THE MALACCA INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 171, 23 July 1904, Page 3

THE MALACCA INCIDENT.

ALLEGATIONS BY THE CAPTAIN. COAL SUPPLIES REFUSED. LONDON, July 21. The Daily Mail states that the Malacca's captain nailed his flag to the inast, and the prize commander tore it down, hoisted the Russian, and threatened the captain for protesting against an attempt to bribe the crew to givte information about the cargo. The captain alleges that he was captured 21J miles from lund, in territorial waters. The Russians request that the Malacca be supplied with coal in order to proceed to Cherbourg was refused. NEWSPAPER DECLARATIONS. WARNING TO THE OTTOMAN GOVERNMENT. LONDON, July 21. The Daily Express says the Malacca Is detained by virtue of the Egyptian proclamation made in February forbidding the passage of war prizes through the Canal. The Standard and Times declare that the country is unanimous that the Malacca must not be permitted to , leave Port Said under the Russian flag. The .Standard warns Turkey that if she fails to observe treaty obligations she may find warships entering the Dardanelles from the south. - DEPARTURE FROM PORT SAID DESTINATION UNKNOWN AT PRESENT, LONDON, July 21. The Malacca has left Port Said, it fa believed for Cherbourg or libau. ~ . GERMANY'S ATTITUDE. NOT ANXIOUS TO BECOME CONSPICUOUS.

BERLIN, July 21. The Berlin Post says that Germany is not anxious to adopt too conspicuous an attitude respecting the ■ Russian Seizures, and compares the ■ German complaint with the British :, protest. It says that Germany's is ; an isolated case, end will soon be iwtiafactorily settled. -'iWBTJTRAIJTY OF DARDANELLES TO BE MAINTAINED. TURKEY PROMISES ASSISTANCE

(Received July 22, 10.9 p.m.) - LONDON, July 22. The Dally Telegraph states that the '-- Marquess of Lansdowne (Secretary •*• o< State Tor Foreign Affairs) has informed Count Lamsdorff (Husdian - Foreign Minister) that Great Britain #ll not.'permit volunteer merchant- > *• men to become armed cruisers after passing through the Dardanelles, and M such interfered with British vesselb they would be sunk. The Telegraph also states that Turkey has undertaken to prevent the passage of such dual clashed ships, and if they evaded t*e Turkish authorities Britain would be inform- ■ „ ed of the fact. . . The same journal implies that Bri- ,, tain.will consent to the Malacca befog ..unloaded at a neutral port to . show that her naval stores are intcn-. ded. for Hong-kong. RUSSIANS THINK BRITAIN IS s .-v., BLUFFING. A REFERENCE TO THE HAGUE. -,' "■■>"" LONDON, July 22. jf , Reuter's St. Petersburg correspondv eot.reports that the Russian public, though excited, is disposed to believe that Britain is bluffing. It is uncer-

. tain if the Russian War Office has * replied tot, Lord Lansdowne's commu- . mentions, as it is awaiting details of .the peizure. Some suggestion is made . that the matter should be referred to the Hague Tribunal. STATEMENT IN THE HOU3E OF COMMONS. PROLONGED CABINET MEETINGS (Received July 22, 10.19 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. Although persistent tut unauthoritative reports are current that Russia has sent orders to rtelease- the Malacca tf' no contraband is found on board, Mr BaUpur in the House of Commons, at midnight stated that the Government.had no confirmation of this. He stated earlier that the had left Port Said in charge'of a Russian crew, and added that It was a most serious question, '.. .*s c «Mitafcing a statement to the v,"Howie before the session was over - It tfas undesirable to Speak prematurely, however. Two prolonged Ca- . Wnet meetings had been held, and Count Benckendorff, the Russian Ambassador, s&w Loud Lansdowoe, whila • ft special messenger had brought a , .despatch from St. Petersburg to Dowmng-street.

EGYPT WANTS NATIVE PILOTS RETURNED. STEAMER SENT FOB THEM, • (Received July 22, 10.32 pm.) LONDON.JuIy 22. The Egyptian Government has sent a. steamer to claim the return ofnat&vfi pilots on board the Saint Petersburg and Smolensk. DOMVILLE GETTING CRUISERS . INTO POSITION. READY TO MALACCA The Standard states that Admiral Domville is directing cruisers to their proper points, and if the Malacca is not voluntarily surrendered she will bo intercepted 'before she reaches Gibraltar.