The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-16
RUSSIA MAKES PRO1ES!
Declares TO Powers That Japan Acted
in Bad Faith.
NAVAL ORDERS INTERCEPTED

Count Lamsdorff's Circular Charges That
Attack on Ships at Chenu1po Was
Made by Pcrfdy-AdmiraI Alexieft Su.
perseded-Kaiser Orders His Fleet to
Watch War Moves.
st. Petersburg, Russia.-Count Lams-
dorff. the Foreign Minister, has sent q
circular to the Russian representatives
abroad, embodying the following pro.
test:
"Since the rupture Of negotiations
the action of the Japanese Govern
ment has constituted an open violation
of all laws governing the relations of
civilized Powers. Without specifying
every such violation Russia desires to
call the most serious attention of the
Powers to Japan's violent acts respect
ing Korea"
1t recalls the circumstances of the
recognition by the Powers OF the inde.
pendence and integrity of Korea and
the confirmation thereof by the treaty
Of Shimonoseki. by the Anglo-Japanese
agreement of January, 1902, and the
Franco Russian declaration Of March.
1902. The circular continues:
"The Emperor Of Korea, foreseeing a
possible Russo-Japanese conflict. ad.
dressed the Powers in January. 1904,
affirming his resolution to maintain
neutrality.
This was received with satisfaction
by the Powers, including Russia, while.
according to NJ. Pavloff. then Russian
Minister at Seoul, Great Britain in
structed Mr.. Jordan, the British Min
lister there, to present an official note
to the Korean Emperor thanking him.
'In disregard of all these facts and
despite all treaties and obligations and
in violation of the fundamental rules
of international law Japan. before be-
ginning .ostilities against Russia.
landed troops in Independent and neu-
trail Korea, and on February 8, three
days before a declaration Of war, sud-
denly attacked in the neutral port
of Chemulpo two Russian warships,
whose commanders had not been noti-
fed of the rupture of relations, as the
Japanese maliciously stopped the de-
livery Of Russian kilograms by the
Danish cable and destroyed Korea's
telegraphic communication. The de-
tails of this dastardly attack are con.
tanned in the published official tele-
gram from NJ. Pavloff."
The note concludes by asserting that
Russia feels it to be her duty to sub
nit this protest to the Powers. firmly
convinced that they, valuing the prin-
ciples guaranteeing their relations. will
agree with Russia's attitude. At the
same time the note announces that
owing to Japan's illegal assumption
of power in the Korean peninsula Rus
sia regards all orders and declarations
which may be issued by Korea as in
valid.
London. England.-The Chinese are
maintaining order we'll. They have
covered the province with proclama-
tions enjoining the preservation of
tranquility. .-..
Well disciplined troops numbering
about 5000 have been drafted in Shan
Tung Province, and General Chan Chi
Tung's foreign drilled forces are COM
ing to assist in the maintenance of Or
der and the protection of Chinese neu-
trality. o.,
The appointment of Vice-Admiral
Makharoff as commander of the Rus
sian Far Eastern fleet is officially an
nounced. He will control the entire
naval movements in Far Eastern
waters. General Kouropatkin will
have supreme military command. Ad-
miral Alexieff, as Viceroy, will remain
the nominal Commander-in-C Chief, but
he will have no practical authority
over Admiral Makharof and General
Kouropatkin.
Berlin, Germany.-The commanders
of the German warships in the Far
East have been instructed to send to
the home government full reports re-
garding matters which may come un-
der their observation. Hence, the war
ships will visit, according to the Ad.
mirars assignments. all ports where
there is anything worthy of observa-
ton or inquiry. AS these reports go
to Emperor William, each commander
will be keeniy alive to the desirability
of making clear-cut and comprehensive
observations.