Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-07-28
RUSSIANS QUIT
NEW CHWANG
Minister COnser Cables State Depart
ment Confirmation Of Report.
BOAT FROM NEW YORK SUNK
VIadivOstOk Squadron Sinks knight Com
nander, British Steamer, With
Cargo Consigned TO Amer
icon Trading Co,

Washington, July 25.-Minister Con-
ger, at Pekin, has cabled the state de-
partment under today's date, that he has
been informed that the Russians today
evacuated New Chwang. He also con-
firms the published reports Of the sinking
by the VIadivostok squadron OF a British
steamer with a cargo consigned to the
American Trading Company. The vessel
mentioned by Mr.. Conger is the Knight
Commander. Hopkinson & Son, the
local trading agents of the American Trad
ing Company, report that the steamer
sunk was of 5000 tons and sailed from
New York sixty days ago under charter
by Howard, Houlder, Rowatt 4 Com
pany. London and New York. The
general cargo she carried belonged mostly
TO American merchants, and was con-
signed to the American Trading Com
pany's shipping agents at Yokohama, on
account of the chartering firm. 1t is stated
positively that the cargo contained no
contraband, and it is expected that the
state department will be addressed on the
subject.
The weeks investigation by the state
department of the problems connected
with the operations of belligerent ships
against neutral merchantmen, has crys'
talized in letter addressed to the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company.
The department does not deem it op-
portune to make the letter public, but II
Is understood to be based upon express
ions delivered in preceding adminlstra-
tions of the state department, which IN
substance warned shippers against th'
carriage of contraband and in violation o
port rules imposed by belligerents IN
position to enforce them. The position
of the department in this matter will d.
speedily and publicly developed, no
accidentally, but in connection with tn
first protest which is lodged with the de
partment against the action of one OF th'
belligerents toward all American ship o
an American cargo.
The case Of the Knight Commander l
regarded here as complicated and dltlcul
of treatment. 1t ls apprehended that
the contention of the shippers agents tina
the cargo contained no contraband
: correct the general doctrine Of "neutra
flag covers neutral goods" has been viola
ted BY the destruction of the ship an
cargo.
A fact developed this afternoon whlc
might have led to serious comphcatio
had it not been announced that the Rus
sian government had given orders for th
release at Suez of the British ship Ardovs
This vessel had on board large quantit
of supplies being shipped by the war d'
partment to the Philippine government
including about 250 tons of powder an
much other material that would fall Will
in the Russian definition Of contraban'
The stores were being shipped through IL
house OF George w. Peabody, OF Ne
York. and the Orient, who today tel'
oraphed the war department that u
philippine stores we're aboard the ArdoV
and asked the department to exert itse
IN secure their release. The applicatlo
was promptly taken by acting Secreta'
Oliver to the state department, but 1t vie
ofthe release of the ArdoYa it is improb
BILE that any action will be taken by Il
department.