The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-29
RUSSIA WILL PAY.
Agrees to indemnify German
Shippers and COnsignees
For Losses Sustained in Capture
,0f PrinZ Heinrich.
THE KOREA is SAFE.
Escapes Russian War Ships and
Reaches Yokohama.
The Arabia Is Taken to Vladi-
VostOk by Prize Crew.

Berlin, July 29.-The foreign office
today informed the Associated Press
that Russia has agreed to fully in
demnify German shippers and their
consignees for any losses sustained
by the seizure of German ships and
the detention of the Prinz Heinrich's $
mail An inquiry is now in progress
to determine what claims shall be
store and forward the contents of the
two seized mail packages.
The Korea Is Safe.
Toxic. July 20, Z a. m.-The Pa
cif1c Mail company's ship Korea,
which it was rumored had been cap
tured by the Russian Vladivostok
squadron, has arrived at her destina-
ton safely The Korea sailed from
San Francisco for Yokohama and
Hong Kong July IL with general
Arabia at VIadivostok.
Vladivostok, July 29.-The German
steamer Arabia, under charter of an
American company, which was cap
tured by the Russian cruiser Cromboi
July %, hundred miles north of Yo-
kohama, has arrived here in charge
of a prize crew. That portion of the
be contraband comes from Portland,
Ore. The Arabia with two other
ships of the Hamburg-American COM
pany is under charter for three years
to the American Trading company,
which it is asserted is engaged in
carrying contraband. She is COM
manded by Captain Bahle and has a
crew of 10 Germans and 81 Chinese.
nese on board, many american
steamers are engaged in carrying con-
traband.
The Arabia left Portland July
L
teriaL The greater portion of the
flour, 2,706 tons, was addressed to
Hong Kong and is not liable to seiz-
ure, but 466 tons of flour and 542 tons
Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki, and
consequently are contraband-
AS the contraband of war aboard
the Arabia forms less than half her
ure- After the contraband has been
discharged the ship will probably be
released. The final decision as to
her disposition rests with the prize
court.
The prize crew on board consists
of Lieut.. Vladislale and II men from
the cruiser Gromoboi.
May Cut OFF Coal.
London, July 29.-Prenier Bal
four. in a printed reply to the ques-
Bowles, Conservative. in the house
of commons July 27, asking for infor-
nation regarding the actions of the
Russian armored cruiser Dimitri DON
skoi in the Mediterranean. confirmed
the facts recited by Mr.. Bowles and
added that the British governments IS
view is that any ship using coal for
purposes other than for which it was
obtained should not thereafter be ac-
corded coaling facilities.
Russians Quote the Law.
V1adivostok, July 29.-The naval
men here can not understand why the
British and American papers should |
be questioning the legality of the ac-
tions of the Vladivostok squadron in |
the Pacific. The Russian cruisers, it !
is asserted, are acting under the rules |
formulated in regard to prizes and |
imperially confirmed March 81, 1895. |
They were then published for the in
formation of all the powers and for |
nine years neither Great Britain or |
any other power has protested. Par !
agraph 21 of these rules reads:
"In extreme cases, where the reten-
ton of ships is impossible owing to |
their bad condition, when they are |
of small value or in danger of recap |
ture by the enemy, when at a great |
distance from a home port, or when |
there is danger for the ship which |
has taken the prize, the commander |
upon his personal responsibility may |
burn or sink the captured vessel |
after having previously taken off her |
crew and as far as possible her cargo. |
Her documents must be preserved, |
and even witnesses can be held for |
the purpose of giving testimony be-
fore the prize court"
The destruction of the British |
steamer Knight Commander is held |
to have been justifiable under the
above rule.
1t is further claimed that the
British government instead of COM
planning should take steps to compel |
her ship owners to desist from carry
ng contraband, in accordance with
King Edwards neutrality proclama-
lion in which he said:
II give notice that all our subjects
who transgresS will do SO at their own
peril and risk and will under no cir
receive our protection"