The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-09-15
Arrival Of Russian Transport
Lena at San Francisco.
JAPAN ENTERS A PROTEST
Washington Officials Hold a Hurried
conference-WIIl Apply Neutral
ity Law and Fully Investigate
Status Of Vessel.

hS IlOSSA@A IL oAAoPSAs A~~~S,
Unexpectedly arrived in Port at San
Francisco Sunday from Vladivostok,
remains at anchor off the Union Iron
Works. Her commander stated that
her boilers are in need Of repairs and.
that some time must elapse before she
will be in condition to go to sea-
The statement that the Lena left
! Vladivostok thirty-one days ago and
arrived at Frisco with foul boilers has
aroused considerable speculation and
discussion. The average time Of q
sfairly fast steamer from the Russian
port to San Francisco is from % to 80
days, and it is pointed out that the
| Lena has been out from Vladivostok
| longer than month and has been SO
long patrolling the high seas in search
of Japanese merchantmen and other
vessels carrying contraband that she
was forced to put in for renovation.
Washington is Notified.
A Washington special says: Adml-
raj Goodrich's report, Of the presence
of Russian transport in San Frau.
cisco harbor caused great stir in Of
fetal cicles at the national capital.
The entry Of the ship was entirely un-
expected and was disagreeable
event for it had been hoped by tho
officials that America would escape
being drawn into the necessity of
making close decisions respecting the:
rights Of beligerent vessels in our
! ports. It is said at the state depart.
ment that in international law there
Is no difference recognized between q
transport and a battleship, though
there seems to be an intimation COW;
cred in the San Francisco dispatches
that the captain of the Russian ship
thought otherwise and was disposed
to claim exemption from the rules OF
war applying to naval ships.
Japanese Consul Protests.
The expected protest of Japan
against allowing the vessel to remain
longer than "a hours, came Monday
when the Japanese consul in San
Francisco, through the collector OF
customs, made formal demand that
the vessel be required to leave at the
end of that time.
The collectors telegram officially no
tifying the authorities of the arrival
Of the Lena and OF Japan's protest
was addressed to the secretary Of the
treasury, who at once sent copies to
Acting Secretary Of State Adee. and
Acting Secretary Murray, of the de-
partment of commerce and labor,
who has direct jurisdiction in the mat
ter. The telegram reads as follows:
Japanese consul has made demand
upon me that Russian auxiliary
cruiser Lena, arriving at this port
18th instant, leave within "a hours.
The captain reports that he had enter
ed for repairs of engines and boilers,
principally the latter.
II am requesting the inspector Of
hulls and boilers to make an examina-
ton OF vessels machinery, with the
consent of the Russian consul AMI
commander of the Lena. Can find no
authority in the law or regulations FOR
the collector assuming any authority
in the premises and request instruc-
tions'
After conference with the COM
missioner of navigation, Acting Secre
tary Murray sent the following dis
patch to the collector:
wire this department hour Of
steamers arrival at your port and
concise resume of steamboat inspec-
tors report, and If repairs are neses-
sary the probable time required to
complete them. On receipt of particu-
lars the department will instruct you
further. See circular 29 end of page
2 and all Of page 3"