Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-25
Disarmament Of Warships at
Shanghai Ordered.
GENERALSATISFACTION
VICE ADMIRAL URIU'S FLEET
LYING IN WAIT.
Intellectual Efforts to Obtain More Time
in Which to Repair the
Damaged Vessels.

SHANGHAI August 25.-An order
received last night from the Russian minis
ter at Peking that the cruiser Askold and
the torpedo boat destroyer Grozovoi be dis
armed.
Under the supervision of the customs au-
thorties representing China the Askold
and Grozovoi will go out of commission be-
fore Sunday, and soon as they are
patched up they will take their places
alongside the gunboat Mandjur, which was
dismantled last March. Emperor Nicholas
sent a message to the crews of the Askold
and Grozovoi congratulating them for
saving the vessels, and conveying words
of hope. There is general satisfaction here
over the outcome of the matter. 1t is un-
derstood that the Japanese fleet will remain
| until the Russian vessels are completely
dsarmed.
A Day of Anxiety.
Yesterday day of considerable
| anxiety in official circles. First an order
went forth that the vessels could remain
four days longer. At 10 o'clock Tuesday
morning Yuan. the taota, requested Brit
ish Consul General Warren to order work
on the Askold stopped, as the dock at
which she was being repaired was British
property. and as Russia refused to obey
China's orders respecting neutrality. Con-
sui General Warren replied that it was too
late to take action Tuesday, but that he
would do so on Wednesday, Consul Cen
eral Warren then interviewed the Russian
consul. The latter begged for further time.
Consul General Warren agreed to with
mold the order one day. This delay was
availed of by the Russian minister to make
supreme effort to secure at Peking a still
further extension of time.
AS result of his efforts the Chinese min
ls'ry or foreign affairs ordered Taotaf
Yuan to allow the vessels to remain in the
harbor until next Sunday noon.
=, The ministry of foreign affairs reason for
the four days extension Of time, it is
stated. was that, owing to low tides. the
Askold could not get out of the dock earlier.
This reason is based on fact.
me japanese consul regarded this action
of China as very serious, and 1t is reported
that he and the Japanese minister at
Peking recommended to their government
that it take decisive steps The local con-
sular body also regarded the new phase or
the question as an extremely serious one
and likely to lead to strenuous action by
Japan The latter government intimated
that in the event of an extreme course the
consular body and neutral naval command
ers would first be notified. Another cruiser
Joined the japanese feet outside Woo Sung,
under Vice Admiral Uriu.
Then negotiations were begun by the
Russians for another four days. This re-
quest was eagerly and persistently pressed
by the Russian minister at Picking, but 1t
was absolutely refused by the Chinese gov
ernment. Thereupon an order came to
Shanghai to rusk work on the vessels and
go out to what seemed certain death next
Saturday.
Distress Of the Askold's Crew.
The abject distress of the Askold's crew
| when this news was received was pitiable.
| From the first the officers and crew have
| urged disarmament, but the minister at
| Picking would not consider the suggestion.
| The dock managers yesterday notified the
| Russian officials that the Askold's hull
|
| telegraphing to Peking followed. and last
night the welcome order to dismantle was
| received by the Russian admiral.
| LONDON, August 25.-The correspondent
| of the Times at Shanghai, in dispatch
| dated August "a. 11:''2 pm; says mat OF
| veyed to Captain Reitzenstein, command
ing him forthwith to disarm the cruiser
| Askold and the torpedo boat destroyer
| Grozovoi and he adds: THE flags on both
| vessels were lowered at o'clock tonlSht.
The Guns Dismantled.
| ST. PETERSBURG, August 25-The an
nouncement that the Askold and Grozovoi
| had been disarmed at Shanghai came as
no surprise here, since the responsible au-
| thorities decided a week ago, as stated IN
the Associated Press dispatches, to follow
| this course Russia was waiting only for
| a definite agreement between China and
| japan which would insure the protection
| of the ships against repetition or the
| Ryeshitelni incident at Chefoo. After the
flags of the Askold and Grozovoi had been
| hauled down their guns were dismantled.
| Cant. Reitzenstein officially reported the
hauling down of the Russian flag last
night.
| The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns that Capt Reitzensteln askeo ,a
| the admiralty to be allowed to take out his
| ship. even in the face of the superior force,
| hut when the admiralty ascertalned the
| condition of the Askold and the time re-
! o,irad for repairs her disarmament was
ordered. and the incident is considered
| closed.