Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-01-10
.iuSSiAM PULiCYIN CHINA
Cars Instructions Oppose An
nexation of Manchuria.
IMPERIAL ORDERS WERE EXPLOIT

Eussinn Administration Musi 800 Re
Introduced, He SnId, Into Territory
Occupied Life, Honor, Property
and Customs of the Natives Must De
Sacred TO the Troops.
I obtained the other day copies of i'm
Russia, which go to show that the ST.
Petersburg government contemplates
no departure from the policy of evac-
uatlng Manchuria as sooD as circum.
stances permit, writes the New York
Heralds Washington correspondent
These DEGREES, which are in the form
of instructions TO military and naval
commanders, further show that the
czar has been strenuous in his orders
to avoid looting or i'll treatment of the
inhabitants of the territory occunied
by his troops.
One telegram sent by the minister of
war to General Grodckoif, command
ing the Russian troops in Manchuria,
reads:
His imperial majesty orders me to
send you the following instructions:
His majcsty's desire is not only that
there should he no annexation of Chi
nese territory to Russia, but, as has
been published in the official communi-
cation of Sept. /, that our troops should
later be recalled from Manchuria, If
there be no hindrance thereto by the
course pursued by other powers. In
accordance with this imperial decision.
yon will do all that is possible to bring
the military operations in Manchura
to speedy end.
"At present Russia's principal object
is the continuation and completion of
the railways we are building. Your
efforts must be directed to help this
work and guard the workmen. Rus
sian administration must not be in.
troduced in the territory occupied by
our troops. You will reassure the
population. remove their fears and
bring them back to their ordinary
occupations in time of peace. See that
the soldiers commit no violence upon
the inhabitants after the last shot of
the battle. Life, honor, property and
customs of the natives must be sacred
to the troops"
The cZar had many weeks before
wired this order to Admiral Alexieff:
'Striotest discipline, irreproachable in-
ternal order, respect for the peaceful
citizen, compassion for the vanquished,
regard for their property, must be en-
forced by you with an iron hand"
This was followed by these orders
to both General Grodckolf and Admiral
Alexieff, sent early in August. just
after the Russian troops had crossed
into Manchuria;
circumstances having obliged our
churia, we will soon have quelled the
rebellion. Order will be restored equal
ly soon on the Manchuria railroad, and
work will be resumed under the pro-
lection of our armed forces. But that
is not enough 1t Is absolutely neces-
sary that the peaceful inhabitants Of
Manchuria should not join the rebels
and create the painful necessity of
making war upon the whole Chinese
nation.
His imperial majesty therefore di-
rects me to instruct you to take strin-
gent measures, so that the war shall be
conducted with the ineXorability inher-
ent to all warfare only against Chinese
troops and armed citizens, These must
be defeated. deprived of their arms and
the Notifications destroyed.
"Rut the peaceful residents. their
homesteads and their property must
not be touched by our valorous soldiers
or by border Cossacbs. No unneces'
sary cruelty or devastation should be
allowed. Destruction of cities or vii
lagos and burning of farms may he
resorted to only in extreme cases as
punishment for heavy and bloody
crimes. Such measures incense the
population against us. Any kind Of
looting by soldiers or Cossacks must
be punished with the utmost severity,
including the court martial of offend
ers. All subsistence provided by the
Inhabitants shall be paid for in cash.
Terrible in battle. our soldiers must
be in Manchuria as they have always
been everywhere and at all times-kind
and humane. not only to the peaceful
citizen, but also to the conquered foe,
The very next day after the battle you
must exert yourselves to be on
friendly footing with the inhabitants.
So have we always done, with great
success. in the Caucasus and in CEN
tral Asia. In giving you these instruc.
tlons his imperial majesty is confident
that the brave troops under your COM
mand will not dim their glory by any
kind of cruelty TO peaceful. unarmed
citizens. The emperor expects that ev'
cry man will do his hest TO maintain
GOOD and friendly relations
Information received In an official
,uarter at Washington is TO the effect
hat the instructions rs given above
have been carefully observed.
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