Willmar tribune., 1904-08-17
JAPS SEIZE WARSHlP AZ: :@z.
.ys..s,s. 4.s IN cHEFoo q HARBoR
st. Petersburg officials Lodge vigor-
GUS Protest with: Powers Against
Action-Three Other Vessels Take
Refuge in German Port.

! Ine Dattleshlp CZareV1tch, the cruiser
Novik and torpedo boat have arrived
at Tsingchou, at the entrance of Kiao-
chou bay, the German concession on the
southern shore of the Shantung penin-
sula. According to other dispatches the
cruiser Askold is also at sTsingchou,
but advices to the German foreign Of
flee do not include her. Another Rus
sian cruiser and torpedo boat destroy
er are reported as near Shanghai and
four battleships are of the Saddle is
lands, about 20 miles southeast of that
port. Chefoo reports say that one Rus
sian torpedo boat was captured off the
Chinese coast, and Toxic hears that a
number of the vessels of the squadron
have returned to Port Arthur
The German foreign Office has given
instructions that the uninjured Russian
warships at Tsingchou must leave port
within "a hours.
The Japanese system of communica-
| tions has heretofore been so perfect
that there can be little doubt that the
government is thoroughly informed of
the position of the various vessels of the
escaped fleet and will be able to either
drive them into neutral ports or attack
them with overwhelming force.
Unarmed Ship Taken.
Chefoo, Aug 13.-At 1920 o'clock Fri
day morning the Japanese torpedo boat
destroyers Asashio and Kasumi, which
entered the harbor under cover of dark
ness Thursday night, sent a boarding
party against the Russian torpedo boat
destroyer Ryeshitelni which had pre-
viously been Gisarmed by the Chinese
After fierce fight the boarding party
hoisted the Japanese flag on the
Ryshitelni and towed her out of the har-
Dor in northerly direction, OF her
crew of AZ, II have been accounted for.
Capt. ShestakOvsky is reported killed.
Seven swan ashore, landing near the
American consulate. Some were picked
up by sampans and three, including q
lieutenant, we're rescued by light ship;
The japanese claim that they sentsin a
gig to the Ryeshitelni under a flag of
truce a lieutenant and interpreter who
made a demand that the Russians come
outside and fight. The Russian captain
replied that his ship had been disarmed, !,
her engines disabled. and that the
whole matter was In the hands OF the
Chinese. The Japanese were asked to
investigate the disarmament. The Jap
anese interpreter claims that he over
heard the Russian captain give hur-
ried order in low tone, the words not
being distinguishable to the Interpreter.
Immediately following the captain
seized the Japanese lieutenant and
Jumped overheard with him.
Russians Make Protest.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 13.-Russia has
already formally protested to Japan,
through France, against the action of the
Japanese torpedo boat destroyers in at
tacking the Russian torpedo boat de-
stroyer Ryeshitelni at Chefoo and tow
ing her away from that port, and the
protest has been communicated to
the powers. This prompt action is based
upon the official report of the Russian
consul at Chefoo, which is very explicit
on the subject of the dismantling of
the Ryeshitelni, saying that not only
were the breach blocks of her guns and
all her small arms removed, but her en-
gines were rendered useless. The ves-
sci, therefore, was reduced to the condi-
tion of hulk. The consul also reported
that the Japanese fired upon the Russian
sailors while they were in the water.
While the admiralty at this hour de-
clares it has received no further news
of the Port Arthur squadron or of the
sea fight, the foreign dispatches pouring
in have dashed the Russian hopes that
the squadron had succeeded in escaping,
and 1t seems now to be only question
Of the extent of the Russian sea disaster.
May Be Serious 0ffense.
Washington, Aug. 13.-The report of
the capture by the japanese torpedo
boat destroyers of the Russian destroyer
Ryeshitelni, in the harbor of Chefoo as
conveyed to Washington by consul
generals cablegram Friday was re-
ceived with the deepest interest and also
concern, for it was realized that there
were in this incident the germs of seri-
GUS international trouble. Mr.. Fowler
spoke of the affair as cutting OUT ex-
pedition, thereby differing in an fmpor-
taut polnt rom tne press dispatcnes
wnlca at nlst ieaolne appeared to indt-
cate that the seizure of the Russian boat
was in at least some degree caused by
tne ac.lon Oh tne captaAn pc. OF the craft IN
a1tacklng tne japanese boarding lieu
tenant III may oe.tnat upon this point
VIII turn tne decision as to whether or
not tnere mas Deen 9 violation OF Chi