Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-07-22
RUSSIANS BOLD STROKE
The Searching Of Neutral Ships on
Red Sea.
HAVE NO FEAR OF COMPLICATIONS.
Diplomats In St. Petersburg Anxious TO Learn
the Views of Their Government on the PAS
sage of Russian Ships Through the Darda'
nelles as Merchantmen and Their Conversion
Into Warships Armies In Touch.

St. Petersburg, (By Cable).-The
news that the Russian Volunteer
steamships Smolensk and St. Peters
burg, now cruising in the Red Sea-
are stopping ships Of neutral nations
and searching the for cantrabands
of war is causing the liveliest interest
in all circles. Russia has evidently
weighed the question, believes her
self to be within her rights, and neither
fears nor anticipates international
complications. Indeed, some of the
powers may have been sounded by
Russia on The subject. Nevertheless,
foreign opinion is awaited eagerly,
and more or less criticism is expected
Members of the diplomatic corps
are keenly anxious to ascertain the
views their governments will take
of the passage through the Darda-
nelles of these vessels of the volunteer
fleets as merchantmen and their SUBJ
sequent conversion into ships Of war
The general view in diplomatic clr-
els, even where sentiment is not par
ticularly friendly to Russia, is that
while the passage of the Dardenelles
might be considered a piece OF sharp
practice on the part of Russia, it is
an accomplished fact, and the powers
will not regard it as a violation of the
Treaty of Paris, but will guard against
its repetition. The diplomats think
that some of the powers might insist
that henceforth all volunteer vessels
shall be considered as warships within
the meaning of the treaty.
One of the most interesting ques-
tions in this connection, the diplomats
believe, will arise out Of Russia
declaration that coal is contraband OF
war. With prize crews on board the
captured ships could be sent to Rus
sian Baltic ports. but if short OF coal
they could not put in at neutral ports
to replenish their bunkers. This
same question may embarrass Rus-
sia when the Baltic squadron sails
for the Far East.
In view of the protest made by Ger
many in the case of the stoppage OF
the steamer Bundesrath (selzed in
Delagoa Bay December 20, 1907 dur
ing the South African war, as the re-
suit of which Great Britain had to
paw damages, much curiosity exists
as to what Germany will do in the
case of conhscation by the Smolensk
of the mail sacks on board the North
German Lloyd steamer Prince Hem
rich, especially as large portions Oh
the mail seized was undoubtedly OF
a commercial character.
Some British Protests.
London, (By Cable -Almost with
out exception the newspapers, IN edi-
torials or otherwise, comment upon
the Russian volunteer fleet steamers
passing the Dardanelles, and the gov
eminent is urged to take action, es-
pecially for the protection of British
commerce in the Red Sea and neigh
boring waters.
The Daily Telegraph, concluding an
outspoken protest written with traces
of government inspiration, says:
There is a limit to complaisance
when neutral commerce under the
British flag is molested in way to
which we have been for a century
and a half unused"
Special dispatches from Berlin echo
the feeling of irritation that exists
in London.
The Standards Toxic correspond
ent. cabling under date of July II,
says the Jill Shimpo, in an editorial,
expresses the hope that Great Britain
will see that Turkey lends Russia ne.
assistance by allowing steamers OF
the volunteer feet to pass the Darda-
nelles.
The Jill Shimpo declares that Great
Britain is bound under the terms OF
the Anglo japanese Alliance to pre-
vent such assistance being given.