Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-10
HOW UNCLESAM INTERNED Three
OFRUSSIA'S WRSH|PS At MANILA

Could Not Repair War Damages.
In conformity with the view taken
/ in this memorandum, the secretary OF
the navy en- the same day teleGraphed
to Admiral Train commanding the
! United States Asiatic' feet. then at
| Cavite. that the Russian vessels could
mot be allowed to repair war damages
unless informed, it being the policy OF
the United States to restrict all belli-
gerent operations in It's ports, = .Ad'
miraI Train was instructed to confer
with Mr. Wright. governor geaeral of
the Philippines, and II he approved to
take charge OF the vessels.
"On the next day, June 6. the war
department instructed Gov. Wright to
advise Admiral Enquist that as his
ships were suffering from damage due
TO, battle and as it was the policy of
the United States to restrict all oper.
stions CT belligerents in neutral ports,
the president could not consent to any
repairs unless the ships were interned
at Manila till the close of hostilities.
ed. after notifying Admiral Enquist
Of this conclusion, to- turn over In
execution CT the order 10 Admiral
Train.
IN reporting on June the execu-
ticn cf these orders, Governor Wright
stated that Admiral Enquist, on be-
ing advised of the. ruling as to repairs.
had ; eSpfessed a wish to cable his
government on the subject, and had
asked whether he would be required
to put to sea within "a hours or would
be allowed to obtain coal and. proVf-
sions sufficient to take him to his
nearest port The ships, said Coy
eTnor Wright, had been allowed to
take only $50 tons Of coal for use in
the harbor, and enough food supplies
to last from day to day. Governor
Wright also stated that lie had Just
received communication from the
Japanese consul at Manila calling at
tenticn to the fact that three Russian
warshins had been in the barber since
tile Eighs-Of June 3. and asking Wteth.
er the 24-hour limit would be en-
forced. He had replied that, in view
Of the condition of the ships and of
their request for coal and repairs, he
was awaiting Instructions. gFI.5iE
Twenty-four.Hour Limit Enforced.
with reference to this report the
war department, en- the same day, in
structed Governor Wright that the
president directed that the 24-hour
limit must be strictly enforced, and
that the necessary supplies and coal
must be taken within that time.
'On June 3 Admiral Train reported
that, as the Russian ships had not left
the harbor within the required "a
hours, he had notified Admiral. En-
quist that the force under his COM
mand must be considered as interned
after June at noon Admiral Train
stated that disarmament.was going on
by removing the breech plugs and
that the engines were sufficiently dis
abled for the purpose Of internrnent
by limiting the coal supply. He ad-
.ded that Admiral Enqufst, in accord
anea with instructions of his govern
ment, had expressed his willingness
to give his parole and the paroles of
bis officers and men not to take any
further part in the war. -.
June 19, 1905, the Russian ambas-
sadcr at Washington inquired whether
the hospital ship Kos:roma, which
had been ordered from Shanghai to
Manila, would be allowed to take
wounded or sick officers and sailors
from Admiral Enquist's vessels back
to Russia on their giving their paroles
to take no further part in the war. A
similar inquiry was received from Ad-
miral Train. The matter was on June
70 brought to the attention of the
japanese legation, but on the next
cav before its answer was received,
the kostroma arrived at Manila, and
the president deemed it proper and
humane to direct compliance with
the Russian request, upon the off
GERS snd men giving their parole. in
accordance with the assurance given
IN the Russian ambassadors nCte.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government
instructed its legation to state that
1t would not object to any disposition
which the United States might see fit
TO make of the subject. - F.. .. -.
June 20 Admiral Enquist, through
the French consul, asked permission
70 bring from Shanghai material and
cther munitions of war for repairing
his vessel, such as cordage, sail cloth.
waste, and oil fer machinery. and
other articles. Permission was grant
ed by the war department. with the
understanding that the vessels we're
still to remain in internment.
MIGHT Fly Flag.
June "a Admiral Train inquired
WHETHER the hauling down Of the flag
OF the Russian shiDs was regarded as
a necessary condition Of internment.
the FdApartment of state on being
consulted. advised. June %. that the