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Reference to previous letter:-TO COLONIAL OFFICE, March 25, 1905.*

Name and Date.

Description of Enclosure.

Subject.

Consul-General Gurney (Marseilles), Reporting that versel has sailed for Diego

March 26, 1905

Garcia with coal for the Russian fleet.

77

Affairs, copy of a report from the Chief Officer of Customs at Barry Dock, stating that the steam-ship "Syfang," formerly called the "Johannisberger," one of the vessels named in the aforementioned Memorandum, has arrived at that place from Hamburg, and is now taking in a cargo of coal for Hong Kong. A copy of a declaration by the Chief Officer of the vessel relating to her change of name and giving particulars as to ownership, cargo, and destination, is also transmitted, as well as copy of a telegram received this morning from the Customs Officer in continuation of his report on the vessel.

The Under Secretary of State,

Foreign Office.

I am, &c.

R. HENDERSON,

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PEPCO 885

9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO !

Customs, March 22; Telegram to Collector of Customs, Cardiff,

March 28;

Enclosure in No. 134.

Consul-General GURNEY, Marseilles, to the MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE. (Received, Foreign Office, March 26, 1905.)

(Paraphrase.)

TELEGRAM.

I AM now in a position to confirm the telegram sent to your Lordship on the 23rd March. On the 22nd instant the French collier "Marie Therèse" sailed from Jibuti. She is carrying coal for the Russian fleet, and her destination is Diego Garcia.

10168.

No. 135.

FOREIGN OFFICE TO COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received March 30, 1905.)

[Copy to Governor, Hong Kong, March 31, 1905, Confidential, L. F. (see No. 174).]

(Confidential.)

Foreign Office, March 29, 1905.

BIB,

I AM directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Lyttelton for his confidential information, copies of correspondence, as marked in the margin, which relate to the German steam-ship "Syfang" (formerly the "Johannisberger "), which is loading a cargo of coal at Barry Dock consigned to Messra. Jebsen and Co. of Hong Kong.

I am to suggest, for Mr. Secretary Lyttelton's consideration, that this correspondence from ditto, should be forwarded to the Governor of Hong Kong, and that his Excellency should be instructed to report whether the vessel duly delivers the 4,000 tons of coal at that port, and also whether the cargo remains at Hong Kong or is reshipped, and, in the latter event, to what destination.

March 23; Customs, March 24, 1905.

Enclosure 1 in No. 135.

I am, &c.

F. A. CAMPBELL.

BOARD OF CUSTOMS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Custom House, London,

March 22, 1905.

(No. 4374/1905. Immediate and Confidential.) SIR,

WITH reference to Mr. Campbell's letter of the 15th instant, enclosing a Memorandum relative to colliers and store-ships which are known or believed to be following, or in attendance upon, the Russian fleet, I am directed by the Commissioners of Customs to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign

• No. 133.

HONOURABLE SIRS,

Custom House, Barry Dock,

March 21, 1905,

WITH reference to Secretary's letter No. 4129/1905, I beg to forward a statement from the Chief Officer of the steam-ship "Syfang," which arrived here on the 19th instant, from Hamburg, in water ballast. He declares that the vessel was formerly called the "Johannisberger," owned by the Hansa Line, of Bremen, and a vessel of this name appears on the list of vessels suspected of having coaled the Russian fleet, forwarded with the Circular letter mentioned above.

The fact of the change of name was discovered by the Preventive Officer on one of his visits to the vessel, and I at once sent down for the Master, who has already made his reports inwards, at the Custom House, Cardiff. The Master being absent from the vessel and not expected to return until late this evening, I obtained what information I could from the Chief Officer. The information is necessarily meagre, as he has only lately joined the vessel and knows nothing of the former movements, but I will endeavour to get a statement from the Master to-morrow. The log books for the voyage prior to arriving at Hamburg are said to be with the former owners.

The steam-ship "Syfang" is entered outwards for Hong Kong, and entries for 4,100 tons of coal as cargo, and 80 tons as bunkers, have been passed for the same port. Her loading will probably be completed towards the end of the week.

I forward this report direct, to save delay, having already sent brief particulars by telegram.

Respectfully,

I, FREDERICK JEBSEN, chief officer of the steam-ship

W. W. BOUCHER,

C

Chief Officer.

Syfang," of Hamburg, declare that I joined the vessel in Hamburg on the 9th instant. The Master and all of the crew joined the vessel there about the same time. The vessel had been previously named "Johannisberger," and had been owned by the Hansa Line of Bremen, her name being changed to "Syfang" when she was purchased by Diedrichsen Jebsen and Company, of Hamburg, a few days before I joined her.

The vessel is now loading a cargo of about 4,000 tons of coal as cargo for Hong Kong. I do not know who are the charterers of the vessel, but the coal is consigned to Jebsen and Company, of Hong Kong, and is to be discharged there.

The vessel was trading out East prior to arrival in Hamburg, but I do not know to what ports.

F. JEBBEN,

Declared before me-

W. W. BOUCHER,

Chief Officer of Customs,

Barry Dock.

March 21, 1905.