The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-07-28
GREAT BRITAIN MAKES
 DEMAND ON RUSSIA
AND APOLOGY FOR
 SINKING KNIGHT COMMANDER.

Measures Will be Taken to Follow
 Up Diplomatic Representations-Red
 Sea Seizures shadowed-Premier
 BaIfour Regards the Incident as a
 Breach of International Law-De-
 fence Committee Meets.
 London, July 27.-The British gov ernment is sending instructions to Sir Charles Hardinge, the British anbassa- dor to Russia. to-day to protest ener- getically against the sinking of the British steamer Knight Commander by the Russian vladivostok squadron. Un- til the presentation of the note to the Russian government secrecy will be maintained regarding its contents, but it is known that Premier Balfour and his colleagues have decided to demand that the fullest reparation shall be made by Russia, or measures will be taken to follow up the diplomatic de- mands
 The British note, as Sir Charles Har- dinge will submit it, will not mention the amount of indemnity Russia must pay the owners of the ship and Brit ish subjects having goods on board the vessel, but all that will be sought will be the establishment of the principle of indemnity and apology. A salute to the British flag must also be conceded, 55 f,r fra1 shipping assured.
 The attitude of the British govern ment is the result of the thorough com alterations given to the reports receiv- ed from Sir Claude Macdonald. the British minister at Tokio. and the ex- animation of international law author tiles by legal experts. The dispatches from Sir Claude Macdonald confirm the reports that the Knight Commander had no contrabrand of war on board for Japan. The government and all the British authorities. 1t is asserted, unite on the point that there was no justification for the sinking of the ves- ssel.,
 {. It is felt in government circles that the Knight Commander incident over shadows the Red Sea seizures which practically have been adjusted, but which have failed to settle the question of the rights of neutral commerce.
 A Breach of International Law.
 That the British government regards the sinking Of the Knight Commander as breach of international law was confirmed by Premier Balfour in the house Of commons this afternoon. An- swering questions regarding the de- struction of the Knight Commander and the seizure of the Malacca and other vessels, the premier said he hoped to be in position to make a brief statement regarding the Malacca to- morrow. AS to the sinking of the Knight Commander, he regretted that information which reached me this morning confirmed this regrettable oc- currence. Mr. Balfour added:
 There is no question of loss of life, but I am afraid there Is question of breach of international law"
 Defence Committee Meets.
 A long meeting of the defense com- mittee took place to-day, under the presidency of Premier Balfour, at which the attorney general, Sir Robert Finlay, was present. The attorney general does not usually attend these meetings, but 1t was stated that the questions at issue between Russia and Great Britain were under discussion, and that Sir Robert was called In to advise as to the questions of interna- tional law involved.
 Tn the light of the declaration of the Russian government respecting contra band Of war, made three weeks after hostilities began, no representations have been made by Count Bencken- dorff, the Russian ambassador to Great Britain, to Foreign Secretary Ians- downe, reardingg the Knight Conn mander, the ambassador not having re- ceiyed advices from St. Petersburg on the subject, nor Is it seen by the Rus sian diplomats how it is possible for their government to make a prompt an swer to the British demands. It Is not known when the Vladivostok squadron will return to port. The commander of the squadron, it is pointed out, unques- tionably seized the papers of the yes sel, including her manifest, and there fore will be able to present reasons to show why he sank the ship, and with these reasons in their possession the Russian authorities will be able to con- plete their answer to the British repre- sentations.
 Tn the opinion of these diplomats, the cargo, or at least a portion of the cargo Of the Knight Commander included contraband of war under the Russian declaration, The bridgework among the cargo is said to have been destined for the Fusan-Seoul railroad, which the Japanese are building for military pur- poses. The Russian declaration also announced that rice and other food stuffs are contraband if sent at the enemy's cost or order. Attention is specially called to the feature of the declaration saying that neutral ships with contraband os war of any sort, according to circumstances, can be not only seized but also confiscated.
 If the ship can be confiscated, it is concluded, she can be sunk as we'll. While Russia holds. that her declara- tion has never been seriously question
 (Continued on Third Page.)
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 Child Ran in Front of Trolley Car.
 Stamford, July 27--Annie Lockwood, s;. yxYs11;,,s.