The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-08-26
WILL NOT INTERFERE
Admiral Stirling Says the chauncey
Was Only Carrying Dispatches.
OFFERS TO ESCORT RUSSIAN SHIPS.
The Authorities at Washington State They
win Not Now Interfere With Admiral Stir.
ling's Efforts to Preserve the Neutrality Of
Shanghai, as He is on the Scene and Fully
Competent to Handle the Situation.

Shanghai, (By Cable). - Rear-Ad-
miral Yates Stirling says that the trip
of the American torpedo-boat destroy
er Chauncey from Woosung to Shang-
hal Sunday was to carry dispatches.
Her movements had no connection
with the arrival of the Japanese tor
pedo-boat destroyer.
Nevertheless the American men-of-
war in the harbor, while retaining the
outward appearances of inaction, have
for several days been practically clear
ed for action with gun sights in posi-
ton and steam up.
Rear-Admiral Stirling is reported to
be determined that the Japanese shall
not interfere with the Russian vessels.
He has, it is reported, offered to es-
cort the Askold and Grozovoi beyond
the three-mile limit.
The Japanese torpedo-boat destroyer
is expected to return to the harbor.
John Goodnow, the American Con-
sul-General, who is dean of the con-
sular corps, presided at the meeting of
the foreign consuls Monday. All for
eign countries with consulates were
represented. M. Odagiri, the Japan
csc Consul, and M. Kleinmenof, the
Russian Consul, were in attendance.
M. Odagiri left sick bed to attend
the meeting. He made a vigorous
protest against the presence of the
Russian cruiser Askold and the tor
pedo boat destroyer Grozovoi in
Shanghai harbor and declared that
China had failed in her duties as neu-
trail power. He asserted that the Jap
anese had the right to take the indie
pendent step of entering the harbor
and Selling the two vessels. The at
titude of M. Ogadiri was war-like and
Incorporating.
M. Kleinmanoff protested against
the entering of the harbor by a Japan
csc torpedo-hoat destroyer and in
sisted upon the right of the two Rus
sian warships in question to remain
and repair damages. A suggestion
made by the British Consul to refer
the entire matter to Picking was
adopted. In the meantime the work
on the Askold is to cease for 48 hours,
and no further steps are to be taken by
the consuls, who will await instruc-
tons from their respective Govern
ments.
1t was unanimously decided by the
consuls that China cannot shirk her
responsibility as neutral state by
handing this matter over to the con-
suls for adjustment.
Neither Rear-Admiral Stirling nor
Consul Goodnow has been instructed
by Washington as to what course to
pursue Consul Goodnow has done
his utmost to bring about peaceful
settlement and he has the confidence
of the foreign residents in the matter
of protecting the settlements in case
the Japanese should attack the As
kold and Grozovoi.
Evidence given before naval court
Monday shows the Smelling and sink
ing of the steamer Hipsang by the
Russians to have been reckless and
wanton act. (The British steamer
Hipsang. which belonged to the Indo-
China Steam Navigation Company,
Limited, was sunk by the Russians off
Pigeon Bay early on the morning of
July I6.)
The name of the torpedo-boat de-
stroyer which sunk the Hipsang is not
known. No provocation of any kind
for the sinking of the steamer had
been given. She was on her regular
course from Niuchwang to Chefu, and
her lights were burning brightly.
There were seven European and SO
Chinese on board the Hipsang.
The Europeans and 60 of the Chin
csc were saved uninjured. Nine Chin
csc were wounded and three were
killed on board vessel. One Chinese
is missing and probably was killed.
Another was drowned by the capsiz-
ing of boat.