Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1904 — RUSSIA’S BLACK SEA FLEET. [ARTICLE]

RUSSIA’S BLACK SEA FLEET.

Powerful Squadron Impounded There Ib Useless in Present War. i In addition to warships, the Black sea fleet includes the vessels of the Russian Steam Navigation Company, which may be called upon for government service, and the so-called “volunteer fleet.’’ The original treaty concluded between Turkey and the other European powers in 1841 provided that no warships excepting those belonging to Turkey should pass the Dardanelles. These treaty provisions were confirmed in 1871 and again in 1878. In 1891, however, the Russian authorities effected an agreement with

Turkey whereby vessels of the "volunteer fleet” obtained the right of passage through the Dardanelles. This last agreement plainly discriminates between the warships of the Black sea squadron and the “volunteer fleet” vessels, and as the sdiips thus far sent through the Dardanelles belong to the latter class it does not appear that the letter of the treaty stipulations has been disregarded.