Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-15
TO Be D|SMANTLED
Action Taken Regarding the
Lena.
TO REMOVE WEAPONS
DISPOSITION OF OFFICERS AND
CREW NOT SETTLED.
Acting Secretary Adee Telegraphs to
the President Asking for Instruc-
tions in the Matter.
70 REMOVE WEAPONS

Captain Berliosky commander of the
Russian ship Lena. at San Fran
cisco. has informed Rear Admiral Good
rich that he desires to dismantle the Lena
so that she can remain at San Francisco,
and has asked as to what extent this gov
ernment desires the dismantlement to be
made. Admiral Goodrich has telegraphed
to Washington for instructions and the
details of the dismantlement are now be-
ing prepared by the State and Navy Depart
ments. On this same subject the State De-
partment is in telegraphc communication
with Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa-
dor. 1t Is stated that the request will
prOba bly, be granted, and that the diSman-
tlement will take place at the navy yard,
Mare Island, and will be under the direc-
ton of the commandant of that yard, Rear
Admiral McCalla.
To Remove AL Weapons.
Disarmament, it is announced at the Navy
Department. will mean the removal from
the Lena of all of her fighting weapons.
The one detail regarding the Lena which
has not yet been decided is what DISPOSE
tion shall be made of her officers and crew.
Acting Secretary of State Adee this morn
ing telegraphed to President Roosevelt for
instructions on that point. and soon as
he has been heard from the decision of this
SofeIHI1ieHt Will ne communicated through
Rear Admiral Goodrich to Capt Berlnsky
The statement is made at the Navy De-
partment that the invariahle precedent on
that point is for the crew of the dismantled
ship to remain in the port where the ship
has been ''interned' to the end of the war.
Minister Takahira called upon Acting
Secretary Adee today in connection with
this case. He has had instructions
whatever from his own government as to
any representations that he should make
to the State Department, and he is conse-
quenty at liberty to act on his own initia-
tive. However, he told Mr.. Adee that the
Japanese government had such perfect con-
f1dence In the disposition of the United
States government to do exactly the right
thing in relation to the Lena that he felt
that 1t was unnecessary for him to even
make suggestion as to the disposition of
the case His call this-morning was only
for the purpose of inQuring whether any
new phase had developed. and Mr. Adee
was able to assure him that the matter
will be disposed of today.
Japanese Consul's Denial.
SAN FRANCISCO. September 15-K.
Uyeno. the Japanese consul here, denies
the charges made to the effect that he over
stepped the bounds Of official propriety in
his efforts to obtain an understanding with
Collector Stratton regarding the Lena's
presence in the San Francisco harbor. He
has received letter from Collector STRAIT
ton which disavows any reports of the
kind.
Interest at Tokyo.
TOKYO, September 15.-The presence of
the russian warship Lena in San Francis
co is exciting keen interest, although the
motive OF the trip is unknown. One theory
advanced is that Russia is endeavoring 10
test the attitude of America upon the legal
questions involved. Another theory is that
the Lena, while engaged IN scouting, called
at korsakof, found the wreck of the
cruiser Novik, learned Of the scattering If
The Port Arthur feet and the defeat of the
FiaulVostoh squadron, took the Novik's
crew ON board and fed 10 San Francisco
ne Geographic reports of the Lena's crew
and number of guns on board Indicate ah-
normal conditions for ship of her class.
the japanese government, while watch-
ing the incident with close attention. has
hot expressed its attitude upon the case
publicly.
View Taken by the Russians.
ST. PETERSBURG, September 15-The
decision to disarm the Russian cruiser
Lena, now al San FRANCISCO, and to keep
her there until the end of the war, was the
result of communication from Captain
Berlnski, commander of the vessel report
ing that she required extensive repairs and
that it would be difficult to complete them
within the period allowed by the United
States authorities.
The fact, however, that there is little
disposition TO criticise the decision of the
United States shows that the admiralty
was not reluctant, after receiving the cam
ta1ns report. to acHuiesce in her dlsarma-
ment. The comment of the Russian press
also indicates a recognition of the fairness
of the course of the United States, the
prompt measures taken TO protect the Lena