POLICING THE RED SEA ROUTE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 168, 20 July 1904, Page 3

POLICING THE RED SEA ROUTE

BOGUS HOSPITAL SHIPS' WORK. PRESS CONDEMNATION. LONDON, July 18. Newspapers are strongly protesting against the action oi' the volunteer fleet. The Standard describes it as , a clear breach of the comity of uutiona. v A POSSIBLE MEETING IN THE • r \ RED SEA. LONDON, July 18. It is reported from Singapore that a large armoured cruiser and two colliers have been seen near the Straits of Malacca. They are believed to be Japanese, going to the Red Sea to deal with the Russian volunteer cruisers.

Prinz Heinrichs' Mails. GERMANY'S DEMAND FOR RESTORATION. (Received July 19, 9.47 p.in.) LONDON, July 19. Germany, without questioning the status of Smolensk, lias quietly demanded the ' restoration of tihe Prinz Hcinrich's mails, since she does not recognise the Russians' right lo ■ . lemove a bag. ' THE MAILS TRANSFERRED TO A BRITISH SHIP. LONDON, July 19. ' The Smolensk detained the Brit- "" ish steamer Persia for an hour on the ' Red Sea, transferring to her the ■mails taken from the German steamer Prinz Heinrich, excepting two bags intended for Nagasaki. (Received July 19,10.12 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. • The Smolensk demanded tlie Per- ' sia's mails, but she had none on ' board. ,The Seizure on" British Steamers. » ; ' DENIAL BY THE P. AND 0. COMPANY. ? LONDON, July 19. The Peninsular and Orient Company denies that the Malacca, which -■ was sefzed and convoyed back, to < Suez, carried arms or ammunition for ,V .'the Japanese. Her cargo included ' only Government stores for Hongkong. (Reccivod July 20, 1.2 a.m.) July .19. „ The Malacca lias passed through , \ the Sue® Canal, commanded by Russian officers and manned by a Rusgian crew« ' ' TWO MORE STEAMERS DETAIN■v <\ .80. LONDON, July 19. The British steamers Woodcock and ' Dahuatia were detained for three " hours, and then released. . .REdRUITING THE "VOLUNTEER" i-'LEET. ■ LONDON, July 19. > The Daily Mail's St. Petersburg * correspondent reports that two more Russian vessels of the "volunteer" 'fleet, now at Odessa, have been or- . " ifered to the Red Sea. BRITISH FLBET TO TAKE A 4, HAND. TO POLICE THE RED SEA. LONDON, July 19. Domville, of the Mediterranean squadron, with eleven battlei >: skips and four cruisers, has left Malta for Alexandria. -* 'The battleship Terrible has left ■' Suez, outward bound. ■ Aidmiral Domville is reported to be In communication with the comman- ] der of the East India squadron, rey ilojivG to policing the Red Sea. ; "THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. \ % MATTER RECOGNISED AS OF IMPORTANCE, v: LONDON, July 19. In the House of Commons Earl ; - Under-Secretary to the Foreigne Office, said the overhauling of vessels in the Red Sea was recogriis",/ed «ta a matter of the utmost importance, and it was engaging the Gov- "*•' erninent's earnest attention. -.V' INTENTIONS OF THE "VOLUNTEERS." THE TIMES ON THE POSITION. ['u (Received July 19, 11.18 p.m.) LONDON, July i 9. The captain of the Saint Petersburg told the Waipara's captain to ' ' inform the British Consuls at Aden 'J and Suez that he intends to seize v*' fyitish steamers if the contents of their packages aro not clearly shown in the manifests. The Times says the position of the volunteer fleet is ambiguous and , unsatisfactory. Their status is a question of more than academic iin- ' portance. The Times' Kronstadt correspondent says the Smolensk and Saint Petersburg rank as cruisers of the Second class. They were designated a week ago for Government service outside the Black Sea, and informe-J that they were to consider themselves employed on active service. The vessels are equipped with quick- ■ firing guns to enable them to act as combatants in certain eventualities.