Evening journal., 1904-09-16

TO Private Dock to Be Repaired and
Then viii Return to Navy Yard to
Remain Till War Is Over.
Washington Sept. 1G-Acting Secre
tary OF State Adee has given out the
following statement regarding the
Russian ship Lena, now at San Fran
,lsco:
THE president has issued an order
! through the acting secretary OF state
directing that the Russian armed trans
port Lena, now at San Francisco, be
taken in custody by the naval authori-
ties Of the United States and disarmed
The main features OF the conditions
prescribed are that the Lena be taken
to the Mare Island navy yard and there
lisarmed by removal of small guns,
breech blocks of large guns small
arms, ammunition and ordnance stores
and such other dlsmantlement as may
De prescribed by the commandant of
the navy yard; that the captain give
written guarantee that the Lena
shall not leave San Francisco until
peace shall have been concluded; that
the officers and crew shall be parOled
not TO leave San Francisco until some
other understanding as to their dis
posal may be reached between the
United States government and both the
belligerents; that after disarmament
the vessel may be removed to private
dock for such reasonable repairs as
will make her seaworthy and preserve
her In good condition during her deten-
ton and may be SO repaired at the
navy yard If the Russian commander
should so elect; that while at private
dock the commandant of the navy yard
at Mare Island shall have custody of
the ship, and the repairs shall be over
seen by an engineer officer to be de
tailed by the commandant and that,
when so repaired, If peace shall not
then have been concluded. the vessel
shall be taken back to the Mare Island
navy yard and be there held in custody
until the end Of the war;
At Request Of Russian Captain.
This action has been taken on the
written request of the commander OF
the Lena, addressed TO Rear Admiral
Goodrich, setting forth that as the yes
sci is incapable Of putting TO sea with
out needful repairs she must disarm,
and asking that-needful repairs be per
mitted after disarmament
The secretary of the navy has tele
graphed the presidents order to San
Francisco and given instructions to Ad-
miral Goodrich and to Admiral Nc
Gala, the commandant Of the Mare Is
land navy yard, to carry out its pro
visions.
The main question regarding the
Russian transport Lena having beer
settled. officials of the administrator
and Of the two bellgerent governments
now will devote themselves to reach
ing an understanding regarding the Of
ficers and crew OF the vessel AS in
dicated I'm the statement made by the
state department. the present arrange
ment is but a temporary one designed
to meet the question as IL Immediately
presents itself.
II is not likely that the officers and
crew Of the Lena win be allowed
again TO participate IN the war unless
the government of Japan should waiv,
its prerogatlves in that regard. which
is not thought 20 be at all probable
An arrangement win be effected
whereby the men either will be per
mitted TO return to Russia or be in
termed in the United States. as thu
k transport is TO be, until the close o
r hostilities, af the expense of the Rus
b sian government Presumably SOM
u members Of the crew viii remain II
charge of the vessel as caretakers,
privilege 10 which the United State
. is not likely to raise any objection.