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Show RUSSIA CLOSES ALL SEAPORTS Decree Broadened to Include All White Sea and Arctic Sea Cities. New York, April 21.-Tbe Russian government's decree closing the port of Archangel to all ship cargoes except ex-cept those exclusively for nap by the government, has been (broadened to Include all White sea and Arctic ports t was made known today at the office of tho Russian commercial attache eNo official explanation has been received in New York as to the reason rea-son for the decree. One interpretation interpreta-tion advanced in marine circle Is that the order has to do with the movement move-ment of. Russian troops to France. It was said here today that tho Rus-Kfin Rus-Kfin embassy in Waabington will soon issue a statement Indicating Just what ship movements to Russia are to he permitted under the decree. Only Government Cargoes. Washington. April 21. The Russian embfiPbV dispatches regarding the closing clos-ing bf the Arctic and While sea ports offer no explanation. It was said at the embassy that tho suspension of traffic will be complete except in the caso of vessels carrying government cargoes and even in that case they can secure admission to the ports only by special permit from Petrograd. It is assumed by the officials here that the closure is a purely military measure Incident to the use of the ports for embarkation for the heavy Russian reinforcements going forward to France. The necessity of guarding the troop transports has obliged the Russian government to regard as enemy vessels ves-sels all but governmentrowned or chartered ships and to reduce to a minimum the danger of destroying neutral vessels, tho ports have been closed. |