Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25
ORDERS TO THE FLEET
Refrain From Interference
With Foreign Shipping.
THE RED SEA QUESTION
BRITISH BILL FOR DAMAGES
AGAINST RUSSIA TO BE HEAVY.
st. Petersburg Will Not Insist on War
Status of Ships-Steamers
Ordered Home.

ST. PETERSBURG. July 25-The Asso-
clated Press is informed that the Russian
volunteer fleet steamers Smolensk and ST.
petersburg have already been ordered home
and that instructions for them to return
nave Eeen cabled. The assurances given
Great Britain on this point are declared to
be satisfactory
Ihe instructions given the commanders of
the vessels repeat the orders heretofore an
nounced In these dispatches, directing them
to refrain from further attempts to stop
merchantmen either in the Red sea or the
Mediterranean
The decision not to insist upon the war
status of the ships was probably reached
at the conference held Saturday The two
ships may be brought to the Baltic and
formally recOmmiSsioned.
Russia has reiterated her assurances that
all vessels seized pending the receipt of in
structions by the captains of the Smolensk
and ST. Petersburg shall at once be releas-
ed, and that the British steamer -Ardova
Will be freed upon her arrival at Suez
Port Said, the same as the Scand!a.
Great Britain's bill for damages against
Russia for denurrage and other indemnities
connected with the arrest, detention and
shelling of British ships in the Red sea will
probably be very heavy. Already it is
roughly estimated at So,OO0,OO0.
Version of the ENHANCEMENT.
The popular version of the Red sea en-
taEglement which has so embarrassed the
Russian foreign office is that it grew out of
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, head
of the department of mercantile marine,
practically taking matters into his own
hands, and commissioning the vessels of
the volunteer fleet which had passed
through the Dardaneles bound for the far
east to hoist the Russian war flag and seize
mercha n tnen in the Red sea.
1t is understood that the emperor has
cersured his brother-in-law for taking
step of such gravity without consulting :he
foreign Office. There is general relief, how
ever. at the fact that Grand Duke Alex
apder Mikhaiovich's precipitate action has
lot resulted in irreparable complications
The blunder of the grand duke is attributed
to his comparative youth and inexperiencC
in affairs of state. He is we'll known in
the United States he was first officer
on board the armored cruiser Dmitri DON
skoi on the occasion of the visit OF the Rus-
sian squadron to Hampton Roads and New
! ork in 1893
No Protest in Ardova Case
LONDON. July 25.-while no protest has
yet been made against the action of the
Russian volunteer fleet steamer Smolensk
in firing two shells over the British steamer
Ardova. If the official report of the British
government bears out the press dispatches
against the Snlolensk endangering the lives
OF the Ardova's passengers by the irregular
procedure of the captain of the Smolensk,
custom requiring that when a vessel at
refuses to obey the signal of a warshp 10
stop to follow it up with solid shot across
her bows. The captain of the Smoensk 1t
is added might be liable to severe penalty
for his act and also for the transfer OF the
Ardova's crew on board the Smolensk.
But these collateral questions will be the
subject of mutual negotiations when Great
Britain presents her bill for damages. The
main thing is that so far as the volunteer
flee steamers concerned, the acute
stage of the diplomatic crisis has passed.
1t has been decided, at the request of
Great Britain, in order to avoid further
loss of time, not to send the Malacca to
Suda bay, Island of Crete, but to release
her at Algiers. The Associated Press is
informed that 1t is possible there will be
no formal inspection of her cargo by the
British and Russian consuls, but merely
declaration by the British consul. in be-
half of the British government, that the
munitions on board the Malacca belong to
Great Britain.
British Warship Patrolling the Sea.
CONSTANTINOPLE, July 25-Vessels
arriving here report that a British war
ship is patrolling off Cape Helas, fifteen
miles south of the Dardanelles. She is
using her searchlight, with the supposed
view of intercepting any British ships
which have been captured by the Russian
volunteer fleet steamers if they attempt to
pass the Dardanelles.
Ardova Has Prize Crew.
SUEZ, July 25.-The British steamer Ar
dova, which after being fired at by the
Russian volunteer fleet steamer Smolensk
was seized by that vessel, has arrived here.
She is flying the Russian naval flag and
has a prize crew on board. 1t is declared
her destination is Russian port.
The British cruiser Venus is anchored
close to the captured steamer.
Ardova Captain Lodges Complaint.
Captain Smith of the Ardova has lodged
a protest with the British consul against
the capture and detention of the steamer.
1,... of tho Ardoya's crew who are on