Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-08-25
,lse per ,s.r h Advance. Otherwise sl.s'
WAR NOTES.


Since the Russian fleet was forced to
leave Port Arthur, and the practical de-
of the Russian fleet by the
Jap feet, the necessity for the immedi
afe capture of the Port by the Japs no
longer exists. and these reports of des-
perate assaults on the Notifications,
With the loss of thousands of men.
which come through Russian sources
must be taken with a grain OF al
Iowance.
There is no doubt but that the Japs
are gradually closing in upon the Port
and that the Russians are losing conf
dence in their ability to retain it.
In the meantime operations in the
vicinity of Liao Yang seem to have
come to standstill. rs neither kuroki
nor Kuropatkin are reported as doing
anything.
The war news Of greatest interest to
Americans during the past few days
was the reported interference by one Oh
our war vessels with the capture by the
Jars of the two damaged Russian YES
sells that took refuge in the Chinese
harbor of Shanghai. The Russian yes
sells were ordered by the Chinese govern
ment to leave or disarm within "a hours;
they did neither, but on the other hand
employed an English firm to make re-
pairs; the Chinese government was help
les to enforce its demands, the foreign
consuls there took the case in hands;
the JAps sent in vessel to see what
was doing. and the American vessel got
betWeen it and the Russians. to prevent
fight just there and then, as a
large Standard Oil Co. warehouse and q
large English warehouse adjoin the
dock yard. The matter was yet pend
ing, Tuesday, but as the two Russian
vessels are the Just prizes of the Japs,
they will probably be turned over to
them, or disarmed.
The Russian commander ut Port Ar
thur is said to have orders to destroy
I'll the vessels there in case Of the fall
Of the Port.
The Russian cruiser NoYik, the fast
ct and best Of the Port Arthur fieet,es
c2ped me Jnps nftcr tho battle, and
headed for vladivostock, but she wal
followed and prevented from entering
that harbor by Jap cruiser, and final
" sunk in the harbor of Korsavosck or
the island of Saghalien. Ave hundred
miles to the northeast.
In the fight in the straits of Kores
some Of the Japanese shells performed
queer actions. On the Rossia, shell
burst in clothes cupboard. Garments
therein were torn to shreds, but a mir
ror was not scratched. In another par
Or the cruiser the walls were blackened
by the smoke Of fierce fire in whicl
eight men were burned alive, yet an al
manac on the wall was not even scorch
ed. Aboard the Gromoboi, shell en-
&he wardroom and wrecked tn
furniture. but parrot cage was un
touched.
1t was deadly work on the upper decl
where the gunners were without pro
lection and shells striking. killing AM
wounding men until the deck became
veritable shambles es-strewn with dea'
and dying and slippery with blood.
Gen. Stroessel is reported as refusinI
u allow n-combatants to leave Por
Arthur. though it is probable that ther
are now none there. He sent his ow'
family away on the Ryeshitelni, whicl
evaded the Japs during the battle an
landed them at Chefoo.
Thirty six hours after the Ryeshiteln
had taken refuge at Chefoo-that il
twelve hours beyond the period 70
which belligerent vessel may legall
remain in q neutral port-the Japanes
entered the harbor to assure themselve
that the Russian had dismantled
They claim to have ascertained that j
had not and when the visiting Japan
ese officer thereupon demanded its sur
render the Russian captain struck hin
in the face and knocked him overheard
A rough and tumble fight, what th
pugilists call q mixup. ensued, and fin
ally the Japanese. getting the best Q
the struggle, took the destroyer witt
them, desr ite the protest OF the Chimes
officials. Since then it has been II
their possession. and their governmen
has given formal notice of an intention
to retain it
That is the incident which set th
world Of diplomacy agog. and whicl
impelled Count Cassini to say that If i
Il condoned by the United States it vii
BE- all up with Mr.. Hays ''grant
scheme" for maintaining Chinese neu
trality. The Japanese defend wha
they did upon the ground that the Chi
nese are not able to discharge the dutie
Of neutral; that they are amendale {,
Russian coercion; that all through tn,
progress Of the hostillities Chefoo ha.
served as Russian base. and that th
Ryeshitenli went there with war dis
patches, and therefore was the frs
offender.
Both the British Government and tn
Government of che United States hav'
lodged vigorous protests at ST. Peters
burg against the manner in which tn,
Russian authorities have construed tn,
doctrine Of contrabrand, and agains
the recent seizures by Russian warship
OF neutral cargoes on the high seas
Although the protesting government,
have not taken joint action in the mat
ter, but have proceeded independently
Of each other, it is stated and may wei
be believed. that the positions which
they have assumed are Identical They
each emphatically and unreservedly
repudiate the claim which the Russians
have advanced, and which they have
undertaken to enforce, that pr visions
consigned to belligerent port are, BY
virtue Of the decree upon the subjec1
promulgated at st. Petersburg at The
beginning Of the present couflict, abso
lutte contrabrand, as much contre-
brand as munitions Of war, and that
they may be treated as such in every in
stance without regard to the circum
stances of each particular case.
Great Britain and the United States
though for widely different reasons. arr
equally interested in repelling thi:
ridiculous contention. The. former be
ing dependent upon foreign importa-
tlOnS lot ltS IOOu, CdHuOt hHOIu "
accept the Russian construction of the
point, because in the event of it's be-
coming embroiled to the extent of hos
titles with some other first-class power
1t would be in danger of being reduced
starvation through the interceptin Of its
customary supplies; while the United
States does large trade in meats and
cereals which might be nearly ruined
were the Russian view to prevail
Both countries are. therefore, very
wisely and properly insisting upon the
Il, tho ha~o<~ fry.r, rxor, q, "a IlS