Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1904 — FIRM STAND BY ENGLAND. [ARTICLE]

FIRM STAND BY ENGLAND.

Russia Warned that No More Neutral Ships May Be Sunk Sea. The controversy between 'Great Britain and Russia over the latter's act in justifying the sinking of neutral ships is rapidly approaching an acute stage where one power or the other must give way. Great Britain refuses to accept Russia’s definition of contraband of war, and insists that the sinking of the British steamer Knight Commander was a violation of international law. Russia in reply reasserts her right to sink a captured neutral ship if she sees fit, without waiting for a naval prize ccurt to determine whether it carries contraband or not. In the House of Commons Premier Balfour, while admitting the gravity of the situation; said that he was confident that not another neutral ship would be sunk by the Russians. He declared that the sinking of the Knight Commander was an international outrage and stated that the British government iiad expressed to Russia in the .(nearest way possible that view. / In tho House o|f Lords a similar declaration was made by Lord Lansdowne, the British minister of foreign affairs. Russia, said Lord Lansdowne, had issued regulations at the beginning of the war which greatly amplified the definition of contraband hitherto) accepted by Great Britain, the enlarged definition including such articles as coal, nlcohol, rye and oilier provisions, horses, etc. The British government had deemed it its duty to call the attention of Russia to the gravity of the question, referring particularly to the inclusion of provisions, in which England is largely interested, among the articles classified as “unconditionally contraband of war.” The British government, therefore, had informed Russia, said Lord Lansdowne, that Great Britain refused to consider itself bound to regard as valid the decision, of any prize court violating these rights, or which failed to act in conformity with recognized principles of international law. The government had been given to understand in reply that Russia considered that it was within the rights of a belligerent to destroy a captured neutral vessel, whether it carried contraband or not. Great Britain, said Lord Lansdowne. had never accepted such a view, and lie (Lord Lansdowne) believed it hail been refused by other powers.

Hie Montana Ore Purchasing Company nnd others filed an answer in the District Court in Butte, Mont., to the complaint filed by the Butte and Boston Mining Company to recover damages aggregating $1,500,000. The stilts pending on similar complaints aggregate s2<!,000,000. Clara Nicholas, a Philadelphia wsitk ress, whose spiunl cord was severed by a bullet fired by n jealous lover in February, 1001, is reported to be nearly recovered, the cord being sewed together With gold threads