The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1904-07-30

merchant ship, knight Commander,
was captured and sunk by the Vladi-
yostok feet July 20.
London, July 26-The sinking OF
the Knight Commander by the Rus
SLAMS seems likely TO raise a storm
rivaling that caused by the seizure OF
the Malacca In the Red sea. The act
is condemned as an extraordinary and
intolerable breach OF international
law, which has not had precedent
In nearly century.
The Morning Post regards II as an
act OF war and asks sarcastically why
Great Britain keeps her navy on a
| two power standard" and what the
British government is for
The danger OF further complications
also looms big, inasmuch as several
| vessels with valuable cargoes are
heading for Japan and China, some
aware of the danger and others in
complete ignorance of Il.
The most important of these vessels
| is the Pacific Mail companys steam
er Corea, from America, which carries
| $1,000, 900 in specie and valuable car
go, parts Of which the Russians may
| be able to declare contraband and
seizable
The Gaelic OF the Occidental and
| Oriental company is also on the high
seas--and is In danger OF being taken
| by the Vladivostok squadron, now op-
| Grating In the Pacific.
According TO the latest dispatches
| from Yokohama, the officers OF the
| Knight Commander are prisoners OF
| the Russians, and only the Indian crew
were put aboard the Tsinan.
A special meeting of the British
cabinet has been called 10 consider all
| the phases OF the most unpleasant
situation.
In Toxic the acts OF the Vladivostok
squadron in the Pacific and of the
volunteer feet in the Red sea
strengthen the belief that Russia is
deliberately seeking TO affront Ameri-
| ca, England and Germany in the hope
| Of finding an avenue for gracefully
| retiring from n disastrous war.
The three Russian warships which
| sank the Knight Commander are re-
| ported to be crowded with men. Their
bottom are foul and they look grim
and ugly. The Russian vessels are
thought to be short of prize crews.
Americans at Yokohama are quite
anxious concerning the possible fate of
the Corea, belonging to the Pacific
| Mail Steamship company, and the
| American Steamer Shawmut, which
left Puget sound July 16 for Hong
kong. The agent of the Pacific Mail
company cabled warning TO the Co
rea at Midway island.
Ugly Tangle Is Averted.
] Washington, July ga fact has de-
veloped which might have led to ser.
ious complications had IL not been an
nounced that the Russian government
| had given orders for the release at
Suez of the British ship Ardova, which
had on board large quantity of sup
| plies being shipped by the war de-
partment to the Philippines govern
ment, including about $50 tons OF pow
der and much other material that
would fall within the Russian defini-
| ton of contraband.
| The case OF the Knight Commander
| Is regarded here as complicated and
difficult OF treatment, although more
complete statement of facts is ex-
| pected to simplify the problem. II is
apprehended that If the contention OF
the shippers agents, that the cargo
contained no contraband, is correct,
the general doctrine of neutral flag
covers neutral goods" has been vio-
lated by the destruction OF the ship
| and cargo
| Stop Raids In Red Sea.
st. Petersburg July Pet is said
at the foreign office that the Russian
volunteer feet steamers Smolensk
and st. Petersburg, while refraining
from the right of stopping or search
ing neutral vessels, will not return
home at once, but will remain I'M The
Red sea until relieved by regularly
commissioned warships. against whose
right to stop neutral ships and search
them for contraband no question can
be raised. Later the volunteer fleet
vessels will be recommissioned.
British Ships on Watch.
! Constantinople, July 26.-Vessels ar
irving here report that a British war
ship is patrollIng on Cape Helas, M.
teen miles south Of the Dardanelles. IL
Is using searchllght with the sup
posed view of intercepting any British
ships which may have been captured
by the Russian volunteer fleet steam
ers. II they attempt to pass the Oar
danelles.