The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1904-07-22
THR LION B AROUSED
Great Britain Orders Her Ships
of War TO the Red Sea.
Fleets are Being Modified and
Car May Find He Cannot
Use DardeneIles Again.

London, July 1S-Two naval orders
were issued today by the British ad-
miralty, which are believed to indicate
a determination on the part Of Great
Britain to protect British shipping from
acts of aggression at the hands of the
Russian navy.
The first order directs the Mediter
ranean fleet TO sail at once from Gibral-
tar and proceed to Alexandria, Egypt,
near the mouth OF the SueZ canal.
The second order directs two of the
fastest British armored cruisers to pro-
ceed through the canal aud take up sta
tlons IN the Red sea at points where
several British ships have been held up
the last few days by the vessels of the
Russian volunteer squadron.
will Put an End to Aggression.
While the fact that these orders were
issued was carefully guarded, there is no
doubt that the British foreign office has
decided that the time has come to act
promptly in protecting British shipping,
and to put an end to any aggression on
the part of the Russian cruisers. Well
informed naval officers believe that the
dispatch Of this powerful Mediterranean
fleet TO the vicinity OF the Red sea, and
the statiOning of two of the crack YES
sells of the squadron directly at the
points where the Russians are carrying
things with high hand, means that no
further mOlestatiOn of vessIes flying the
British flag will be permitted 1t is also
believed that the government means
carefully to investigate the seizures al
ready made, and if Russia's action is
without warrant, an imperative note de
manding restitution and recOmpense for
injured owners will be addressed to the
Cars government.
Naval officers who have carefully
studied the situation declare that Rus,
sia knowingly violated her treaty obi
cations when she sent the Sc. Peters
burg and the SmOlensk through the
Dardanelles. 1t is we'll nigh certain that
England intends to take such action az
will prevent Russia sending any more Of
her war vessels thu Ough the Dardanelles
BY the disposition now being made OF
the British naval equipment, il is re
garded that the government is placing
it's forces so that it can compel respect
to any line of action upon which it may
finally decide.
Fleets Being Mobiiized
From a secret, but unimpeachable
source, it can be stated that not only
is Great Britain to be represented by a
strong force at the Red sea, but plans
are now being carried ont which will
bring together in home waters an enor-
nous fleet of vessels of war. The home
and channel fleets are being modified at
Portland and TOrquay, and are being
brought up to battle strength by the
addition of the ships from the reserves.
While the action is being taken, the
government is considering whether the
British lion should show his teeth to
the Russian bear. Ia the house OF com
mons today, General Laurie asked the
under secretary for foreign affairs
whether mis- attention had been called to
the action of the Russian government in
Overhauling and searching British yes
sells on the high seas, and, ii so. whether
the cruiser taking this action was not
the same one that recently paesed
through the Dardanelles under the Rus
sian commercial and Red Cross flags,
and if SO, whether this action was con-
formable to the principles of interna
tional law. To this Earl Percy replied:
THE subject to which the honorable
member draws attention is one OF the
utmost Importance, and one which is
engaging the earnest attention OF his
ma aiestys government. AS, however,
our information is incomplete on certain
points, | would be obliged to him if he
would excuse an answer at this time"
The question was withdrawn, but the
incident created widespread interest.
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