The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-08-05
DECLARES LONDON TIMES
EDITORlALLY
Admiral SkrydloH Con-
viCtS Himself
HIS OWN REPORTS
His Actions, the Times Says May Be
According to the Russian Municipal
Laws, But Russian Municipal Laws
are Entirely Different From the
Laws Of Nations-The Report.


Laws, But Russian Municipal Laws
are Entirely Different From the
Laws Of Nations-The Report.
London, Aug. 3.-London Times)-
The London Times in an exhaustive
editorial article this morning discusses
the report of the commandant of the
Russian Siberian squadron relative to
the operations off the coast of Japan,
and declares that the sinking of the
Knight Commander and the German
steamer, by it constituted piracy ac-
| cording to the laws of nations The
Times then sounds a warning against
further acts of this character claiming
that the time is near when Great
Britain will be compelled to take rad
ical steps to prevent interference with
her commerce
In conclusion the Times says: "Ad-
miral Skrydloffs report of the achieve
ments of his squadron during the late
cruise, which may be repeated or i'm
itated elsewhere, shows that we are
not at the end of our difficulties with
Russia growing out of her interference
with neutral trade. His action in sink
ing German steamer because 1t was
laden with fish may be entirely ac-
cording to the Russian prize code, as
the Russian newspapers contend, but
such procedure is not in accordance,
either with our prize law as we have
practiced it when our mastery of the
seas IVES indisputable, or with any le-
gal or equitable principles to which
we are likely to assent.
Germans may think as they please,
but we know from the lips of a prime
minister of England, that Great Bri-
tain has already warned Russia, az
she did France during the war with
China that we cannot recognize pro-
visions as contraband Of war. The
Knight Commander is alleged to have
carried railway materials and not to
have stopped when ordered to do 40.
but these points are yet to be estab-
lished to the satisfaction of the Brit
lsh government. Then, and not until
then shall we determine whether we
| will assent to the Russian doctrine
that railway materials are contraband,
Even on Admiral Skrydloff's own
showing he had absolutely no justif-
cation outside of the municipal law of
| Russia for sinking vessels of other ma
tions. and Russian municipal laws are
decidedly different from the law of
nations"
SKRYDLOFFS REPORT.
ST. Petersburg, Aug 3.-The text of
the official report of Admiral Skrydloff
commanding the Siberian squadron of
the Russian navy. which has returned
to Vladivostok after a successful raid
along the Japanese sea coast was
made public last night He says:
The squadron sailed from port on
July 18th and on July Goth it sank the
Japanese vessel, Okassi Maru. On the
same date the British steamer Camara
was held mp, and although the fleet
commander had reason to believe that
1t was engaged in the contraband traf.
| fic the fact that it had no cargo ON
board at the time compelled its re-
lease. The following day the steamer
kildouniou Maru was stopped. AS 1t
was carrying so passengers and seem
ingly had no contraband aboard she
was later released.
A few hours later two Japanese
schooners laden with fish and salt
were encountered and sunk.
"On July 22nd we stopped the steam
ship Arabia, examination of whose
holds revealed large quantities of con-
traband in the shape of railway sup
plies and flour. A prize crew was
thrown aboard and she was sent into
Vladivostok
"On July 23rd the British steamer
Knight Commander was encountered.
She had on board cargo of railway
supplies consigned to Japan. AS
there was insufficient coal in her bun
kers to permit of her being navigated
to Russian port her crew and papers
were removed and she was sunk.
Later the same day two more fish
and salt laden Japanese schooners
were met and sunk.
"On July oath the steamer Schinan
from Australia to Yokohama was en-
eountered Examination proved that
she had no contraband on board and
she was permitted to continue her voy-
age.
"On July Gath German steamer
bound from America for Yokohama
and heavily laden with contraband
was captured, She being a lawful
prize of war and 1t being manifestly
impossible to navigate her to a Rus
sian port she was sent to the bottom.
"On July 80 a Japanese squadron
was sighted In pursuit but the Rus