The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-13
LENA MAY REMAIN
 TILL WAR IS OVER Russians Claim Repairs to BOII-
 CTS Are Absolutely Necessary JAPAN MAKES PROTEST
Affair Is Strictly Between Russia and United States and UcIe Sam's Neutrality Will Be
 Maintained.


 sentative offthe United States govern ment has yeA boarded the converted cruiser Lena for the purpose of substan- tiating the claims of cape A. T. Berlin sky that the warship put into this port solely for the reason that her boilers were in such condition as to render her absolutely unseaworthy The Russian warship has now remained in port long over the twenty-four hour limit, and prominent members of the local Russian and Japanese colonies are evincing great interest in what they are prone to desig- nate as serious complications.
 It has been learned that local United States Inspector of Hulls and Boilers John K Bulger will leave at o'clock in the morning on the United States rev. enue cutter Hartley for the Lena. He will make thorough inspection of her boilers, and as soon possible will sub init written report to Collector of the Port Stratton. Upon this report may de- pend whether or not the Lena is ordered to put to sea, or whether she will be allowed to remain until such time as the repairs deemed necessary may be made.
 Japs Bestir Themselves.
 The Japanese were the first to bestir themselves when they learned of the presence of the Russian ship. Prominent members of the Japanese colony called on Kishaburo Uyeno, Japanese consult general, and long conference was held What took place at this session is told by a prominent Japanese. He said that 1t was decided to have the Japanese con- sul general call on Collector Stratton and make the demand that the Lena leave port immediately. In the event of the refusal of this request the consul gen. eral was advised to demand of Collector Stratton that he be allowed to be the judge of the fitness of the Russian cruiser to put to sea.
 In accordance with these plans the Ja- panese consul general called upon Collec- tor Stratton shortly after he entered his ,goffice this morning. The two gentlemen were closeted for an hour and half. Neither principal of the colloquy would disclose what had been said, but it was learned that at times the discussion was most animated
 Returned Curt Refusal.
 To the first demand that the Lena be ordered to leave within the 24-hour limit, Collector Stratton returned a curt refusal. As reported, it was then that the con- 'sul general made the demand that he be permitted to be the judge of the sea- worthlness of the Russiai
 The reply that Collector on made to this demand was in that the United States was rot q filling but able to cope wiP the Al tn without without ents
 When Consul uyeno emerged from the collectors office, he denied that there had been any friction. That was all he would say at the lime.
 In the afternoop Captain Herlinsky of the Lena, acconlpanIed by the Russian Consul Kosakevitch, called on Collector 5tratton Captain BerItnel<y assured the collector that he would be most happy to acouiesce in any demand relative to an investigation of the condition of his ship that the collector thought rIecessary. He carried with him duplicate copies of a somewhat lengthy statement one Of which he sent to t1ie Japanese consulate and the other to Admiral G0odrich, com manding the Am erican neet now in this harbor
 Not Made pubIIe.
 The contents of this st tatement was not made public at thetfme, but it was known that the captain explained why the Lena was in this port, just what repairs he deemed necessary to make his ship sea- worthy. and just how much coal he thought esssHtiai sfoxR him to take on Up to this gbne cellector stratton had been workirIEhi in the dark He made the following sfatsment to the newspaper men who we're 'awaitiqx =the termination of his interyiew with tne Russian cap Under the cireu,asssness am unable to say much for pisbIIcatIpp. I will say however. that this de1ax s rot caused by my ignorancff of tho poifts of interna- tional law involved iu thfe matter These are absolutely clear. and I understand them thorouRhlE The point s do not know just hbW lar can so without au- thority.'
 Just then q teIefram from Washington was handed the collection. Its contents he refused t3 make public
 Boil u1 Nted Uepairs.
 San soo, septemb<r l2.-The Rus sian transpoft Lena which unexpectedly arrived in port yeste<d9x from vladivo- stock wo rsnsida M snsnsr ef the Union Ts,1 Ter boilers are in need or repair and that some time must ielapse before she will be in condition to go to sea. As noth- ing yet has been done toward placing her in dry dock and no intention has been disclosed regarding her future movements the United states authorities here say their actions will be governed by instruc- tions iom Washington.
 At the co7c'Fsiop pf conference be- tween Collect A strat<en and the Japanese consul. CoI for 1(fatton gave out a statement II Y;hnh, said;
 c4anot @ Aboard.
 ..I havef fscHed not to allow the Ja- panese to lsk abqsrd the Lena to make an svanotnat r., k*This matter Is between the Tinted stafes and the Russian govern : wont ana fh2 TTn&<X States will attend to if viii, ,<.<< r-j<1 0Gsistance from any hodv [ xow IFS I6W and will enforce if Tho EST M&I=fhe United States oiIl he {n<xI&14 without regard to nrv req. a<1 u| Ethe Japanese con- sui.-
 Rear 6&&1 4ch lunched with ranta,n ~: 1< other officers of the r,ena essel. They could mi he se Zoloff speaking for the ca| (<dZjhat the main ob- feet of th8 1f vessel in making this