London Times, 7 July 1905, p. 5: THE KNIAZ POTEMKIN. A THREATENED BOMBARDMENT. THEODOSIA, CRIMEA, JULY 6.*
By order of the Kniaz Potemkin, representatives of the town yesterday went on board the battleship, where they were received in the Admiral’s cabin by the commission commanding the ship, who demanded the delivery of 500 tons of coal, besides supplies of meat, lard, cattle, mineral oil, tobacco, and matches within 24 hours, during which time the crew would remain on board. In case of non-compliance with this demand the authorities were informed that the inhabitants would be given notice to quit the town, which would then be bombarded.
The mayor was further requested to issue a proclamation to the population demanding the termination of the war and the convocation of the Zemstvos, and calling upon the people to join the revolutionaries. The inhabitants are in a state of panic and are fleeing. Great excitement prevails among the workmen, who demand compliance with the terms of the mutineers. An extraordinary meeting of the municipal council was afterwards held, and it was decided to furnish the battleship with the provisions needed, but to refuse to supply the coal, on the ground that there was none in the town. [The above appeared in our Second Edition of yesterday.]
LATER.*
In compliance with orders from the autorities the inhabitants have left the town. Only the troops, the police, and other officials remain.
At 9 o’clock this morning a boat from the Kniaz Potemkin came ashore, but was met by infantry fire. Two of the occupants were killed, while seven sprang overboard, but were saved. The mutinous torpedo-boat, which had accompanied the boat from the Kniaz Potemkin, thereupon fired a shell, but the projectile passed over the town.
At noon the Potemkin, the torpedo-boat, and the other boat left the port, but they continue manoeuvring in sight of the town.
Theodosia has been declared in a state of war.
The Potemkin is managed by a special committee of seven persons under the presidency of a pilot, a naval reserve man named Alexeieff. Her crew numbers 760.
SEIZURE OF A MERCHANTMAN. ODESSA, JULY 6.*
The Odessa agent of the Russian Navigation and Trading Company has received information that the Kniaz Potemkin captured one of the company’s ships, the Grand Duke Alexis, yesterday. It appears that the Grand Duke Alexis, which was carrying a cargo of cattle, was on her way from Theodosia to Sevastopol when she was met near the former port by the Kniaz Potemkin, which seized her and took off all the cattle and provisions, and even the money on board.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) ST. PETERSBURG, JULY 6.
Admiral Krieger’s three battleships have proceeded, with the Georgei Pobiedonosets, to the Sea of Azoff, presumably to protect property, or perhaps to capture the Potemkin at Theodosia. The newspapers are not allowed to publish any details of the Potemkin’s doings, or even to mention the proclamation issued by the crew guaranteeing the protection of foreign commerce.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) VIENNA, JULY 6.
The Russian Government is stated on good authority to have transmitted to the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office an assurance that Russia has taken the measures necessary for the protection of neutral commerce in the Black Sea.
THE MUTINEERS OF THE POBIEDONOSETS. ODESSA, JULY 6.*
The 67 ringleaders and principal mutineers of the Georgei Pobiedonosets were to-day sent to prison at Kertch. It is expected that they will all be shot. [The above appeared in our Second Edition of yesterday.]
PARIS, JULY 6.*
A telegram to the Eclair (?), from Odessa, states that 45 sailors of the Pobiedonosets, who refused to renew the oath of fidelity, have been shot. [The above appeared in our Second Edition of yesterday.]
Provided by Stephen McLaughlin