Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-19
TWO CRUISERS WERE OUTSIDE.
Seizure Believed to Have Taken Place
In Chinese Territorial
Waters.
INCIDENT REGARDED AS GRAVE.
Looked on as Showing Determination
By Jap Officers to Disregard Nlceties
As to Chinese Neutrality.

Washington Aug ls.--The state de-
partment has received cablegram
from Chefoo dated today, the sub
stance OF which Is as follows:
This morning seven japanese De.
stroyers entered the harbor and met an
unknown steamer entering. which
they captured Two Japanese cruisers
are outside the harbor"
The dispatch is as follows:
Chefoo Aug l9,-This morning
seven Japanese destroyers entered the
harbor Of Chefoo. Opposite the en-
trance they met an unknown steamer
ana took possession Of her. There are
two cruisers outside
The dispatch was so worded as to
leave In doubt one of the most Import
ant points connected with the seizure,
namely the exact spot at which IL
took place and whether without or
within the three mile limit Naval
officials familiar with the harbor of ,
Chefoo state that there are two en-
frances from opposite directions, and
II Is Inferred from the above dispatch
that The Japanese squadron approached
through one Of these entrances to find
the unknown steamer referred TO COM
ing through the other entrance. The
impression here r. that consequently
the seizure took place within the Chi
nese territorial waters The incident Is
regarded as an evidence OF the deter
mination OF the Japanese naval officers
to disregard niceties I'm dealing with
this question OF Chinese neutrality.
Coupled with the reported refusal Of
the Japanese government TO release the
RyeshitenL also seized In Chefoo har-
Dor, " Is thought that the seizure in
dicates that while the Japanese may
not assert the right of seizure In tho
international port al Shanghai they
VIII not hesitate 10 attack and cut out
any Russian ships that lie IN Chefoo
harbor provided they are not disman-
tied 10 the absolute satisfaction OF the
Japanese naval officers,
Some apprehension has been eX-
pressed in other capitals that these
apparent breaches OF Chinese neutraii-
~ by Japan may extend to the land
operations Of the hostile armies. This
feeling Is mob shared In Washington,
and althoughthe officials viii not make
public the sources of their infurma-
ton on this point, there is reason TO be-
leve that they have been assured by
both Japan and Russia that there win
he no extension Of the war field beyond
Manchuria and perhaps Korea, which
constituted the original theater
The danger OF "A breach OF neutrality
so far as land operations are concerned
Is said to enter at a point on the border
between ManChuria and Chinese Mon
golia which would naturally be the
place where Gen Kuropatkin would
seek TO make his escape with his army
I'm the event that the japanese under
KurOki succeeded I'm executing the plan
which is now afoot Of surrounding him
OH the north. east and south, thus
cutting him on from the Siberian rail-
road and his line OF communication, APP
prehensive Of this movement Yuan
Shikal and Ma, the famous Chinese
generals. with their foreign-driiled
troops, have concentrated force or
about 30 600 men I'm Mongolia near the
border and II Is feared that there may
be- a clash between these men and the
Russian troops In the event Of the re-
treat of the latter across the line.
An interview by Count Casslni, the
Russian ambassador published in
New York newspaper today attracted
attention among the official class here,
particularly because Of the statement
attributed To the ambassador that by
the seizure of the Ryeshiteni, Japan
had broken Chinese neutrality and had
wrecked Secy. Hays plan to limit the
field Of operations and also TO prevent
world war, By dragging into the
conflict the allies OF Japan and Russia.
II may be stated that the official opin-
ion here as to this probability does not
coincide with that entertained by the
ambassador. II is confidently expected
that neutrality, so far as land operas
ht
and that after an IS the phase that
would most eudauger the worlds peace
hy obliglng the allies 20 enter the lists
II is known that the British govern
ment is IN thorough accord with the
American view on this point, and
it h believed that France and
Germany with their enormous pecunl-
ary Interests In the Russian funds ana
I'm eastern Investments are equally de-
sirous Of doing everything within their
power TO maintain the present war
zone However. Is Is said, there is
nothing In the ambassadors sta tement
that seems to involve any change OF
policy ON the part OF the state depart-
ment which feels that having been IN
strumental In securing the solemn
pledge OF both Russia and Japan
TO observe Chinese neutrality
It must rely upon the honor OF those
nations lalthfull} 10 execute tnat
pledge and that Il certainly can not be
expected to be dragged into the con-
Hict either by taking sides or by Seek
Ing bv any other means than by mere
moral suaslon TO induce the belliger-
ents 10 live up to their promises.
SEARCHING FOR CRUISERS.
Chetoo Aug. lQ.-persons who were
observed on the coast this morning
some miles east OF Chef0o declare that
the japanese torpedo boat destrOyers
which entered this harbor az half past
five this morning hoisted only one flag
when they We're going away.
A small merchantmen was seen COM
ing toward Chefoo. but when she pcr-
ceiyed the destroyers she turned on her
course The destroyers passed this
merchantmen apparently without no.
ticng hen. and She continued 20 follow
the warshps The merchantmen Is
thought 10 have been a picket boat
whlch brought news 70 the destroyers.
The naval attache az the Japanese
consulate here expresses the opinion
that these japanese destroyers were
searching Tor the Russian cruisers