DEFINING CONTRABAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 194, 20 August 1904, Page 3

DEFINING CONTRABAND.

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN VIEWS* (Receivod August 19, 10.38 p.m.) LONDON, August 19. Britain and America are acting on parallel terms, though independently of one another, and in their Notes presented to Russia both Governments emphatically contend that it I must 'be proved that foodstuiTs are intended for belligerent naval or military forces beforo they can be considered contraband. Other points of tho protest ale as cabled. Mr Hay's c»i,,-ular of June lOtft is fully embodiud in the Note pirsenren to Russia by tho American Ambassador. i The St.' Petersburg Note, presented to the British Ambassador, reiterates tho view embodied in the King's Speech. Router's agency reports that it is understood Russia will recognise tho validity of the British and American view of differentiating between conditioned and absolute contraband. S|iecilic cases of seizure of vessels and cargo will be reserved for ulterior consideration. VARIOUS ITEMS. LONDON, August 18. Tho Marquess of Lansdowne informed tho British Shipmasters' Association that all claims in connection with seized vessels would bo carefully verified and presented to Russia.

The cruiser Done, formerly the German steamer named Furst Bismarck, followed and turned her searchlight on tho mail steamer Oroya six miles from Cape St. Vincent. Tho vessel was allowed to proceed. ■ There are prospects of tho Baltic fleet sailing for tho Egst. The Admiral and his officers have ! taken up their quarters on board. Eleven transports, carrying 65,000 tooi." of British coal, bavo sailed for appointed stations on tho route. (Received August 19, 10.38 p.m.) LONDON, August 19. The Russian cruisers Rossia and Groiuoboi havo arrived in Vladivostok. (Received August 20, 0.10 a.m.) LONDON, August 19. A St. Petersburg official messago states that thirty-two million sterling, in tho form of Treasury bonds, is still intact, Tho new State rente loan is merely necessary for tho punctual replenishment of cash in hand, DISTRESS IN RUSSIA. Correspondents draw gloomy pictures of the condition of Russia, social, political and Commercial. Troubles are crowding thick upon the Czar and his Government, and the security of the Empire, imperilled by llh' war with Japan, is still further threatened toy the troubles brewing within itself. A recent message was as follows On the railway lines in European Russia and Poland alone it is computed that 60,000 railway loaders, goodsmtm, and carters have been discharged in the last four months. The number of labourers and artisanri through-oilt the Empire thrown into idleness during the same time owing to compression of export and the closing or limitafion of output of works and factories is estimated at from 200,000 to 400,000. The army of the unemployed in Russia is steadily increasing at the rate of at least 3000 a day. Without employment, and without even the prospect of obtaining it for months to come, these out-of-works are stranded. 'lhere are no Poor Law Guardians in Russia. An out-of-work must, as a rule, either starve or l>eg. He is not allowed to beg, and consequently not infrequently is driven to join the " barefootf brigade, already numerous enough in- Russia, and masters the art of living by his wits and the deftness of his fingers.