Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-12
JAPAN'S ACTION
VERY GRAVE MATTER
Diplomatic Circles so Regard Her
Course in the Case Of the
RycshitelnL
INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS.
chlna's Neutrality Probably Violated
May Extend Area Of Conflict that
Hay Sought to Limit.

St Petersburg. Aug Y. 2l2 p. M
The action OF the japanese torpedo boat
destroyers In attacking and towing out
the defcnseless Russian torpedo boat
destroyer Ryeshitelni at Chefoo is re-
garded IN diplomatic circles as being
a very grave matter for Japan. As
soon as the facts are officially estab.
lished no doubt exists that Russia
VIII promptly cali the attention Of the
powers to this breach OF the neutrality
Of China.
Aside from the possible QUESTIONED BILE
right OF an uninjured Warship 10 seel,
a sanctuary Ia a neutral port when not
forced TO do so by stress OF weather
or lack Of coal and provisions. all the
diplomats agree as to the absolute H.
legality Of belligerent ships entering
neutral ports and there committing
hostile acts, The case, 30 far as the
facts are known. Is considered much
more Migrant than al Chcmulpo. where
all the foreign commanders except the
commander OF the American warships
there, protested against the proposal
Of the Japanese TO enter and hght the
Russian cruisers Nariag and Korietz
In a neutral harbor
1t Is recalled that at the opening OF
the Franco Prussian war a warshiD
OF each of the belllgerents was i'm the
harbOr of Havana, and they went ont
to try conclusions. with the result thar
the Frenohman was crippled and sought
refuge IN the harbor The German
vessel, however. did not attempt TO fol-
low the French ship, which remained
there to the end of the war.
The only possible Justification con-
celVed Tor the Japanese torpedoboat
destfoyers Is that the Russian destroyer
may nave nrst hred upon the japanese
and afterwards entered the port of
Chefoo.
II Is intimated that possibly Russia
may represent to the powers that this
act was a violation by Japan of the
neutrality Of China under the guaran-
tees given In response to Secy. Hayis
note.
The admiralty has Just received a
telegram from the Russian consul n,
Chefoo reporting the japanese attack
upon the Ryeshitelni IN that harbor and
the towinQof her on. The message say,
the ma MdR OF the crew survived
cSR CAP ,aSovzky was severely
No official reports from Using Chou
have been received here up 10 this
hour, and no details are obtainable of
the naval engagement
BRITISH VIEW or CASE.
London, Aug. Il. The British officials
ana Foreign diplomats regard the action
OF the Japanese I'm cutting out the Rus
sian torpedoboat destroyer Ryeshitelni
az Chefoo, as raising a serious oues-
ton or Importance to all nations.
The foreign office received this morn
ing a dispatch from the British consul
at Chefoo confirming the capture of the
Ryeshitelni and her removal by her
captors from the harbor. The consul
added that the facts We're Immediately
reported TO the Chinese governor and
the foreign diplomats at Pekin.
The former evinced considera bio con-
Germ, not so much at the fact that the
attack was made on the destroyer as
ut the precedent established by Japan
which Russia may follow IN case of
emergency thereby extending the area
Of hostilities which Secy. Hay sought Ia
circumscribe,
The foreign Office declined this after.
noon TO comment on the effect Of The
4 japanese action, but the officials mr.,
hopeful that Sn adequate explanation
VIII be made which will not permit the
incident to serve as justification for flI.
ture violations of Chinese neutrality. II
is believed that Japan will prompt,
disaYow the action OF the commanders