The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-08

and PrOviaiOns-Retsels Arrived In
China Sea Dangerously short OF Supplies
Prom TIE Sun Correspondent AZ HonEkonE.
HoNoKoNo, May 7.--Following is the
cable despatch addressed TO THE Sun on
April 80. which the French authorities at
Saigon refused 10 allow to be transmitted
from that place. baSing their action on
Article of the telegraph convention:
My visit TO Kamranh Bay and my per-
sonsl observations have convinced me
that without French assistance In allowing
the Baltic feet to rendezvous at Kamranh
Bay and to receive the fullest supplies Of
coal, cattle, water and fresh and other
provisions, and TO make full use Of the
French telegrsphs, the Russian feet would
have been in sad straits. When they ar
rived on April is they were dangerously
short Of supplies.
The fact that Kamranh Is a magnificent
hay, which is held by the Marquis Bartelemy
Pontalis, who as concessionaire IL allowed
TO receive cargo and transship It without
its pas sing through the French customs,
suggests prearrangement, with the knowl-
edge Of the French. Immense quantities
Of coal and other stores have been stored
at Saigon. with the full knowledge Of the
French authorities that they were for the
use Of the Baltic fleet, for months past,
ready for transshipment
The reprovisioning Of the Russian YES
sells proceeded under the direction Of Prince
LIeven, captain Of the interned Russian
cruiser Diana He was assisted by
Ginsberg, a Russian naval contractor
who came to Saigon for the purpose. The
captains Of French and German vessels
received enormous sums for carrying the
stores from Saigon to Ksmranh Bay.
During nearly the whole time that the
heet was replenishing its supplies no at
tempt was made by the French Govern
ment to check this violation Of neutrality
until / osbled TO THE SUN what was actually
occurring. Then, about April %. Admiral
De Jonqul4res, the French naval COM
mander, advised the Russians to cease
taking aboard supplies and to hasten their
departure from French territorial waters
The Admiral then left for whatrang after
arranging with an agent at Kamranh Bay
70 telegraph him when the Russian left,
Instead Of leaving the Russians oon-
dnued their work as before. On the average
three transports arrived daily, and war
ships entered the hArbor. ooaled and de-
parted. using the harbor a. Q base. Ad-
niral De Jonqu!6res returned on April "a,
after further circumstances had been made
20 France by Japan. The Russians left
the following morning, thus having had
ten days in which TO receive the fullest
supplies. They only left, however when
their transports we're empty.
Your correspondent personally boarded
the French steamer QusnnsIn, which had
q full cargo Of contraband, which was
being discharged under the superintendent
Of two Russian Psymasters. Junks and
other boats we're carrying these supplies
TO the Russian cruisers in the presence Of
the French flagship, the cruiser Descartes.
This wide stretching Of neutrality enabled
the Russians TO proceed and intercept
neutral vessels. The Russians are now
fully stocked, thhn's 10 the French allow
ing them for ten days TO convert Kamranh
Bay practically into Russian naval base
The action Of the French lie In striking
contrast to the attitude Of the British
authorities at Hongkong and Singapore.
The latter are stopping steamers on the
slightest suspicion that they are carrying
eontraband.
From a cable despatch addressed to
THE Sun on April 20, the French authorities
eliminated the following: -Four Russian
transports are still moored at Saigon,
where they are taking aboard supplies
Your correspondent left Saigon on May
ard passed in the river four Russian
t-aHsl OTIS that we're taking coal aboard.
Tey we're to follow the Russian feet,
Ore French and four German steamers,
oil laden, we're also there. Inside Cape
- James were the German steamers Milos,
Terta, Merchandising, Tsimo, Garden
ard Westphalia, laden, and the Badenia,
batavia, Artemia and Bethania, empty.
The plot Of the steamer on which your
correspondent Travelled stated that seventy.
I've more transports we're expected at Cape
81 James.