The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-14
DETENTION OF THE TARTAR.
Action of Hong-Kong Authorities Re-
senfed Mt Washington.

NEW YORK, Sept. 13.-A dispatch to the
World from Hong-Kong says: ''The United
States transport Tartar. which expected to
sail to-day has been detained by the har-
Dor authorities under the British merchant
shipping act whereby her capacity is linn
tied to $50 passengers, although the Tartar
has licensed capacity Of 1,340. Consul
Wildman. representing the United States
government. took the matter at once be-
fore the local government authorities, main
tanning that the Tartar is an American
troop Ship although she Is flying the Brit
ish nag and is not subject to the merchant
shipping act The authorities discussed the
matter all day and Ii is very probable that
$50 of the soldiers board will be left be-
hind when she Is finally permitted TO sail
for San Francisco. Several of the dis
charged soldiers on board the Tartar fled
the complaints of her unsanitary condition,
which started the proceedings TO detain the
vessel"
WASHINGTON. Sept. l3.-A cable mes
sage was received to-day at the War De-
partment concerning the transport Tartar,
which has been held at Hong-Kong. Secre-
tary Root thought It was of sufficient i'm
portance to take to the President for con-
sideration. After Secretary Roots return
with the commissioner of navigation, Mr..
Chamberlain, and also decided to take up
the matter of the Tartar with the State De-
partment with view of having the ship
cleared at Hong-Kong. A dispatch was sent
to Colonel Metcalf. of the Twentieth Kan
sas. who is in command of the troops oil
the transport. asking If. in his opinion. the
ship was overcrowded. and If there was
just ground for complaint Of the subsist-
ence furnished the men. A dispatch was
also sent to General Otis, asking for further
information concerning the Tartar. and the
supplies with which she was furnished. No
definite decision can be reached until the
State Department has communicated with
our embassy at London, as 1t Is a question
which must be settled by the British gov
eminent.
The War Department, later In the day,
made public dispatch from Hong-Kong,
which reads: British authorities refuse to
clear Tartar because overcrowded. Author
ize S24.'
General Otis cabled: Tartar sent to
Hong Kong to dock, as requested by Major
Long; 10 dock large enough at Nagasaki.
She has capacity for LIS men and Ill cabin
passeusers.@lShe tick back ] ,ls2 Ipen end 6,
cabin Passengers. On her trip from San
Francisco she carried comfortably LAS
men and 55 cabin passengers"
The Tartar was chartered by the United
States. and is owned by the Canadian Pa
cific Steamship Company. She sails under
the British flag. 1t was stated at the War
Department, this afternoon, that the case
had been referred to Ambassador Choate,
which makes an International question of
it. The contention Of the War Department
is that, Notwithstanding the Tartar flies the
British flag, the assumption Of British au-
thority over her is unauthorized, as she is
chartered by the United States government.
A private cable message from Hong-Kong
says that complaint was made by the four
hundred discharged regulars on board the
Tartar of overcrowding, whereupon clear
ance was refused. The Twentieth Kansas
Volunteer Infantry, with General Funston,
is aboard the Tartar, but it is understood
that the volunteers make no complaint and
are anxious to have clearance granted the
ship in order that they may proceed home
ward.