Russian Naval Trickery Threatens International War
EVENTS due to Russian trickery in connection with the war in the far East threaten serious international complications and a possible extension of the war to European territory. Two Russian cruisers, disguised as merchantmen, recently passed through the Dardanelles, through which by international treaty Russia is prohibited from sending ships of war. These cruisers after arriving in the Mediterranean, were restored to their true character as ships of the Russian navy, and without serving notice or touching at any port, proceeded to patrol the Red Sea and intercept ships of neutral powers. Mail was taken from a German ship, and the British steamship “Malacca” of the Peninsular and Oriental line was seized and held as a prize of war. The British government on receipt of this news promptly ordered a naval force to Port Said for the supposed purpose of intercepting the Russian ships returning with their prize, and both England and Germany sent protests to St. Petersburg. Such incidents show how easily England might be drawn into the far Eastern contest, in which case a number of other nations, and possibly all Europe and the United States, would become involved.