Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-07-20
GREAT BRITAIN STOPS THEM
RUSSIA IMPOSED ON BRITISH
COMMERCE ON RED SEA.
British Government Sends a Strong
Squadron to Those Waters to Force
Russia's Navy to Keep Within the
bounds of Their Treaty Trouble IL
Not Expected in Future.

have been issued by the British admir-
atty, which are believed to indicate a
determination on the part of Great
Britain to protect British shipping
from acts of aggression at the hands Of
the Russian navy. The first order di-
rects the Mediterranean fleet to sail at
once from Gibraltar and proceed to
Alexandria, Egypt, near the mouth Of
the Suez canal. The second order di.
rect two of the fastest British armored
cruisers to proceed through the canal
and take up stations in the Red sea at
points where several British have been
held up during the last few days by
vessels Of the Russian volunteer squa-
dron.
While the fact that these orders were
issued was carefully guarded and no
public statement of their scope is pro.
durable, there is no doubt that the
British foreign Office has decided that
the time has come to act promptly in
protecting British shipping and to put
an end to unwarranted aggression on
the part Of the Russian cruisers.
Well informed naval officers believe
that the dispatch Of this powerful
Mediterranean feet to the vicinity Of
the Red sea and the stationing Of the
two Of the crack vessels Of the squa
dron directly at the points where the
Russian was carrying things with q
high hand means that no further mo.
lestation Of vessels flying the British
flag will be permitted.
1t is also believed that the govern.
ment means to carefully investigate
the seizures already made and IL Rus.
sia's action is without warrant, An i'm.
perative note demanding restitution
and recompense for injured owners will
be addressed to the czar's government.
Naval officers who have carefully
studied the situation declare that Rus
sia knowingly violated her treaty obli-
cations when she sent the st. Peters.
burg and the Smolensk through the
1t is we'll nigh certain that England
intends to take such action az will pre-.
vent Russia sending any more Of her
war vessels through the Dardanelles.s =
BY the disposition now being made Of
the British naval equipment 1t 10 re-
garded that the government is placing
its force 10 that it can compel respect
to any line Of action upon which IL
may finally decide.
From secret. but unimpeachable
source, 1t can be stated that not only
is Great Britain represented BY strong
force in the Red sea. but plans are be.
lug carried out which will bring to.
gether inh ONE waters an enormous
fleet Of vessels of war. The home and
channel fleets are being moblixed at
Portland and Torquay and are baing
bruoght mp to battle strength by the
Of ships from the reserves.
While to all intents and purposes the
nation is preparing forwar, the admir-.
atty has the excuse that they are get
ting the fiets ready for the practice
and that it simply happens
that this mobilization comes at this
time.
While this IL very plausible excuse,
it will blind no one. While the action
is being taken the government ia con.
siderating whether the British lion
should show his teeth to the Russian
bear.
In the house Of commons Monday
General Laurie asked the under score
tary for foreign affairs whether his At
tention had been called to the action Of
the Russian government in:overhauling
and searching British vessels on the
high seas. and il 10 whether the crui.
ser taking this action was not the same
Dne that recently passed through the
Dardenelles under the Russian com.
mercjsl and Red Cross flags, and II 20
this action was conformable
TO the principles Of international law.
To this Earl Percy replied:
"rhe subject to which the honorable
member draws attention Ia one Of the
utmost importance, and one Of which
Is engaging the earnest attention Of his
government. As, however.
our information 10 incomplete on Ger.
tain points. l would be, obliged to him
II no would excuse an answer at this
time"
The question was withdrawn. but
the incident created widespread inter.
est.