Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-09
dissrm or dismantle the Geier and the

disarm or dismantle the Geier and the
IIocksun.
Whatever guard may be placed on
board these vessels Is q matter that
comes directly under the jurisdiction
OF the navy department I am glad
that II Is all over. am quite willing
to shift further responsibility to the
oroad shoulders OF the United States
navy department"
tnternment--What 10 Done.
OF particular interest at this time
are former instances Of internment of
vessels in u. s. ports, these ports
being neutral.
One Of the most noted of these In
stances, and one whose details may
be compared with that of the Geier,
occurred at San Francisco In 1904
when. the Russian cruiser Lena took
refuge there. ts +:
i John Bassett Moore. until recently
counsellor Of the state department, dis
cusses this interestingly in HIS authorl-
tative International Law Digest" He
says:
September IS, 1904, the russian am
bassador and the japanese minister
ii washington both advised the de-
partment Of state Of the arrival at San
Francisco or the Russian transport or
auxiliary cruiser Lena, with crew OF
500 men and an armament OF q quick
firing guns. The Russian ambassador
stated that the vessel was in an un-
seaworthy condition, and asked that
she might received all aid compatible
with neutrality. The Japanese min
lister asked that appropriate meas
ures's be taken. On September IA the
Russian ambassador was advised that
IL the vessel was repaired only such
bare repairs could be allowed. % might
be necessary to render the vessel sea-
worthy and enable her, to reach the
nearest home port, and that even such
repairs could be permitted only on con-
dillon that they should not prove to be
too extensive; that an inspection made
by United States officers ct San Fran
cisco showed tAat the repairs asked for
included & complete outfit Of new boil
ers and the reeonstrpction Of engines,
which would consume at least four or
ave months, or, according TO the CAPS
tafn's estimate, eight months, and
amount to renovation of the vessel.
IT was declared that this could not be
allowed with q due regard to neutral
ity, and an immediate answer was de-
sired as to whether the Russian gov
eminent preferred to have the limited
repairs made or to have the vessel laid
.up 1T the Mare Island navy yard.
"On the 18th Or September the Rus
sian ambassador asked for q delay Of
as hours. In order that he might re-
ceiye the instructions Of his govern
ment, but he was advised In reply that
the captain Of the Lena had informed
the American naval authorities at San
Francisco that the ship, being unsea-
worthy, must disarm, and had asked
that she be allowed to make needed
repairs. In view Of this formal appli-
cation OF the captain of the vessel,
the president, on the afternoon of the
18th OF September. issued an order di-
recting that the Lena be taken into
custody by the naval authorities of the
United Staies anda disarmed under the
following conditions:
Conditions o. internsnf.
I'D That the vessel be taken to the
Mare island navy yard and there dis
armed by removal of small guns.
breechblocks, small arms. ammunition
and ordnance stores and such other
dismantiement as might be prescribed
By the commandant Of the navy yard; 8
(2) that the captain Of the Lena should
lf--. - s-~,,< - ~ oa that ob a
should not leave San Francisco till
peace had been concluded, and that
the officers and crew should be paroled
not to leave San Francisco till some
other understanding as to their dis
posai might be reached between the
United States and both belligerents;
(3) that, after disarmament, the vessel
might be removed to private dock
for such reasonable repairs as would
make her seaworthy and preserve her
n good condition during detention. or
be so repaired at the navy yard, should
the Russian commander so elect, and
that while at the private dock the
eommandant OF the navy yard should
have the custody Of the ship, and that
the repairs should be oyerseen by, an
engineer officer to be detailed by him.,
t4) that the cost OF repairs, Of private
docking, and Of maintenance Of the
ship, officers and crew while In Gus
tody should be horne by the Russian
government. but the berthing at Mare
! Island and the custody and surveil.
lance Of the vessel by the United
States; l5) that the vessel when re-
paired, II peace had notsthen been
, CONCLUDED. should be taken back to
Mare Island and there held 10 custody
tin the end Of the war. The Russian
i ambassador expressed the adherence
OF his government to these conditions,
!, but asked that the ofiicefs and crew
OF the vessel. except i've officers and
/ 100 seamen, who were necessary for
her care, might be permitted to leave
the United States. The Japanese gov.
eminent. on the other hand. asked
that an the officers and crew be de-
tanned IN the United States till the
termination Of hostilities The presi.
dent decided that It would not be con.
/ sistent with neutrality TO grant the re
] nuoaf for fha rArafriafian 0f any III