The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-20
CALLS HALT ON RUSSIANS.
Great Britain Will Compel Mus
covites to Surrender
Liner. Malacca. @
Especial London Times cable,to the Times.
DIspa toh. c opNIaht 1904 VI

Especial London Times cable,to the Times.
Dispatch, Copyright 19o4.) \;
LONDON, July 20.-lIt Is believed by
leading naval officers here who are cogni-
zant OF certain sweeping orders Issued
yesterday by the admiralty that the Brit
isl government Intends to compel Russia
to surrender the Peninsula and Oriental
liper Malacca. seized as g prize OF war
by the Russian cruiser st. Peteraburg.!
and cpsroute to Libaufunder prize crew.
It Is also generally understood in naval.
circles that no other British ships would
be stopped BY the Russians a fter the
British cruisers reach the Hcene. 55f Thki
orders to commanders OF tho after YES.
sells are declared to be short, but ex-l
plicit. and provide that British vessels!
shall be free to navigate Eastern waters
without recognising the warships OF any
other power Or their right to search;
them for contraband. III
Ono OF the Developments OF yesterday
was the detachment by Admiral Dom
vile. commanding the Mediterranean
fleet, Of his two swift fest cruisers. TO pro-
coed at full speed to Port Said, which Is
at the Bnorthern& end OF the Snez Canal
IT. rs understood that these two vessels.
will arrive at Port Said before the Malac-l
ca, and be there when the ] tier energies
from tho canal. IT is considered likely
that they Will compel the Russians to
give up their prize, although. Of course
their future action Is carefully guarded
and /laymen can only conjecture and
rea son from the attitude OF naval chiefs
Naval officers generally. With hardly an
exception, agree that such action can be
confidently expected. and they are, for
the most part, now discussing the proba-i
BILE attitude OF Russia when the MHlacca
Ii taken by force. s ;s
The ind lea lions ara hiatt the government
will act sharply and promptly and com
pei Russia to respect Z British commerce
on the high seas. Certainly i he dtsposi-
Ift,on OF the British vessels during the
last few days shows that Grca Britain
liz getting ready to police they Suez Canal
as wcll az the Red Sea-. 3s @
s II is rumored and was not denied yes
sterday that the Defense COMMITTEE i,as
been instructed by its legal az visorss %
treat the Russian volunteer G cruisers III
the Red Sea as pirates and sink them.
Admiral Freeman, one OF the foremost OF
the British naval onicers.s said yester-
day: S5 81 d. y +. II. .s4ga 8. . I.
E"were communicated chief Of the
Mediterranean feet.3gI should take the
law In my own hands and order my ships
TO escort all British ships through the
suez Canal and the Red b Sea and pro-
hands OF these Russian ship hope
| the government will adopt strong meas
ures S in this matter. II rs against all
common sense to believe that q ship can
one day be a. merchant vessel and u the
| next ship Of war. These ships passed
through the Dardanclles as merchantmen
and ought not to be recogniz lied \; now as
lwnrships. "a :. 58 rs
III they came out Of the Black Sea as
warships, Russia has violated her treaty
obligations and in either case the SHIPS
| have no status and Great Britain should
either compel Russia to recall them or
take the consequences. As admiral !
should not hesitate to seize them II they
were not recalled. 5 II the cruiser OF me
Confederacy, the Alabama. was a pirate.
and Americans have always CONSIDERED
her such. what are these two ships liying
the Russian flag 4 It Is my own OPT mon
that they are pirates and should pc treat
ed az such. @ #