1905-07-05 SEAMEN IMPRISONED

London Times, 8 July 1905, p. 7: SEAMEN IMPRISONED. SEVASTOPOL, JULY 7.*

The naval magistrate has been investigating the mutiny on board the Russian transport Prout. ?? hundred and fifty sailors have been confined .... The remainder are still on board the Prout.

THE KNIAZ POTEMKIN. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) ST. PETERSBURG, JULY 7.

The Admiralty has no news whatever concerning the Potemkin, and the telegrams are conflicting. It is reported that the battleship surrendered near Theodosia, but there is no confirmation of the report. I learn that the captain of the mutineers, who is named Alexeit, entered the navy as a seaman, and last year was granted commission owing to lack of officers.

The rigours of the censorship continue unabated. The latest victim is the Nasha Zhizn, which has been too outspoken regarding the Odessa disorders.

THEODOSIA, CRIMEA, JULY 7.*

The Kniaz Potemkin allowed a British collier to sail and then followed her out to sea.

Order is maintained in the town by the troops and has not been disturbed. The rumours of unrest among the peasants in the surrounding district are unfounded.

The torpedo-boat Smyetlivi arrived here to-day and, after coaling, continued the pursuit of the Kniaz Potemkin. The vessel, which is manned by 20 officers, has orders to force the mutinous battleship to surrender or to blow her up. [A portion of the above appeared in our Second Edition of yesterday.]

ODESSA, JULY 7.*

This evening Admiral Chukhnin, Commander-in-Chief of the Black Sea Squadron, telegraphed to the Governor-General of Odessa that orders had been given to the squadron to pursue and capture or destroy the Kniaz Potemkin. The Admiral adds that the mutineer battleship left Theodosia at noon yesterday, and he has no information as to where she is now. Another telegram states that the whole squadron has left Sevastopol.

The Russian Navigation Company’s steamship Emperor Nicholas II, whose crew mutinied at Constantinople because the vessel had been ordered not to return to Odessa, arrived here this morning. The Governor-General gave directions that none of the sailors should be permitted to come ashore, fearing that they might spread disaffection among the sailors in the port and so cause fresh disorders.

The mutiny of the Kniaz Potemkin, coupled with the recent disturbances, is exercising a very injurious effect on the grain trade of the port, as many large firms in London and Marseilles refuse to make any contracts for the delivery of grain from Odessa.

The Governor-General has sent for some of the most influential inhabitants and requested them to leave the city. This is equivalent to actual expulsion.

Provided by Stephen McLaughlin