The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-16
THE LENA MUST DISARM
THEN THE VESSEL WILL BE MADE
 sEAwORTHY.
n..s,., Auxiliary Cruiser wifl Not bs Permitted to Leave san rrsh- cisco Until After the
 Usv

w..h,prton. sept 15.--Acting Sec
 ..s', nr state Adee today gave out the following statement regaroing tne Russian ship Lena now at san gran cisco: .r order through the acting secretary -. state directing that the Russian armed .ransnort Lena now at San Francisco. hA taken in custody by the naval au- thorities of the United States and dis armed.
 "The main features of the conditions nrescribed are that the Lena be taken to the Mare Island navy yard and there disarmed by removal of small guns. breech blocks of large guns. small arms, ammunition and ordnance stores. and such other dismantlement as may be prescribed by the commandant of the navy yard; that the captain give a 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 oth- CT understanding as to their disposal may be reached between the United States government and both the bel ligerents; that after disarmament the vessel may be removed to private dock for such reasonable repairs as VIII Undhe HcT schW WoIthy duo PfCSCiNO her in good condition during her de- | tention; may be so repaired at the navy yard If the Russian commander should so elect; that while at a pri- vate dock the commaudant of the navy
 yard at Mare Island shall have cus- tody of the ship, and the repairs shall be overseen by an engineer officer to be detailed by the commandant and that, when so repaired, if peace shall not then have been concluded, the ves- sel shall be taken back to the Maze Island navy yard and be there held in custody until the end of the war.
 This action has been taken on the written request of the commander of the Lena, addressed to Rear Admiral Goodrich, setting forth as the vessel is incapable of putting to sea without needful repairs she must disarm and asking that needful repairs be permit
 ted after disarmament.
 "The Secretary of the Navy has tele- grsphed the Presidents orders to San
 Francisco and given instructions to Admiral Goodrich and to Captain Mc- Gala, the commandant of the Mare Island navy yard, to carry out Its pro- visions"
 The main question regarding the Russian transport Lena having been settled, officers of the administration and of the two belligerent governments will now devote themselves to reaching an understanding regarding the officers and crew of the vessel. As indicated in the statement made by the State Department, the present arrangement is but a temporary one designed to meet
 the question as 1t immediately presents itself. It Is not likely that the officers and crew of the Lena will be allowed
 to again participate in the war unless the government of Japan should waive its prerogatives in that regard which is not thought to be at all probable. An arrangement will be effected whereby the men either will be per mitted to return to Russia or be in- termed in the United States as the transport is to be, until the close of hostilities at the expense of the Rus sian Government. Presumably some members of the crew will remain in charge of the vessel as care takers, c privilege to which the United States or Japan Is not likely to raise any objectiOn.