Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1904 — RUSSIA MUST KNEEL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RUSSIA MUST KNEEL.

BRITAIN DEMANDS APOLOGY FOR SINKING SHIP. Warlike Order Goes to Envoy from King Edward England Will Use Force to Get Redress if Necessary— Czar Receives Ultimatum. . —- Russia must make ample amends for the sinking of the steamer Knight Commander and for the seizures of British ships in the Red Sea following the recent agreement that such seizures would be averted by the czar’s government. Such Is the decision arrived at by the British government. Preliminary to obtaining satisfaction the government sent instructions to Sir Charles Hardlnge, British ambassador to Russia, to protest ener getlcally against the sinking of the Knight Commander by the Russian Vladivostok squadron. The British note does not mention the amount of indemnity Russia must pay the owners of the ship and British subjects having goods on board the vessel, but all that Is sought is the establishment of the principle of indemnity and an apology. A salute of the British flag must also be conceded and the future protection of neutral shipping assured, The attitude of the British government Is the result of thorough consideration given to the reports from Sir Claude MacDonald, British minister at Tokio, and the examination of international law authorities by legal experts. The dispatches from Sir Claude confirm the reports that the Knight Commander had no contraband of war on board for Japan. The government and

all the British authorities, it is asserted, unite on the point that there was no justification for the sinking of the vessel. It is felt in government circles that the Knight Commander incident overshadows the Red Sea seizures, which practically have been adjusted, but which have failed to settle the question of the rights of neutral commerce. t That the British government regards the sinking of the Knight Commander as a breach of international law was confirmed by Premier Balfour In the House of Commons. Answering questions as to the destruction of the steamer and the seizure of the Malacca and other vessels, the premier said he hoped to be in a position to make a brief statement regarding the Malacca soon. As to the sinking of the Knight Commander, he said he “regretted that Information which reached me confirmed this regrettable occurrence.” Mr. Balfour added: “There Is no question of loss of life, but I am afraid there is a question of a breach of international law.” The tension in the Russo-British relations was said in London to have relaxed Thursday and a rupture is not

probable. Count Benckendorff, the Russian ambassador to Great Britain, Informed Lord I-ansdowne that If Russia had committed a wrong she was ready and willing to make full reparation, but before any action could be taken In the Knight Commander case the Russian government must have the opportunity of receiving the report of the commander of the Vladivostok squadron. Lord Lnnsdowne was not disposed to press the matter unduly and promised to wait a reasonable time. In the House of Commons Premier Balfour said that the acute stage of the Red Sen incidents had passed, and that the Russian volunteer fleet vessels would be withdrawn. He laid down the British view no belligerent war ships could lssuetrom the BlacJ Sea and that the volunteer "Xteet vessels in issuing therefrom, if they took belligerent action, either had no right to Issue or no right tQ take such action. This Ip the time Mrs. Maybrick’s freedom is not a gold brick.

PREMIER BALFOUR.

BROUGHT TO BY A RUSSIAN VOLUNTEER CRUISER.