The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-02
THE VICKsBURG INCIDENT Ex-
planned.

LAIN ED
The Russian government is satisfied
with the explanation which has been
made of the recent Vicksburg in
cident. 1t complained that the
commander of the cruiser Vicksburg
refused to join the commanders of
the other foreign warships at Che
mulpo in a protest to the admiral of
the Japanese fleet against attacking
the Russian warships in Chemulpo har-
Dor, and that he did not send assist
ance to the Russians after their ships
had been practically destroyed. Now
that it knows the reason the commander
of the Vicksburg did not join in the
protest was that he had orders from
his government not to become mixed
up in the affairs of the Russians and
Japanese, and that he was the first
to send aid to the crews of the wreck
ed Russian ships, it has more kind
ly feeling for the American govern
ment.
AS a matter of fact, however, there
is considerable bitterness in Russia
against this country because of the
sympathy Americans are showing for
the Japanese. The Russians expected
to have the sympathy of this country
for the reason that the most friendly
feeling has always existed between
the United States and Russia. The
Russian government, however. must
have realized months ago that it's
L.. - ATnv 10
not wholly satisfactory to the Ameri-
can people. i was clearly understood
that Russia would withdraw her troops
from Manchuria last October, and that
the open. door policy would prevail
in that part of Chinese territory. When
Russia did not withdraw the impress
sion began to prevail that she had
not acted in good faith, and that she
had no intention of Withdrawing. This
country's interest in Manchuria is the
latter's trade. 1t wants a share of it.
1t looks as If it were the policy of
Russia to hold the province and mo-
nopolize it's trade. 1t is certain that
she has got much the largest share
of it at present, and if war had not
been begun she would have had all of
it in little while.
But there is no probability of the
United States becoming involved in
the war because of Russias failure
to comply with her engagement in re-
spect to Manchuria or for any other
reason. Our government has declared
its neutrality, and there is no reason
to doubt it will remain neutral. Not
withstanding the inclination of the
President to be participant in any
scrap" that may be going on, there
is no reason for thinking he would
commit the folly of involving the
country in the war between Russia
and Japan.
And, as a matter of fact, 1t is doubt
full if any one of the European ma
tons will become involved in 1t. Russia
will hardly ask her ally, France, to
help her, because that would compel
England to go to the assistance of
Japan. Under these circumstances
Russia wouldn't be as well off as she
is without the assistance of any ma
ton. OF course something may occur
to involve England, France and per-
haps Germany in the war, but at pres
ent it looks as If the war would end
with Russia and Japan as the only
parties to it. But even if European
countries should become involved in
it, there isn't one chance in a thous-
and that the United States would be
drawn into it. And when Russia fully
understands the American people, if she
ever does understand them, she will
realize that she has no reason for har-
boring bitter feelings against them.