Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-01-11

Pekin Jan. 0.-While the actual cas-
ualtes during the fighting mt New
Chwang between American sailors. be-
longing to the United States gunb ut
Nicksburg, which is wintering there,
md Russian soldiers attached to the gar
rson of that port are tritling up to date,
the matter has resulted in unp!enSant!y
strained relations between the Amer
can Russian and British authorities
there.
The trouble originated in the action
of some sailors belonging to the British
sloop-ofwar Algerine. also in winter
quarters at New ChWnng. in carrying
ashore rifles for use in theatrical per-
fOrmance. The Russian admniStrl-
ton sent force of men to arrest the
British sailors. The Russians, how
ever by mistake, broke into reading
room where n party of the Nicksburg's
men were seated and tried to arrest
them. The Americans resisted. using
chairs in so doing, but. they were over
powered, aftera sharp fight, and handed
over to the United States consul. who
Ntut VII bOll'l lllt
The bad feeling which arose from this
incident resulted in several fights when-
ever the American and British sailors
met Russian soldiers. and the latter.
not being accustomed to fist fights. were
usually badly worSted. This state of
affairs eliminated on New Years day
in q more serious atfray. and the Rus
sian minister here, Paul I.eSsar. com
plained to Minister Congcr that two
members of the Nicksburg's crew had
fired Il revolver at an umoffending Rus
sian soldier, wounding him in the arm.
The relations between the American
and British conSulS and naval COM
manders and the Russian administrator
ut New-thwang are strained. which
makes II friendly settlement of the af-
fair difficult. The administrator at
tempted to enforce a social cGdc which
the foreign officials refused to recoS-
nize. and. consequently. the relations
have been limited to strictly official in
terviews. which have not been aminblr.
consisting mostly in protest against the
lcton of the administrator. and pro-
tests of the administrator against the
conduct of the sailors.
The memorandum presented by the
Russian minister to Minister Congcr re-
lntes to various alleged assaults COM
mittrd by the Americans. On one oc.
aSiOn three sailors attacked n sentry
md owe their lives to the scntcy's fore
Ncarance in not exercising his right to
shoot. The administrator demanded
that the United States consul try the Of
Tenders. but the commander of the
Nicksburg, L. b. Barry, wrote q curt re-
fnSal.
Mr.. COngcr is cndcavOring to restore
friendly relations at New-Chwang. He
is urging the United States consul
there, Henry b. Miller. to cooperate
with the Russian authorities in sup
pressing and Furnishing violence. The
steps taken. however. are seriously
handicapped by the action Of the Rus
slams, who refuse to allow foreigners
to use the telegraph line.
The foreigners at New-Chwang at.
tribute the trouble largely to lack of
tact upon the part of the administra-
tor.
The attitude Of Russia at New
Chwang results largely from misap-
prehension of the reasons for the pres
ence there of the Nicksburg and the
Algerine.
Russian officials have repeatedly in
formed the foreign consuls at New
Chwang that Russia soon intended to
evacuate the city. The cOnsuls, fear
ing that the interests of foreign rrsi-
dents would be endangered when the
government Of NewChwang was re-
stored to the Chinese, requested that the
Vicksblrg and the Algerine he sent to
the port. The Russians suspect that
these war vessels are stationed at New
Chwang for an unfriendly purpose.