The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-16
Git ~,tlrssrnarr.
RUSSIAN CRUISER AT SAN FRAN.
CISCO

The aE-1val in San Francisco harborl
OF the Russian naval vessel Lena brings
our government In closer personal con-
tact with the situation in the Far East
than anything which has occurred
since hostilities began.
In some dispatches the Lena is desig-
mated as an armed transport. Col
lector of Customs Stratton. OF San
francisco. IN his dispatch to the navy
department giving notice of her arrival
and asking for instructions, classes her
as an auxiliary cruiser. TIE reply calls
for further particulars and refers the
collector to the presidents neutrality
proclamation issued at the beginning
OF the war which contains this:
IF any ship OF war or privateer OF
either beIligerent shall, after this noti-
fcation takes effect, enter any port,
harbor. roadstead or waters OF the
United States, such vessel shall be re-
quired to depart n put to sea within
"A hours after her entrance into such
port,-except in case of stress of wealth
er, or Of her requiring provisions or
LILLE " NNAA%
her crew, OF repairs, in either OF which
cases the authorities OF b port shall
require her to put to e as soon as
possible after the expiration OF sucn
period of "a hours, without permitting
her Z take in supplies beyond what
may be necessary for her Immediate
use"
There Is evidently something about
the presence of this vessel in American
waters which produces suspicion in he
minds OF the American officials. 1t is
peculiar that she should hav been Or
dered from V~ladivostok t San Fran
cisco for repairs, and it is evident that
she was in a hurry to get there. as her
captain said she made the trip in thirty
days. The time between these two
ports for fairly fast mail steamers is
from twenty-eight to thirty-twos days.
Then the officers OF the vessel have
made conflicting statements. Her nav
igating officer said at n time that our
government would be asked to allow
her to remain until repaired, and at
another that she woul probably stay
until the war was over On the other
hand her captain has made application
that she be allowed to stay in port un-
til urgent repairs Ave been made.
Her length Of stay will depend on the.
report Of the inspector as to the con-
dition of her boilers and machinery.
If they are found to need repairs time.
will be given for making such as will
enable her to reach Yladivostok and she
will be allowed to take on coal and
provisions sufficient only to last her
% that port.
In the mean time the Lena is being
closely guarded by a swift torpedo boat
and a navy guard boat in order that
there may be no violation of the laws
of neutrality.
Another suspicious circumstance Is
that If the Lena came direct from
VIadivostok under orders to repair,
why her officers should be awaiting or
ders from the Russian naval represen-
tative at Washington. The true facts
are, probably, that she has been cru1s-
ing for some time in the Pacific on the
lookout for vessels sailing for Japan
from American ports laden with pro-
visions. being nearer the American
than the Russian coast when her boil
ers became defective, found 1t neces.
sary to put into San Francisco. If heI
boilers are found to be in need of urs.
ent repair this suspicion will become
almost certain conviction.
1t is pretty generally believed tha'
this Russian vessel is up to some un'
lawful purpose and it is argued tina
she did not come to the shores of thi:
country without a definite purpose II
view. And in view of the Russian poll
CIV as disclosed by events in the Rec
sea and during the raid of the V1adi
vostok squadron in the Pacific, it 1
believed that the Lena once on the higl
seas, repaired, p~rovisioned and coaleo
would not lose any opportunity tina
might present itself of gobbling VI
American vessels. loaded with suppos
ed contraband of war.
If the inspection shows that she is no
in need of repairs, then the question
with our government will arise whethe
to order her to leave in twenty-fou
hours or 20 require her to diSarm, low
er her flag and remain in that por
until the close of the
Now is Kuropatkin's Iime-Whil
tho TopS on tho firing line are yyaitiO