The San Francisco call., 1904-09-16
President Orders
Dis ma ntIin g
Of Lena.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15.-Acting
Secretary of State Adee to-day gave
out the following statement regarding
the Russian ship Lena. now at San
Francisco:
The President has to-day issued an order.
through the acting Secretary of State. direct
ing that the Russian armed transport Lena.
now at San Francisco, be taken into custody
by the naval authorities of the United States
and disarrned The main features of the con-
ditons prescribed are that the Lena be taken
to the Mare Island Navy Yard and there dis
armed By removal of small guns breechlocks
of large guns, small arms. ammunition and
ordnance stores and such other dismsntlement
as may be prescribed by the eommandant of
the navy yard; that the captain give written
guarantee that the Lena shall not leave San
Francisco until peace shall have been con
cluded. that the officers and crews shall be
paroled. not to leave San Francisco until some
other understanding as to their disposal may
be reached between the United States Gov
ernmeut and both the belligerents. tHat after
disarmament the vessel may be removed to a
drydock for such reasonable repairs as will
make her seaworthy and preserve her in good
condition during her detention; that she may
be so repaired at the navy yard II the Russian
commander should so elect; that while at a
private dock the commandant of the navy yard
at Mare Island shall have custody of the ship.
and the repairs shall be overseen by an en-
gineer officer TO be detailed by the command
ant end that when repaired, il peace
shall not have been concluded, the vessel shall
be taken back to Mare Island navy yard and
be there held in custody until the end OF the
war
This action has been taken upon the written
request OF the commander of the Lena ad-
dressed to Rear Admiral Goodrich.
dressed to Rear Admiral Goodrich setting forth
that as the vessel is incapable of putting tc
sea without needful repairs, she must disarr1,
and asking that needfui repairs be permitted
The Secretary of the navy has telegra aphed
the Presidents order to San Francisco and
given Instructions to Admiral Goodrich and to
Ssaptafn McCaila the Commandment OF the Mare
Island Navy Yard to carry out its provisions
The main question regarding the
Russian transport Lena having been
settled, officials of the administration
and of the two belligerent govern
ments will now devote themselves to
reaching an understanding regarding
the officers and crew of the vessel. AS
indicated in the statement made by
the State Department, the present ar
rangement is but temporary one, de-
signed to meet the question as it i'm
mediately presents itself. 1t is not
likely that the officers and crew will
be allowed again to participate in the
war. unless japan should waive her
prerogatives in that regard. which is
not believed to be at all probable
An arrangement will be effected
whereby the men either will be per-
mitted to return to Russia or interned
in the United States. as the transport
is to be until the close of hostilities. at
the expense Of the Russian Govern
ment.
Presumably some members of the
crew will remain in charge of the ves>
sci as caretakers. a privilege to which
the United States Is not likely to raise
any objection.