The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-26
American Cargo on Vessel
Sent to Bottom.
LOOKS A BIT SQUALLY
If Shippers Assertion is Correct, Has
Not the Doctrine of a Neutral
Flag Covering Neutral
Goods" Been Vio-
lated?
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, July 25.-Minister
Conger at Pekin has cabled the State
Department under todays date that
he has been informed that the Rus
slams today evacuated New Chwang
He also confirms the published re-
ports of the sinking by the Vladivo
stock squadron of a British steamer
with a cargo consigned to the Ameri-
can rading Company.
The vessel mentioned by Minister
Conger is the Knight Commander.
Hopkins & Son, the local agents of
the American Trading Company, re-
port that the steamer sunk was of
5000 tons and sailed from New York
sixty days ago under charter by How
ard. Houlder. Rowatt & Company,
London and New York. The general
cargo she carried belonged mostly to
American merchants and was con-
signed to the American Trading Com
panys shipping agents at Yokohama,
on account of the chartering firm. 1t
is stated positively that the cargo
contained no contraband. and it is
expected that the State Department
will be addressed on the subject.
state Department. Letter.
The weeks investigation by the
State Department of the problems
connected With the operations of
belligerent ships against neutral mer-
clla1tnen, 1las cI'ystalized in letter
addressed to the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company. The department.
does not deem it opportune TO make
the letter public, but it is understood
TO be based upon expressions delivered
in preceding administrations of the
State Department. which in substance
warned shippers against the carrying
OF contraband and of violation of port
rules imposed by belligerents in po-
siton to enforce them. The position
of the department in this case will
be speedily and publicly developed,
not accidentally, but in connection
with the first protest which is lodged
with the department against the ac-
ton of one of the belligerentS toward
An American ship or an American
cargo.
The case of the Knight Commander
is regarded here as complicated and
difficult of treatment. 1t is appre-
hended that if the contention of the
shippers agents that the cargo con-
tanned no coutraband is correct the
general doctrine of neutral flags
covers neutral goods" has been vio-
lated by the destruction Of the ship
and cargos
The Case of the Ardova.
A fact developed this afternoon
which might have led to serious COM
plication had it not been. announced
that the Russian government had
given orders for the release at SueZ
of the British ship Ardoya. This yes
sci had on board large quantity of
supplies being shipped by the War
Department to the Philippine govern
ment, including about $50 tons of
powder and such other material that
would fall within the Russian defini-
ton of contraband
The stores were being shipped
through the house of George w. Pea
body of New York and the Orient,
who today telegraphed the War De-
partmenJ that the Philippine stores
were aboard the Ardova and asked
the department to exert itself to Sc
cure their release. The application
was promptly taken by Acting Secre-
tary oliver to the State Department,
but in view of the release of the
Ardova it is improbable that any ac-
ton Will be taken by the department.