The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-08-04
England Reaches Point of
Boiling Over With Wrath.
RUSSIA MUST Apologize
Car is Also Ordered to Salute British
Flaq and Make Other Amends
for Breach Of lnterna-
tional Law.


The British government is sending in
struction to Sir Charles Hardinge, the
British ambassador to Russia, to en-
ergetically protest against the sinking
of the British steamer Knight Com
mander by the Russian Vladivostocd
squadron. Until the presentation to
the Russian government, the great
est secrecy will be maintained re-
garding it's contents, but 1t is known
that iPremier Balfour and his col
leagues have decided to demand that
the fullest reparation shall be made
by Russia, or measures will be taken
to follow up the diplomatic demands.
The British note as Sir Charles
Hariinge will submit it. will not men
ton the amount Of indemnity Russia
must pay the owners Of the ship and
British subjects having goods on
board the vessels, but all that will
be sought will be the establishment
Of the principle of indemnity ana
apology. A salute of the British flag
must also be conceded and the future
protection of neutral shipping assured.
The attitude Of the British govern
ment is the result Of the thorough con-
sideration given to the reports receiv
ed from Sir Claude Mcdonald, the
British minister at Toxic, and the eX-
animation of international lew autho.
tiles by legal experts. The dispatches
from Sir Claude Mcdonald confirm
the reports that the Knight Command
er had no contrabsnd Of war on board
for Japan. The government and all
the British authorities, it is asserted
are united Sn the po'nt that there
was no justification for the sinking
of the vessel.
A lengthy meeting OF defence COM
mittee took place wednesday under
the presidency Of Premier Balfour, at
which the attorney general, Sir Rob-
ert Finley. was present. The attorney
general does not usually attend these
meetings, but it was stated that the
questions at Issue between Russia and
Great Britain were under discussian,
and that Sir Robert was called IN to
advise as to the questions of interna'
tional law involved.
It is reported that all orders for the
British naval maneuvers have been
countermanded; that the various
squadrons have been ordered not to
move: that all leaves of absence HIS
been Cancelled and that officers ana
men on furlough have been recalled.
The home and channel fleets already
had been moved into position to un'
dertake important maneuvers.
The Russian Attitude.
It is not known when the Vladi-
vostock squadron will return to port.
The commander Of the squadron, it is
pointed out, unquestionably seized the
papers Of the vessel, including her
manifest and therefore will be able to
present reasons to show why he sank
the ship, and with these reasons in
their possession, the Russian author
tiles will be able to complete their an
swer to the British representations
In the opinion of these diplomats the
cargo, or at least a portion Of the car
go OF, the knight Commander, inclrd-
ed contraband Of war under the Rus.
sian declaration. The bridge work
among the cargo is said to have been
destined for Fusan-Soul railroad, which
the Japanese are building for nili:
tary purposes.
The Russian declaration also an
nounced that rice and other foodstuffs
are contraband if sent at the enemy's
cost or order. Attention IS specifically
called to the feature of the declara-
tions saying that neutral ships with
contraband Of war Of any sort can, ss.
cording to the circumstances, be not
only seized but also confscated." If
the ship can be conf1scated, it is con-
tended that she can be sunk as we'll.