Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-06-06
Enquist's Three Warships
10 Remain at Manila.
The Orders to Be Sent at
Once from Washington.


Washington, June 5.-Admiral En-
quis. will not be allowed to repair
ships at Manila. This government has
decided that as the Injuries to tine
ships were not caused either by the
sea or storm they will be obliged to re-
fuse permission for the ships to be re-
Laired there. Today. Sec. Taft cabled
the following instructions to Gov.
Wright at Manila regarding the ships:
Time cannot be given for the re-
pair of the injuries received in battle
Therefore the vessels cannot be repair
ed unless intcrned until the end of hos
tilities.'
Admiral Train has been instructed
accordingly. Sec. Taft stated that If
the Russian vessels agreed to leave
Manila in their present condition, they
were welcome to, but as 1t did not
were welcome to, but as 1t did not ap-
pear that they suffered from any dam
age caused by the sea or storm this
government was obliged to take the
lOsition above outlined.
After a conference. today, with Presl-
dent Roosevelt Sec. Morton announced
that the Russian cruisers Orel. OieS.
and Jemtchug which arrived, at Ma
Mia, last week will De interned. at
Manila Sec Morton said that orders
for the internment OF the cruisers
would go forth at once. to Admiral
Train.
The japanese minister. here. has for
mally inquired of the department o:
state what action thu United States
government intends to take respective
Of the Russian war vessels in Manila
bay.
Acting Secretary LoOmis. this after
noon. responded that these vessels
would be interned provided they did
not leave the harbor at once. This ex-
change has taken place in order to for
mally establish the responsibility OF
rhe United states for the detention of
the vessels in Manila llaIbor until the
end of hostilties.
The Presidents decision regarding
the DISPOSITION of tho Russian vessels
at Manila that they shall intern or
rut to sea, is. it is said here, in ac-
cordancc with the best naval opinion
ana is in pursuit of the policy of strict
neutrality followed by t'la Washington
government from the beginning of ,ne
war. 1t Is specifically declared that
there is no intention to show the slight
est favoritism in the matter and every
thing possible will be done for the
comfort of tho wounded Russians. The
ships. when interned, will, of course,
be allowed to be put in habitable con-
dtion and such repairs as are neces-
sary to keep them afoat will be al
lowed.
The decision of the President was
announced after conferences with Secs.
Morton and Taft As soon as Sec. Taft
returned to the war department. ne
made public the substance OF his in
structions to Governor Wright VINO Is
the medium of communication between
the Washington government and Ad-
miral Enquist.
Rear Admiral Converse. chlef or the
bureau Of navigation. personally TOOK
charge of the preparation OF mStruc-
tions to Rear Admiral Train. who Is L"
be in supreme charge of the detaiiS OF
interest. this being tn" practice follow
ed when the Lena put into port at san
Francisco and was intetneG unoer the
direction Of the comnlalIdant or the
Mare island navy yard.
The Instructions 20 Admiral IRAN
when completed viii! be approved py
the secretary and cabled to Manila III
the expectations that Admiral Enquis'
will forthwith decide to intern III
view of the bad condition of his ves-
Sels
So far as can be learned, the Japan
ese government has shown no concern
regarding the course Of action to be
take by this government. Mr.. Taka-
hira. the Japanese minister, said. TO-
day:
I'VE have every confidence that the
policy to be followed will be in strict
accord with the neutrality so carefuiiy
maintained by the Washington govern
ment."