The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-14
THE TARTAR'S DETENTION.
ARMY TRANSPORT WENT TO HONG
KONG TO DOCK FOR REPAIRS.

Detained by the British Omcials on the
Ground That She. Was Ovsrcrowded-
Authority for tho Detention Questioned,
Although She Flies the British Flag.
WASHINGTON. Sent. 3.-The detention OF the
transport Tartar at Hong Kong by the British
authorities was officially reported to the Sec.
rotary OF War this morning by Gen. Otis
and Capt. Metcalf OF the Kansas Regiment.
In his cablegram Gen. Otis says that the
Quartermaster Of the Tartar went to Hong
Kong to dock the vessel for repairs The de-
spatches follow:
Hong Kong. Sept ll.-British authorities
refuse to clear Tartar because overcrowded:
authorize eight twenty -four. METcALT"
Manila, Sept l3.-Tartar sent Hong Kong
to dock. as requested by Major Long; no dock
large enough at Nagasaki She has capacity
for 1l45 men and Ill cabin passengers She
took back 1.142 men and ell cabin passengers.
On her trip from San Francisco she carried
comfortably LAS men and SIS cabin passen-
gers. OTIS"
There 10 much speculation as to the authority
for the vessels detention. The Tartar belongs
to the Canadian Pacific Railway and flies the
British flag. and this 10 thought by some to
give the British officials authority for refusing
to grant clearance papers unless certain con-
ditions are complied with The War Depart
ment i'ro~s are satisfied that she 10 not over
loaded. 1t is said that when che left Sar Frhn.
cisco In July she carried l.22l men. 1.l7o
privates and As officers. When she left
Manila on the return trip she had on board
only .203 men. as follows; Forty eight officers
Twentieth Kansas. 1876 men: discharged men.
400; Hospital Corps. I; civilians. 10.
Gen OtIss despatch was brought to the
attention OF Secretary Root i'm m ediately on his
arrival at the War Department. and a confer
ence on the subject followed between the
Secretary Of War. Adjutant-General Corbin.
Quartermaster- General Ludngton. and Col
Bird. of the transport service Col Bird exs
planned the details Of the charter Of the Tartar
and the mum Der OF troops carried In his op!n.
ion the British authorities had no right to
interfere with the movements OF the transport.
notwithstanding her British registry From
the reports received at the Department 1t 10
believed that the whole trouble originated with
some disconnected soldiers on board the vessel.
It Is charged that these men made protest to
the British officials that the ship was over
crowded. when the real truth as understood at
the War Department. is that the men were dis.
pleased because they did not have as good
quarters as some OF the State volunteers.
After considering the whole matter Sec.
rotary Root went to the White House
and conferred with the President. with a
view to having a protest filed with the
British Government against tn action OF tbs
British officials. After the conference Secre-
tary Root sent kilograms to Gen. Otis at Manila
and Col. Metcalf OF the Kansas Regiment at
Hong Kong. calling on them for fuller reports
Of the capacity OF the Tartar and the facts OF
her detention The State Department was
asked also to communicate with the British
authorities on the subject. The Views OF the
Navy Department and the Commissioner OF
Navigation Of the Treasury Department was
asked by the Secretary OF War. and altogether
the Government has determin cd TO make a full
inquiry into the circumstances OF the case be-
fore deciding what steps to take.
A conference was held this afternoon be-
tween Secretary Root and Mr.. Adse. the act.
ing Secretary OF State. and at its conclusion
Mr.. Adee sent Instructions to Consul General
Wildman, at Hong Kong. to lay the facts con-
corning the Tartar before the British authors
ties there with view to securing clearance
papers. The Tartar was recently remodelled
TO give more berth room. The partitions OF q
number OF statsrooms we're taken out and the
space utilized as sleeping quarters for troops.
1t 10 understood at the War Department that
the objection OF the British authorities arose
from the fact that they did not know that this
extra space had been secured. Mr. Wildman
was directed by Mr.. Adee to make this expla-
nation to the customs officials at Hong Kong.
tthe Tartar case cannot be adjusted to the
satisfaction OF the War Department another
transport will be sent there from Manila to
bring home the 400 or moro men who are on
board In excess Of her chartered capacity. 1t
Ia also probable that in that event no more
United States transports will touch at Hong
Kong. The fact that the Tartar has a British
register has complicated the matter greatly,
and the opinion OF Attorney General Griggs
has been asked on the question whether a
United States army TRANSPORT OF British regis
try is a vessel Of the United States or OF Great
Britain. The matter Is not considered i'm port.
ant enough to become an international Incl.
dent.