Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-25
RUSSIA MUST EXPLAIN
England Directs Attention to
the Smolensk's Activity.
PATIENCE EXHAUSTED
ANOTHER VESSEL STOPPED AND
SEARCHED.
Believed That the Gear May Refer Con-
traband Question to The
Hague Tribunal.
PATIENCE EXHAUSTED

ST PETERSBURG, August 25.-Great
Britain has formally called the attehuoh VI
the Russian government to the rehe"eu d@-
,i,Itv of the volunteer fleet steamer Smo-
lensk. and has asked for explanations rus
sia has not yet formally replied, peihs
without official information but In gem
eral way she has explained what the ioi
eign office suggested to the Associated fress
Yesterday. that the orders sent to the
Smolensk not to stop any more 'i"i
vessels have not been delivered.
Tho Novoe Vremya. commenting on the
English newspaper propositions to treat the
Russian auxiliary cruisers as pirates, asks
them not to forget Premier Balfours re-
mark that the neutrals of today are the
be,Iiperpnts of tomorrow. and inquiries no"
the British auxiliary cruisers would rehsh
being treated as pirates.
Russia has asked for the cooperation oi
Great Britain in getting orders TO the oiho-
lensk This was gladly agreed to, ana tie
British government will try to denver tlle
instructions through ships from .apr ap,
Colony Russia is seeking to carry out hei
agreement in good faith and no compilca-
tions are expected.
Probably the Smolensk.
LONDON. August 25.-The Associated
Press learns that Ambassador BenkendorH
has advised the foreign office here that the
cruiser which overhauled the British
steamer Comedian off the southeast coast
of Cape Colony, August Il. was propaDiy
the Smolensk, In when case ner aItio uttio,,
could only be explained on the supposltlon
that the orders telegraphed to her by the
Russian admiralty after the MalacGa aItalr
failed to reach heI commander Inc rus
sian government therefore proposes 10 'dhe
renewed measures to see that the SmolensR
receives orders to cease the examination
of neutral shipping. 1t is explained that
before leaving for the south the 81. PETERS
burg and Smolensk took on board large
supply of coal thus enabling them to keep
at sea without visiting port where orders
could be delivered.
While the British authorities desire TO
continue their conciliatory policy, they
have informed the Russian government
that the Smolensks interference with
British shipping must stop, and they op-
tect strongly to the examination or mer-
chantmen so far from the scene OF hos
tilities by any Russian cruiser
Another Vessel Stopped.
This objection, it is said today, applies
To- the British steamer Asia equally with
the Comedian The Asia, which is now at
Port Said. was detained and examined In
the Mediterranean by the Russian aux
iliary cruiser Ural. The Asia sailed Au-
gust IL from Liverpool for Calcutta She
reports having been detained two hours
while her papers and cargo We're exam
search took place sixty miles east of Cape
st. Vincent, Portugal
In a dispatch to the Central News from
Copenhagen it is declared that the large
steamer flying the Russian flag which
passed through the Great Belt yesterday.
bound south, as reported In a dispatch
from Nyborg, Denmark. Is the Russian
volunteer fleet steamer Smolensk.
The Question of Contraband.
According to the correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph at The Hague, the Off
cials Of the Russian embassy there are
busily comforting with the leading Dutch
members of The Hague arbitration tri
bunal and the belief prevails, the corre
spondent says, that the Russian govern
ment is inclined to submit the matter of
what constitutes contraband of war and
cognate questions to the tribunal
The Capetown correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph understands that strict
cruisers are not to be allowed to coal in
cape colonial ports without previous ref
erence to headquarters.
Cruisers to Be Sent in Search.
Replying to a deputation of the East In
dia trade section of the London chamber of
commerce this evening Premier Balfour
said he had been informed last night by
Ambassador Benkendorr that the Russian
government was not certain that the Smo-
1ensk had received orders in accordance
with the recent agreement concerning the
treatment Of neutral ships. Therefore. IN
accordance with the suggestion of the Brit
ish government, the Russian government
had authorized Great Britain to assist in
locating and notifying the cruisers. In
consequence, Mr.. Balfour announced. the
British government had ordered two Cruis-
ers from the Cape of Good Hope to proceed
Immediately and search for and locate the
Smoensk and her consort, and convey to
them the instruction from the Russian gov
ernment to desist from further interference
with neutral commerce.