The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1904-02-24
RUSSIANS TRAPPED
japanese Use Their Signals
and Capture Four Tor
pedo Boats.
GAR APPEALS TO THE POWERS
Charges Enemy With Having Violated
Law Of Nations in Attack at Port
Arthur and at Observation-Disclosures
Is Observing Lent.

London, Feb. 2s.-The Nagasaki
correspondent of the Daily Telegraph
cabling under date of Feb. %. reports
that the Japanese squadron has cap
tured four Russian torpedo boats at
Port Arthur by using Russian signals.
This dispatch appears to confirm re-
ports from various quarters Of fresh
attack on Port Arthur by the Japan
ese.
Washington, Feb. 23.-Russia is ad-
dressing to the powers, either through
their representatives at st Peters
burg. the emperor's ENJOYS abroad or
probably through both, a vigorous
communication charging Japan with
repeated violations of the laws of ma
tons, first, as the notes alleges, Ia
threatening to attack neutral port
Chemulpo, Korea, unless the Russian
ships within came out to face an
overwhelming force; and second, 1t
states In attacking Port Arthur before
war had been declared AMI while the
japanese minister at St. Petersburg
was still enjoying the protection and
the courtesies of the Russian govern
ment, TO which it is claimed he had
just previously addressed 3 communi-
cation expressing his belief that the
interruption of diplomatic relations
between the two countries would be
brief The note is to the following
eject, although the text is not yet
obtainable:
That the Russian government, be-
lieving all civilized powers TO be faita-
fully DESTROYS that the law of nations
shall be strictly adhered to in the pres
ent war, respectfully calls the atten-
ton of the neutral governments to
these instances in which Japan has
violated this law:
Violated the Law of Nations.
In threatening the neutral port of
Chemulpo, where warships of many
eations were gathered, demanding the
departure from that port of the Rus
sian men of war Variag and Korietz
under penalty of attack within the
harbor, and in attacking the Russian
feet at Port Arthur on the night OF
Feb. SO, and on the following day,
these several attacks having taken
place prior to a formal declaration Of
war and before the Japanese minister
at st, Petersburg or the Russian min
lister at Toxic had left their posts.
In the diplomatic corps, the news
of Russia's intended address to the
powers has caused great interest. A
diplomat whose government is inclined
to sympathize with Russia. said that
the Russian government did not ex-
pect other nations to pass on the at
tack at Port Arthur, but as to the
threatened attack on Chemulpo this
diplomat said the Russian government
expected the powers in the interest
OF international law would give this
matter their earnest consideration.
Several foreign naval commanders
at Chemulpo, he said, were reported
to have protested against the action
of the japanese commander at the
time and If it were true that the
American commander refused to join
with the other foreign commanders
in protesting to the Japanese com.
mander against his action in threat
ening the town he thought it likely
the action of the commander of the
Vicksburg would be the subject OF an
exchange of views between the st
Petersburg and Washington govern
ments.
Defining contraband Of War.
officials here are apprehensive that
friction may follow the efforts of the
belllgerents In Asia to define contra
band of war In manner injurious to
American trade. While the matter
has not yet been treated in negotia-
lions there is reason to believe that
some of the European powers already
have been confronted with threatened
restrictions upon their trade which
they are disposed to resist. A vast
quantity of American foodstuffs Is
now afioat destined for both Russia
and Japan, and 1t is probable that the
question will be very speedily raised
as to whether or not these supplies
are contraband of war. The United
States has in recent years insisted
that foodstuffs were not contraband
dliu SOulu uOI DS S0iASu ny u DSulSeI-
ent unless it was shown that the goods
were consigned to or clearly intended
for a belligerent. This principle was
recognized by the British government
during the Transvaal war, and British
courts awarded considerable sums Of
money to American shippers on ac-
count of food seized by British war
ships
Toxic, Feb. eat is reported here
that Vice Admiral Togo has again
attacked Port Arthur 1t is impossible
to confirm the statement but the navy
department says it has had no news
from Togo today 1t is considered
very probable that the vice admiral
has made another attack on the Rus
SLAMS as he is engaged in blockading
Port Arthur.
The assurance of France that the
Russian fleet, except two torpedo boat
destroyers which have been disarmed
and will be detained until the war
ends, hayo left Jibutil, French Sonlali.
land has reached Toxic and produced
. feeling of satisfaction The govern