Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-11
FALSE R USSIAN REPORT
UNFoUNDED ASSERTION OF Elk
MINISTER PAvLoFF.
Said That the Vicksburg Failed to
Rescue Wounded-Indignation
Here-No Protest.

The attention of the bureau of navigation
OF the Navy Department has been called to
the official report of M. Pavloff, Russian
minister to Korea. which was gazetted In
the Official Messenger. stating that the
commander of the Vicksburg refused, after
the engagement at Chemulpo, to take
aboard his vessel wounded men from the
Russian warships variag and Korietz The
bureau produced the following extract from
the report of Commander w. A. Marshall
commanding the Vjcksburg at Chemulpo
which the officials regard as a complete re-
buttal:
sian vessels (Korietz and Variag) headed in
toward their anchorage at full speed, and
as they approached 1t was seen that the
variag had a list to port and appeared to
be on fire aft on the port quarter, num-
Der OF Japanese in pursuit until about a
mile inside Of Yo-Dolimi, but not firing
as the foreign men-of-war were directly in
line OF fire, when they gave up the chase
and re5oined their squadron outside At
1880 the Variag anchored about 400 yards
to the northward and westward of the Tai
bot, with the Elba about 600 yards to the
southward OF her. On learning that she
had quite number of wounded men L sent
our medical officer, on board to render as
sistance. The same was done by the Tai
bot. Elba and Pascal A little later on on
Its being reported that the variag was in
sinking condition, two of our cutters and
the whaleboat with boats from the other
cruisers assisted in taking off her person.
mel and putting them on board the Talbot
and Elba. Two Russian officers (engineers)
were brought on board the Vicksburg and
taken care Of for some time, and on my Of
ferfng to have the Zafiro used as tempo
rary quarters they were taken to the Eiba.
and where their captain detained them and
declined my offer with thanks"
1t is pointed out by the chief of the navi-
cation bureau that the Zafiro which was
rendered as a hospital ship, is roomy
naval transport and was much more suit
able for the accommodation of the wounded
than the little Vfcksburg, with it's cramped
quarters.
Will Not Officially Protest.
The State Department has concluded not
to make an official protest to the Russian
government against the latest utterances
of M. Pavlof, late Russian minister to
Korea, relative to the conduct of the off,
GERS of the Vfcksburg in connection with
the succoring of survivors of the Russian
ships Variag and Korietz Naval officers
here have shown considerable feeling over
the criticisms as affecting the honor of the
United States navy, and are DESTROYS OF
having an inquiry made as to why these
statements are given publication in the OFF,
ciaI Messenger, thus stamping them as OFF,
cial The State Department officials, how
ever, are disposed to ignore the incident
one OF them explaining that M. Pavloff's
utterances are, in measure pardonabie
In view of the great humiliations he has
suffered. A few months ago. as Russian
minister and agent In Korea, the king was
puppet In the minister's hands, and he
was the absolute despot of the country,
but within one day. without notice, he
found himself practically prisoner In
Japanese hands, escorted by couple
of Japanese soldiers ON shipboard and
summarily expelled from Korea There is
no prospect of his return, according to the
opinion here, and the man naturally feels
greatly embittered Making due allowances
for his state OF mind. according to the
State Department officials, the department
will not notice the matter.
The Vicksburg Ignored.
A curious statement is made by naval
officer here who has been In correspondence
with some of the officers on the Vicksburg
as to what occurred In Chemulpo harbor
among the vessels of the internal ional aeet..
1t Is stated that on thesmerning pf February
a, thu osy Of the fight. the captain OF the
British warship Talbot began to make sig