Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-22
The Steamer MaIacca
Will Soon Be Released.
Gar Thinks Best to Avoid
Trouble With England.
More Runors Of Battles at the Front.
but Nothing Authentic-Naval Ac.
tivity About Port Arthur Il Notjoed
--latest from the Firing Line.

st. Petersburg, July 21.-5.1o p. NJ
The Associated Press can state au-
thoritatively that the Malacca viii
probably be at once released. The ex-
act status of the case at present Is AZ
follows:
Count Benckendorff, the Russian am
bassadcr to Great Britain has asked
for Transformers official assurance that
the munitions on board were British
government stores. If this is given. or
der will instantly be issued to release
the vessel. At the same time Great
Britain will be notified that ships stop
ped by Russia whose manifests are not
in order will be held.
Russia will maintain the legality OF
the status of the Smolensk and ST.
| Petersburg as warships. They are un-
der the orders of the admiralty and
We're commissioned by the admiralty's
instructions. Under the regulations Of
the volunteer fleet Russia claims that
ships belonging thereto can be converts
ed into warships without previous no.
tice. upon orders from the admiralty.
When the Smolensk and st. Petersburg
reached SueZ on their way out they re-
ceived from the Russian consul the
admiralty's Instructions, commissions
ing them as warships. The idea that
Great Britain might meet the question
of conversion by authorizing British
merchantmen to hoist the naval flag Is
lidiculed in official circles. where full
confidence seems to exist that the in
cident will be speedily and satisfactory
ly adjusted.
All st. Petersburg is talking, today,
Of nothing except the possibility of
complications with Great Britain. At
the embassies and legations intense
activity reigns. In diplomatic circles,
however. the sentiment Is almost unan-
imous that Russia will yield. There is
reason to believe that France has
strongly advised her ally to adopt this
course and Lord Lansdowne, Ambassa-
dor Benckendorff and NJ. Cambon, the
French minister to Great Britain are
consulting on the subject in London
with the view of the adjustment of the
incident as quickly as possible.
Public sentiment Is greatly excited.
The suggestion Is made that, IL Great
Britain persists in raising the issue Of
the status of the Russian volunteer
fleet cruisers now in the Red Sea.
Russia will offer to refer the case to
the arbitration tribunal at The Hague.
Count Lamsdorff has replied to the
verbal note of the British ambassador
here on the subject Of the seizure OF
the Malacca in the Red Sea by the st.
Petersburg saying that the inquiry In
to the case Is progressing.
In the case Of the German steamer
Phinz Heinrich, whose mails were
seized by the Smolensk. Russia has not
yet replied to Germany. but as the YES
sci was not seized and her mails. ex-
cept tive bags addressed to Nagasaki,
were restored the edge has been taken
OF this incident and no trouble Is an
ticipated in the adjustment, although
a final adjudication IN expected to de-
termine the exact rights of Russia in
the matter of inspecting correspondence
on board mail steamers. Under her
declaration official correspondence
about japan Is contraband.