Evening star., 1902-01-09
THE NEW cHWANG AFFAIR
NOT REGARDED AS IMPORTANT AT
ST. PETERSBURG.
Trouble Was Originally Caused, 1t is
Asserted, by Sailors From British
SloOp Algerfne.

A Russian dispatch says: The fights
| at New Chwang between sailors be-
longing to the United States gunboat Vicks-
burg and Russian soldiers are regarded
here as being unimportant. The corfe-
spondent of the Associated Press learns
that the American sailors organized cluo.
Some Of them became intoxicated and they
clashed with soldiers who were on DUTY.
The same thing occurred five and ten Gays
ago. Several men were wounded, but there
was no loss of life.
The local police interfered only to stop
the fight The United States consul at Ne"
Chwang demanded satisfaction from the
head of the municipality who Is subordinate
to the Russian foreign Office. The mater
was discussed by NJ. Paul Lessar, the RUS
sian minister at Pekin, and by MI Consei,
the United States minister there, ano
Washington was notified Of the ooour-
rences. No further consequences are eA-
pected.
Charged to British Sailors.
A Pekin dispat ch says: The trouble orig'-
mated in the action Of some sailors eeiohs-
ing to the British sloop-of-war Agerlne
also in winter quarters at New Cn"ahs'
In carrying ashore six rifles Tor use IN
theatrical performance. The RUSSIAN ao-
ministration sent a force of men to arrest
ever by mistake broke into reading
room where a party of the Vicksburg
men were seated and tried to arrest theni'
The Americans resisted, defending them-
selves with chairs. They were oVerpoWer-
ed after a sharp fight, however, and hand-
ed over to the United States consul. who
sent them on board the Vicksburg.
The bad feeling which arose from TINS
incident resulted in several fights When-
ever American or British sailors met Rus
sian soldiers, and the latter, not being
accustomed to fist fights, were usually
badly worsted. This condition OF a1airs
eliminated on New Year day In a more
serious affray, and the Russian minister
here, M. Paul Lessar, complained to Min
lister Conger that two members or the
Vtcksburgs crew had fired revolver at
an unOffending Russian soldier, Woundlng
him In the arm.
Relations With Russians Strained.
Relations between the American and
British oonsuls and naval commanders and
the Russian administrator at New Chwans
are strained, which makes friendly set
tlement Of the affair difficult The ad-
ministrator attempted to enforce social
code which the foreign officials refused to
recognize, and consequently their relations
have been limited to strictly official inter-
Views and these have not been amiable,
consisting mostly. on the one side, In pro-
tests against the action Of the adnanistra-
tor and on the other side, In protests OF
the administrator against the conduct Of
the sailors a5sT7e1
The memorandum presented by the Rus
sian ministerht the United States min
lister here related to various alleged as
saults committed by Americans. On one
occasion, 1t was asserted, three sailors at
tackled a sentry and owed their lives to
the sentry's ferebearance in not exercis-
ing his right to shoot. The administrator
demanded that the United States consul
try the offenders, but the commander Of
the Vicksburg, E.. B. Barry, wrote a curt
refusal. 800