26th July.
Our Government has been prompt and firm in dealing with Russian pretensions in the matter of the exploits of the Volunteer Fleet steamers in the Red Sea. It is to be hoped it will be equally prompt and firm in demanding an explanation of the sinking of the British steamer Knight Commander, with ten minutes' grace. There is nothing' in international law that justifies such an outrage on a neutral vessel as this, and the sinking of an enemy's merchantman is only justifiable under very exceptional circumstances.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.