The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-15
SEEKS TO DISARM THE LENA.
HER CAPTAIN ASKS PERMISSION
FROM HIS GOVERNMENT
Ike Is Told a speedy Reply Is Desired--Fears
Capture or Destruction n He Sails
without Adequate Repairs-Third In
spertiOn, by Naval Board, Now On.

Capture or Destruction n He Sails
without Adequate Repairs-Third In
spection, by Naval Board, Now On.
WASHINGTON, Sept. l4.-Capt Berlinsky,
commanding the Russian armed transport
Lena, which reached Pacific Coast waters
last Sunday and anchored in San Francisco
harbor, her presence there resulting in an
International incident Of gravity and i'm
portance to the United States, has asked
his Government at st. Petersburg for per-
mission to disarm and dismantle his ship
and inferno her at San Francisco until the
close of hostilites In the Far East.
AT the suggestion of President Roosevelt
Capt Berlinsky was informed that speedy
reply was desired. 1t is well known in
Washington from Official advices received
here in the last two days that the Russian
commander does not wish to make tenn
porary repairs and leave port homeward
bound with almost certain capture or
destruction staring MIN in the face, and
thinks the only wise course to pursue is
that which includes the disarmament of the
Lena until the end of the war.
In the event of the Russian Foreign
Office acting favorably on Capt. Berlinskys
request it is probable that the formal re-
quest that the Lena be permitted to remain
in American waters until the close Of hos
Titles will be made by Theodore Hansen,
First Secretary Of the Russian Embassy
here, who is expected TO arrive in Washing
ton from Bar Harbor tomorrow morning
to handle the Lena incident for his Gov
eminent.
Official dispatches received at the Navy
Department to-day from Admiral Good
rich, commanding the American squadron
In San Francisco harbor, made 1t known
that Capt. Berlinsky was In Geographic
and cable communication with st. Peters
burg and also with Count Cassini, the
Russian Ambassador, who is at Bar Harbor.
No representations on the Lena incident
have been made to the State Department
by Count Cassini, but 1t is expected that Mr..
Hansen will call at the Department soon
after his arrival in Washington.
Kogoro Takahra, the Japanese Minister,
did not call at the State Department to-
day, but sent long note to Mr.. Adee on
the subject Of the Lena, the contents OF
which were not disclosed.
DECISION NOT YET REACHED.
Officials Of the State and Navy Depart
ments were exceedingly reticent in discuss
ing tho Lena affair. 1t was announced to-
night that the incident was still in the
consultative stage" and that a decision
would not be reached for at least twenty
four hours. The further statement was
obtained that the Lena affair would be
finally disposed Of in a manner perfectly
in harmony with the neutrality Of the United
States and absolutely satisfactory to both
the belligerent Powers.
"A published this morning In Washington
dispatches to THE Sun, Secretary Morton,
after conference with Acting Secretary
Of State Adce, instructed Admiral Goodrich
to make an exhaustive and final inspection
Of the Lena to determine the exact" eS-
tent of her unseaworthiness and the precise
state of her engines and boilers. The re-
port Of this final inspection, on which great
weight Is placed has not yet reached Wash
ington, although Admiral Goodrich notified
Secretary Morton this afternoon that he
had appointed a board composed OF officers
of the various vessels Of his feet, with
Lieut.. Commander Herbert. the fleet engi-
ne"r, as chairman, to make the examina-
ton.
Early this morning the report of Capt.
Buiger. United States inspector of bulls
and boilers at San Francisco, was received
at the Department of Commerce and Labor
and sent to the State and the Navy Depart
ments, The text Of the report was also trans-
mi; ted to President Roosevelt at Oyster
Bay for his information.
uHsEAwoRTHY. SAYS BULaER.
In his report Capt. Bulger agrees with
Lieut., Commander Herbert, who made
the frs. inspection Of the vessel. that the
Lena Is in an unseaworthy condition. He
SAYS, however, that in his opinion from
twenty to thirty days would be sufficient
tim, Tor temporary repairs to enable the
Lena to make eight knots an hour on the
return voyage to Vladivostok.
Lieut.. Commander Herbert estimated
SIX weeks as the minimum period in which
the vessel could be rendered seaworthy.
The third examination by naval experts,
hewover, which was begun to-day, is ex-
pected TO determine the condition Of the
vessel to a certainty. and whatever period
the board fixes as the minimum time for
Necessary repairs will be accepted as final.
II Capt. Berlinsky, on instructions from
his Government, elects to repair and leave
the port, the period fixed by the board Of
inspection will be allowed him and the Lena
WIZ DC permitted 10 tedVe Sdn rTaDClSCO
homeward bound for Vladivostok or some
other Russian port on the express under
standing Of immunity Of American shipping
from attack by her
With the Lena able to make only eight
knots an hour this understanding will
be more in the nature Of a precautionary
measure than a real necessity, and naval
officers in Washington are practically
agreed that thsre Is little more to be feared
from the Lena on the high seas than lying
at anchor in the friendly shelter OF the
Golden Gate.
Each new despatch from San Francisco
received in Washington to-day-and there
we're several from Admiral Goodrich in
addition to the report Of Capt. Bulger-was
the occasion for a conference between
Acting Secretary Of State Adee. Solicitor
Penfeld Of the State Department. Secre-
ary Of the Navy Morton and Capt. Pills |
bury, acting Chief Of the Bureau OF Naviga-
Ton. The text Of all dispatches was for !
~arded as soon 90 received to Oyster Bay |
TOT the information Of the President. who |
extremely DESTROYS Of quick ternina-
ton OF the affair