River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-01
MAY. SEIZE THE
RUSSIAN SHIPS
JAPAN THREATENS TO "oPEN"
"CLoSED" INCIDENT.
SERVES NOTICE ON POWERS
Vessels at Shanghai Must Disarm
Without Delay or Mikado's
Fleet Will End "Their
Possible Activity"

Washington, Aug. 29.-Japan has adj
dressed a note to the powers informing
them that unless Russia forthwith dis
arms her warships in Shanghai Japan
will be forced to take whatever steps
she deems necessary to protect her IN
terests," which declaration is accepted
to mean that a japanese fleet will sail
up the river from Woosung and take
possession of the Askold and Grozovoi
regardless of the American and British
interests which may have buildings in
range of the Japanese shells.
Mr. Takahira, the Japanese minister,
called at the state department Satur-
day and left with Mr.. Adee, acting sec
rotary of state, the communication of
the Toxic government
Simply Giving Fair Warning.
while Japan hopes" said Mr.. Taxa
hira, that the reported intention of
Russia to disarm the Askold and Gro
zovoi at Shanghai will be executed
promptly, my government has felt that
it was advisable to inform the powers
what must necessarily be its attitude
the Russian ships is delayed. The
conditions at Shanghai are peculiar
because of the international interests
there, and my government is DESTROYS
of giving these interests every consid
Grafton"
will it be necessary to send a Jap
anese squadron into Shanghai and take
away the Russian ships as was done
with the Ryeshitelni at Chefoo?" the
minister was asked.
my government has not indicated
in it's note to the powers" the minister
replied, Gust what steps will be neces-
sary if the Russian ships are not i'm
mediately disarmed But it should be
remembered that the Ryeshftelni was
not completely disarmed when seized
by the Japanese, and, under the cir
cumstances, her presence in Chefoo
was exceedingly Instantaneous to
Japan for military reasons"
Still Hopes for Neutrality.
When the Japanese minister called
at the state department Saturday he
spent some time in conference with
Acting Secretary Adee, but, further
than to receive the communication, Mr.
Adee was careful not to disclose the
attitude of this government, although
the Japanese minister was assured that
the continuation of Chinese neutrality
was earnestly hoped for by the United
! States. The minister told Mr.. Adee
| that Japan had been informed by
China that the Russian ships would be
disarmed, but, as far as the legation
here knew, no official date for this ac-
ton had been named.
1t is understood that a similar note
to that presented by Mr.. Takahira was
also delivered at the various foreign
offices by Japan's diplomatic represen-
| tatives
The statement is definitely made
here that Japan is sincerely DESTROYS
that China's neutrality shall be main
tanned.
Will End Ships Activity.
The Japanese government, however,
feels that if China fails to insist upon
the immediate disarmament of the
Russian ships at Shanghai her neutral
ity will have been violated and in
IudullSl 81 dangerous W japan > own
military interests that Japan will be
forced to take such measures as will
effectively remove from the stage Of
activity the Russian ships which have
sought refuge in Shanghai.
| In state department circles the opin-
ion is expressed that the Russian ships
will soon be dfsarmed, AID both at
the state and navy departments advices
have been received that the incident is
regarded in Shanghai as practically
closed. 1t was suggested that the effect
of Japan's note probably would be to
strengthen the determination of the
Chinese officials to maintain the neu-
tralfty of the Peking government not
only at Shanghai but at other points
where an attempt may be made to vio-
late it.