German Hamburg-America Line chartered large number colliers to provide Russian Baltic Fleet according to the Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 13 October 1904

An item dated London, England 10th referred to a statement of the master of a German collier at Las Palmas, Canary Islands reporting that the Hamburg-America Line chartered 42 ships to be used as colliers for the Russian Baltic Fleet and of which 12 were bound for Las Palmas.

Note
1. The Russo-Japanese war between 8 February 1904-5 September 1905.