With further reference to the alleged attempts made on the 25th ultimo by representatives of the Far Eastern Republic to disable the machinery of the strs, Erivan and Astrachan of the Russian Volunteer Fleet we are given the following particulars by the local agent of the Fleet.
In accordance with orders from the Harbour authorities to clear the fouled anchor chains and re-moor the vessels in accordance with harbour regulations, the steamers Erivan and Astrachan were supplied with 10 tons of coal each to enable them to execute the above order. This gave rise to the rumour that the steamers were preparing to leave the harbour, although the amount of coal would hardly bring them to Woosung.
The captain and officers of the Erivan report that at wflin time on July 25, 2 men "armed with revolvers, among them the Captain and Commissioner, and the balance the crew of the Admiral Zavoika, boarded the Lrivan and demanded entry fo. the engine room to remove certain parts of the machinery to the Admiral Zavoika A letter was presented stating that this was done for the protection of the ship and that a receipt would be given for machinery removed. At the same time an armed guard was placed on the gangway and it was stated that any one attempting to leave would be shot.
The officers of the Erivan refused to accede to this demand. They were not allowed to hoist signals for assistance until at 2.30 the aimed guard on the bridge went below when the police flag calling for assistance was displayed and men from the Erivan, armed with iron bars, refused to allow the armed party to return to the bridge. At the same time three men from the Erivan got away in a sampan although one of them was wounded by a shot from one of the Zavoika party.
An, attempt, the report goes on, was made to load the parts of the machinery taken from the Erivan on the _Zavoika Jaunches. This was resisted by the Chief Officer, who was struck by one of the armed party with a hard. instrument. Upon this his officers* and crew came to his assistance and at the same moment a steam launch from the Mitsu Bishi came alongside the Erivan upon which the armed party left by their launches.
A similar story is reported from the Astrachan-which was hoarded
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.