The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-06-16
MAY SEIZE FO0DS|
A New Phase of the War Situation
Develops
RUSSIA MAINTAINS her VIEW
No Intention to Modify the Regula-
tions Defining Contraband of War
Rice an Important Article Of Food
in the Japanese Army.

st. Petersburg, BY Cable.-The Rus
: sian government has not yet returned
an answer to British Ambassador
! Harding, relative to his governments
protest at Russia's declaration that
rice and other foodstuffs are contra
band of war, but the Associated Press
learns that there is no intention on
the part of the government to make
notifications to meet the British view.
The protest is based on the rule
observed by Great Britain during the
Boer war, that even foodstuffs des-
tined for a hostile country could be
considered contraband Of war only if
intended for an enemy's forces. a
high Russian official called attention
to the fact that at the breaking out Of
the war Russia was compelled to stop
at San Francisco cargo of meat des-
tined for Vladisvostock, in order to
avoid its possible capture in conse.
quence Of the Japanese declaration
that it would be regarded as contra.
band.
Rice is an important article Of
food in the Japanese army, and the
question whether it should be de-
clared contraband was carefully con-
sidered when the regulations were
being framed" said this official, "and
the declaration reported by Russia
entirely justified such an action. The
British government is disposed to re-
gard the question as an academic one,
but should steamers which are being
equipped as auxiliary cruisers pro-
ceed to the Pacific and make captures
OF ships loaded with provisions, COM
plications could easily arise"
Diplomatic circles are interested in
the attitude the United States will
adopt in the matter.
ryIadivostock Fleet Bold.
London, BY Cable-The Standards
correspondent at st. Petersburg hears
that a telegram from Vice-Admiral
Skreydloff states that on June 7th he
went within thirty miles of Port Ar
thur with the Vladisvostock feet, and
there ran into fog. He found sever
al Japanese torpedo boats and battle
ships, which attacked him fiercely and
inflicted some damage. The Russians
returned the fire, but as none Of the
Port Arthur ships appeared, Vice-Ad-
miral Skreydloff returned to Vladi-
vostock, where he arrived Friday
morning. The Daily Mails correspon-
dent at Japanese headquarters, tele
graphing under date of June II, says
four strong Japanese columns have
occupied Suen Chow, Saimatsza, Lao
Waling and Stu Yen. Suen Chow is
SIS miles east of Mukden and Lao
Waling five miles northwest Of Stu
Yen.
Submarine Boat is Merchandise.
Washington, Special.-The United
States government has received no
information regarding the reported
sale to the government Of Japan of
the lake submarine boat Protector,
and the Navy Department does not
know where the boat is. But it
makes little difference from an inter-
national point Of view what has be-
come Of this boat, in the opinion of
the State Department, since Hamil-
ton Fish, when Secretary of State,
laid down an opinion, to the effect
that torpedo boat, capable Of being
carried on the deck Of a ship, might
properly be regarded as an article of
merchandise and so might be sold to
belligerents, without violation Of neu.
trality, but subject to the risk OF
seizure on the high seas.