The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-04


ting the chase OF the squadron. mistook
their own torpedo boat fotilla for that OF
the Russians. have been confirmed.
WILL NOT BE ACUTE
London. Aug. 4-lThe controversy @SAcr
the sinking Of the British steamer Knight
Commander is not expected. either In Brit
ish governmental or Russian diplomatic
circles here 10 reach an acute stage, both
governments having adopted conciiia
tory attitude
While the final reply of Russia TO the
British protest has not yet reached the
foreign office The Associated Press
learns that Count Benckendorff, the Rus
sian ambassador had an extended confer
enoe yesterday with foreign Secretary
Lansdowne which brought the two gov
ernments appreciably nearer a settlement.
II is known that Lord Lansdowne In
structed Sir Charles Hardinse the Brit
ish ambassador at ST. Petersburg. TO dis
cuss the question OF compensation for
the owners OF the Knight Commander
with foreign minister Lamsdorff and II
is believed here that the latter will not
fail to make an equitable offer which Will
be satisfactory to the British govern
ment.
The foreign office Is reticent in regard
10 the exchanges OF communications
which have passed between Count Benck-
endorf and Lord Lansdowne but beyond
the question OF the sinking OF the specific
ship the two diplomats. II Is learned. dis
cussed in a friendly spirit the general
principles involved IN the act,
CONTRARY TO LAW.
Lord Lansdowne. however. did not
modify his previously expressed view
that Admiral Jessen acted contrary to In
ternational law
a. No
Russian naval regulations which will pre-
vent a recurrence Of Incidents such as the
sinking OF the Knight Commander. but
whether they are modified or not The As
sociated Press has reason to believe that
an understanding has been reached TO the
effect that only under the most extraor-
dinary conditions will neutral vessels be
sunk hereafter.
GERMAN INQUIRY.
Berlin, Aug 4-The German govern
ment has instituted an investigation into
all the circumstances connected with the
sinking of the German steamer Thea by
the vladivostok squadron of the coast OF
Japan, preparatory 10 making represent
ations at ST. Petersburg. Among the
questions subject TO the inquiry is the
amount OF coal on board. whether IL was
too little TO enable her 10 steam TO Vlad-
ivostok and also the proportion of pro-
visions in her cargo. whether IL exceeded
half the cargo, thus subjecting the ves-
sci to capture under the Russian prize
regulations
Germany apparently is doing nothing 70
clear up the matter through her CONNER
cial agent at Vladivostok who is Rus
sian subject
The owner OF the Thea. Herr Deidrich-
sen, of Kiel. will arrive in Berlin, tomor-
row for the purpose OF having an inter
view with the foreign office which relies
on him chiefly in clearing up the status
of the Thea, but the foreign office proba-
bly, will also institute an inquiry with the
American owners OF the cargo. The Ger
man government admits that Vice Ad-
miral Skryldoff acted within the Russian
prize regulations In capturing the Thea
but the officials intimate that the fer
eign office questions the right OF capture
when provisions are consigned 10 private
firms instead Of TO a hostile government
The foreign Office, however. says no seri-
Gus complications will grow out OF the
case.
Toxic. Aug. 1.-THE Russians began
abandoning Hal Cheng Aug. 9, the Jap
anese entered Hat Cheng without resist
ance at noon yesterday and the japanese
occupied Newchwang the same day.
RUSSIANS RETREATlNG.
Washington. Aug. 4--The Japanese le-
cation received the following cablcgram
from Toxic:
Gen Olku reports thnt the enemy is
retreating northward continually since
Aug @ On Aug. 3 our army occupied
Hal Cheng and Newchwang situated 70
miles northeast Of the open port OF the
same name"