The Bourbon news., 1904-09-16
JAPANESE PROTEST.
Object to Russian Cruiser Re-
naming at San Francisco.
The Vessel Put in There For Repairs
Will Probably Be Dismantled
and Detained Until End
of the War.

gu QIOIOSI VI japan dSdluOI dllOW WlAS
the Russian auxiliary cruiser Lena.
which arrived at San Francisco Sun
day to make much needed repairs,
to remain longer than "a hours,
came Monday when the Japanese con-
sui in that city, through the collector
Of customs, made formal demand that
the vessel be required to leave at the
end of that time.
San Francisco, Sept. 13.-In an in
terview Monday with Navigating Off
Ger Speckneff, of the auxiliary cruiser
Lena, he was asked how long he would
remain here, he said:
"The Lena will probably remain
here until the war is over. We ex-
pect that the officers and crew will
be sent home by the way of New York" :"
On the deck were between 200 and
300 sailors. An inspection of the decks
of the converted cruiser, to which nc
objection was made, revealed the fact
that she had 25 mounted guns.
San Francisco, Sept. 14.-Acting un-
der instruction from Collector of the
Port Stratton, Capt. J. K. Bulger,
United States inspector of hullS and
boilers, Tuesday inspected the boilers
of the Russian transport Lena. 1t is
understood that he found them in need
of repairs, and recommended that the
commander of the vessel be given
time enough to put them in seaworthy
condition.
The impression prevails among
those best informed that the Lena will
be dismantled and remain here until
the end of the war;
Washington, Sept. 14.-The devel
opment of the day, so far as it related
to the Russian cruiser Lena at San
Francisco, was the clearing up of the
official muddle arising out of the
doubt as to which of five departments
of the government should deal with it,.
It was finally decided by the president
that the state and navy department
should treat the case, acting jointly,
decision calculated greatly to SIM
plify it's handling. -..,..,e-....a
Over night came telegram from
Adm. Goodrich, at San Francisco,
showing that on his own initiative he
had caused one of his expert officers
to make preliminary examination of
the Lena, that temporary repairs
would occupy six weeks time, and that
new boilers would involve eight
months delay The president approved
! the admirars action, and decided that
he should continue to handle the case
in Erop inc ,0fi iNnc
from the state and navy departments.
San Francisco, Sept. 15.-Guarded
by several American warships, the
Russian auxiliary cruiser Lena lies
in the same position in the bay where
she dropped anchor Sunday afternoon.
Wednesday, under the direction of the
United States navy, a third inspection
of the Lena was begun, and the dis
position Of the vessel will doubtless
depend upon the report of the inve5-
| tigation. The members of the board
are all trained engineers, and their
work will be searching and conclu-
sive. 1t is anticipated that they Will
finish their examination Thursday.
The visit Wednesday of Capt Ber-
linsky and the Russian consul, Kosks-
| witch, to the Mare Island naval sta
ton, is regarded as significant, as it
| is believed to portend the dismantling
of the Lena.
An outcome of the arrival of the
Russian cruiser will probably be the
maintenance permanently in San
Francisco harbor of a number of war
ships to be prepared to deal with any
similar emergency during the Russo
| Japanese war.
Victoria, B. c., Sept. 15.-H. M. S.
Grafton, flagship of the Pacific squad
ron, which left here some days ago
to get her annual heavy gun practice
at Comox, returned Unexpectedly to
Esquimalt early Tuesday, making the
trip from Comox to her Esquimalt
moorings under forced draught, and ir
record time. She is now in Esquimalt
harbor making ready for sea, and will
not finish her gun practice at present.
The cause of the Grafton'S return
from the trip from ComOX is connect
ed with the sudden appearance of the
Russian armed auxiliary cruiser Lena
in San Francisco. 1t is understood
the Grafton is under cable orders
from the British admiralty to protect
British shipping on the American side
of the Pacific at all costs.
1t depends upon the decision of the
United States government regarding
the Lena whether the Grafton will
proceed south to watch her, and, if
any British merchantmen be molested,
capture and sink her.
Should the American government
decision be an order to the Lena to
quit San Francisco harbor within "a
hours, it is expected the Grafton will
leave Esquimalt harbor at her best
speed with the object of intercepting
the Russian vessel off the California
coast tRt . fstonH
National Council, U. o. A. M.
Dort1ond Mo Cont 1R-Tho No