Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25
THE RED SEA TROUBLES
RUSSIA TO SEND VOLUNTEER
CRUISERS TO BALTIC.
Justice Of the Protest Admitted
Satisfactory Arrangement
With British.

A cablegram from Suez last night says:
The Russian consul is about to charter an
Egyptian steamer to convey orders to YES
sells Of the volunteer fleet to quit the Red
sea forthwith.
A cablegram from st. Petersburg last
night says: Orders have been sent to the
volunteer feet steamers st. Petersburg and
Smolensk to refrain from Interference with
foreign shipping. 1t is expected these steam
ers will eventually join the Baltic fleet and
be replaced by ordinary war ships.
Grand Duke Alexis presided at Saturday 8
council which Count Lamsdorff, the for
eign secretary, and Vice Admiral Avellan.
chief of the admiralty department., and
other high naval officers attended.
The result Of the conference removes all
doubts concerning the present attitude OF
Russia with regard to the volunteer fleet
The validity of the view expressed In the
British note regarding the irregularity Of
the position Of the vessels was SO far ad-
mitted that the council agreed to waive the
right of search.
After a long discussion, In which Count
Lamsdorf took a leading part. 1t was de-
cided that the present status of the volun-
teer fleet was not sufficiently well defined.
according to international law, to render
further searches and seizures advisable, and
that, therefore, Russia, in the interests of
friendly relations with the powers. should
withdraw the authority given the volunteer
fleet in this respect
Great Britain is Satisfied.
The Associated Press is able to state on
the highest authority that the Russian and
British governments have agreed on a mu-
tually satisfactory basis for a settlement Of
the question of the status Of Russian vol
unteer fleet steamers in the Red Sea and
the seizures by them of British ships. A
rev minor points still remain unsettled
but these probably will be cleared up to-
morrow. and 1t is not expected that further
complications will arise.
Great credit for the satisfactory terni-
nation OF this incident is due to Foreign
secretary Count Lamsdorff. who 1t Is ad-
m1tted. acted in the calm and conciliatory
spirit worthy of a great statesman The
attitude of Sir Charles Hardinge, the Brit
ism ambassador, both for moderation and
dignity, also evokes praise.
Shots Stopped British Ship.
A cablegram from Port Said last night
says: Adv1ces received here say that the
Russian volunteer fleet steamer Smolensk
fired three blank shots across the bows of
the British steamer Ardova, the cargo of
which consists Of coal and explosives. and
the vessel not stopping the Smolensk sent
Two loaded shots at her, one Of them pass
Ing over her amidships and the other over
her stern. The Ardova was then seized
ana her crew transferred to the Smolensk
AA.S sScoCA WILL bc OTOuSut 10 SuoZ.
A cablegram from st. Petersburg last
night says: The report that the Russia
volunteer feet steamer Smolensk fired shells
at the British steamer Ardova Is not con-
sidered likely to endanger the Anglo-Rus-
sian agreement indicated in these dis
patches yesterday. 1t Is pointed out that
the Ardoya had no right to refuse to stop
when ordered. At the same time, 1t is
fully recognized that the captain of the
Smolensk had no business to fire a shell
over the decks Of the Ardova. There is
considerable annoyance in naval circles over
the failure of the vessels of the volunteer
Meet to keep in touch with st. Petersburg
BY cable. Several days ago. as announced
In these dispatches, orders were cabled to
the St Petersburg and the Smolensk In
structing them to abstain from the further
stoppage Of vessels. These orders were
subsequently rendered more imperative,
and 1t Is not too much to say that they
took the form of a recall Of both steamers
There Is some anxiety lest the st. Peters
burg and Smolenslk may precipitate re-
prisals by British warships now in the Red
sea.
The Ardova, Captain Smith, sailed from
New York June Is for Manila. She arrived
at Port Said July II.
ANY action which may be taken regard
ing the seizure Of the British ship Ardoya