The San Francisco call., 1904-07-20
MERCHANTMEN
ARE THE PREY
OF WAR GRAF T
Seizures of Vessels Occur
Daily in Both Near and
. Far East.
Russia Will Disayow the
Taking of Mail From
German Liner.


here from Weihaiwei to-day, reports
that she was signaled by the steam
snip Peiping (owned by the Chinese
Engineering and Mining Company Of
Shanghai), whose commander asked
the Lienshing to advise the owners of
the Peiping that the ship and cargo
had been captured by the Japanese
cruiser Hongkong and that the vessel
was proceeding to Japan with a prize
crew on board. The news Of the cap
ture Of the Peiping was communicated
TO the British admiral, whose squadron
is anchored in Yungching Bay.
SUEZ, July 19.-The Peninsular and
oriental steamship Ma1acca, captured
in the Red Sea, has arrived here flying
the Russian naval flag. She is now in
command Of a Russian naval officer
and carries a prize crew from the vol
unteer fleet steamship ST. Petersburg.
The Malacca entered the canal to-day
on her way to Libau, on the Baltic.
The company's agent attempted to
board the vessel, but the Russian COM
mander refused him admission.
BERLIN, July 19.-Russia has not
yet answered the German protest
against the seizure of the mails of the
Prinz Heinrich by the Smolensk, but
the Foreign Office confidently expects
a disaVowal of the action of the COM
mander Of the Smolensk.
The Foreign Office informs the press
that the seizure of mails included Eng
lish and Italian sacks.
The Foreign Office points out that the
diplomatic situation created by the
seizures is not adapted for common
treatment by Germany and England,
since the act of Russian vessels
toward each country is too dissimilar.
Germany is conducting her case inde-
pendently of Great Britain. The Off
cials say that much less excitement
prevails in the country than when
Great Britain seized two German YES
sells during the Boer war. Neverthe-
less, the officials emphasize the state
ment that Germany cannot submit to
Russia's treatment.
LONDON, July 19.-In British circles
the recent seizures and overhauling of
British ships in the Red Sea by the
Russian volunteer fleet steamships
Smolensk and st. Petersburg are re-
garded as very grave international in
cidents. The seizure of the Peninsular
and Oriental steamer Malacca by the
St Petersburg and her arrival in the
Suez canal as a prize of war, on her
way to Libau, on the Baltic, have come
as a climax and the Cabinet to-day
was considering the course to pursue.
The British law officers acknowledge
the right of the Russians to seize and
detain mails, provided that only Off
cial communications are taken, but
they take the most serious view Of the
status Of the two Russian ships pa
trolling the Red Sea and if any official
action or protest ensues it will be
chiefly in regard to the passage of these
erstwhile merchant ships through the
Dardanelles and their subsequent
transformation into ships of war;
In official circles strong comment is
made in regard to Russia's policy. 1t
is regarded as impossible that the COM
manders of the Smolensk and st.
Petersburg were given full power, and
the officials, therefore, are inclined to
the grave conclusion that the Russian
Government gave implicit instructions
to the two commanders.
The effect on the stock exchange to-
soils and other gilt-edged securities, on
fears Of international complications.
The dangers and difficulties of the
matter are much commented upon in
the newspapers which are practically
unanimous in denouncing the dubious
and irregular character" of the volun-
teer fleets.
IF their actions are proved, as we
believe, to be those Of vulgar filibust-
ers," said the ST. James Gazette, they
must be recalled by Russia, or the
skull and cross bones must be run up
and they will be fired upon whenever
sighted"
Another element adding to the dan
gers of the situation is the attitude
Japan may assume. The Pail Mall
Gazette points out that If, as stated
in dispatches from Constantinople, the
Russian guardship Chernomoretz ira
versed the straits fully armed, cit
would seem to justify Japan in regard
ing Turkey as an ally of Russia and
invoking the terms of the Anglo-Ja-
panese treaty.
ST. PETERSBURG, July 19-Ger-
many has called attention to the seiz-
ure of the mails on board the Prinz
Heinrich in the Red Sea on July Is by
the Smolensk and has requested ex-
plantations. These have not yet been
given, the report of the commander Of
the Smolensk not having arrived. The
restoration of the mails yesterday was
made without instructions from st. Pc
tersburg. Russia, having declared
communications intended for the ia
panese to be contraband of war, main
tains the right to examine such mail.
but does not contend for the right to
take such general mail addressed to
Japan, and unless peculiar circum-
stances justified the seizure of the
mails on board the Prinz Heinrich the
act will be disavowed.
The first impression in diplomatic
circles here that the action of the Rus
sian volunteer fleet vessels in stopping
neutral ships in the Red Sea to search
for contraband of war would not give
rise TO complications is being super
seded by the view, which there is good