The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-21

alarming accounts of the hurried de-
parture from that port of the British
cruiser and torpedo boats.
As the movements were announced
| before the seizure of the Malacca,
their significance does not SAVIOR of
the sensational, though their presence
at Suez or thereabout may even
tually have no little bearing on the
situation.
According to a Daily Mail dispatch
from Port Said, the Malacca is in
charge Of a Russian midshipman, an
announcement which gives rise to
much British navy "Reminiscences,
many present British admirals having
helped to precipitate serious conflicts
before they were admitted to the
wardroom- The same dispatch de-
clares the union jack was torn down
by the Russian prize crew, although
the russians treated the passengers
courtesy.
The captain of the Malacca asserts
that the capture was made within the
three-mile limits.
The Daily Mail says it understands
that the London officials of the Pen
1nsular and Oriental steamship COM
pany refused to take cargo of horse
shoe nails and aluminium cooking
utensils Tor the Japanese army by the
Malacca, and that these were subse-
quently taken by a German steamer
Whlcn already safely passed through
the Red sea flying the Korean flag,
Lord Lansdowne," says the Daily
Telegraph. voicing the views of the
government, has faced the situation
created by the abuse of right of
search In the only manner worthy of
British minister compelled to defend
the interest of British commerce and
the honor of the flag, and acting with
unheSitating firmneSs and prompti-
tude which recalls the strongest days
or the national policy, he has justi-
ned the trust of the country.
WI lille not one rash word should
be said which could have the effect
of increasing the tension of an anx-
1ouS interval, it would be futile to dis
guise the character of the risks of the
situation which has arisen.
we hope that a solution of the diff
ncuIty may still be found in the
withdrawal of the Russian govern
ment from its false position. 1t Is OBJ
H1ous II the volunteers passed the OAR
danelIeS as merchant vessels they can
not be allowed to scour the Red sea
as war ships. The doors of the Black
sea must be either open or shut. If
open to war ships they must be so
to all war ships. If the Russian fleet
IS to be permitted to emerge in VIC
1ation of treaty provisions, the British
Heet must be allowed to enter upon
these terms.
1T is no secret that we have not been
unwilling to remove the existing veto
of the Dardanelles and enable those
straits to be traversed by the navies of
all nations
Every London morning paper devotes
its leading editorial to a similar view of
the situation. War with Russia is OPP
emily contemplated by the most staid
papers of the empire as a contingency
much to be regretted but nevertheless
inevitable for the honor of the nation
unless speedy reparation be made for
what is alleged to be dire insult to
the British flag.
Such organs as the Daily News and
the Chronicle representing the ex-
tremes of the liberay party, which took
an 1mplacable stand against the Boer
war, urge the government to take ev-
cry step to retrieve the honor of the
British nation. So
The krinole of the Standard editorial
In declaring the Malacca must not be
allowed to leave Port Said under the
Russian flag is as follows:
we do not keep a powerful fleet in
the Mediterranean in order that the
inland sea shall be the scene of such
an outrage on international justice.
Should the representations of Sir
Charles Hardinge, the British ambassa-
dor at st. Petersburg, unhappily be ig-
nored, proper instructions must be sent
to our commander-in-chief on the Medi-
terranean. 1t would be a depIora BILE
necessity, but one for which we cannot
blame ourselves -
The Times says:
His majeSty'S government has taken |
a course which the nation expected
them to take. No government in this
pretensions implied in the action of the
volunteer fleet steamer st. Petersburg
and no government could allow the
Malacca to be taken to a Russian port
or to be condemned by a Russian prize
court"