclTATlON AND GREET ING BY DELEGATES TO ENTER PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

St. Louis. September 12.-The first ses- which convened today in Festival hall, was devoted to speeches of felicitation and greeting by delegates from the four teen nations represented.
 The use of French, the diplomatic language of Europe, was not adhered to-, German and English being spoken by some of those who made addresses.
 First Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis delivered the address of welcome on behalf of the President of the United States. In the speeches that followed, Former Congressman Samuel T. Barrows of Michigan, spoke for the United States, pointing out the value of international arbitration and universal peace.
 The session was devoted wholly to speeches by the delegates and no ques- tions were discussed, nor business of any nature transacted, the session adjourning g for the day immediately after the speeches.
 The delegates spent the remainder of the day in visiting the Worlds fair. -~~~~~-~~~-~-~~ pOTI was to HdN6 dDSOlulely necessary re- pairs made on her engines and boilers. Her bottom is foul and will have to be cleaned in drydock. The lieutenant said that the Lena's coal bunkers were far from being depleted and he thought it would be unnecessary for her to coal at this port.
 Will Make Inspection.
 The United States inspectors of hulls -1r. a thorough examination of the Lena and on the report will largely depend the du- ration of the stay of the vessel in this bay. If it Is decided that repairs are required they will be made as rapidly as possible, and 1t is generally anticipated that this is what will be done. Collec- tor of the Port Stratton has not received any definite instructions from Washing ton, but has wired a full statement of the situation, and an answer is soon expect ed. In the meantime. the collector, realiz- ing the fact that the repairs are said to be imperative, has refused to order the Lena from the harbor within twenty four hours, without a full investigation. The Lena is anchored between the four army transports lying in Mission Bay and the new battleship Ohio. In fact. she is only about five hundred yards from
  accepted by the government on Saturday Navigating Officer Specimen, on being asked how long he would remain here, said:
 May Stay Till War Is Over.
 we expect orders from our naval rep resentative at Washington who has just been advised of our arrival. It is prob- able that the naval attache will ask the government for its permission to remove the guns from our decks and allow the vessel to remain here until the repairs can be finished"
 When asked how long he thought that would require, he said:
 "The Lena will probably remain here until the war is over."
 The Japanese consul had little to say on the subject of the Lena's presence in the harbor.
 T have wired to the Japanese minis- ter at Washington" said he. notifying him of the vessels arrival here. The Japanese government will take no action at present but will wait for the United States to make the first move. The vessel does not impress me as being formidable, and I do not believe that she has come to this port in a spirit of enmity to Japan"