Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-12
Cut Out and Carried Away
Russian Boat.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INTERNA
TIoNAL TROUBLE.
May Prove to Be a Violation Of
Chinese Neutrality by
the Japanese.

ceived the following cable message from
United States Minister Griscom at Tokyo:
According to latest report received at
headquarters, the japanese fleet attacked
the Russian fleet emerging from Port Ar
thur to the south OF Round Island of Ia
lien-wan. The Russian fleet, finally de-
feated, fed during night. Cruisers Askold,
Novik and one other and one destroyer en-
tered Kfao-chow bay night of 1lth; one de-
stroyer fled Chefoo: five battle ships, one
cruiser, probably Diana. hospital ship, sew
eral destroyers, returned TO Port Arthur
between dawn and midday of 11th. APP
parently no damage to japanese fleet"
The State Department today received
from Mr.. Fowler the United States con-
sui general at Chefoo, a cablegram stating
that two japanese torpedo boats had en-
tered Chefoo harbor and attacked cut out
and carried away the Russian torpedo boat
which fled there for refuge
Germs of International Trouble.
The report of the cutting out by the jap
anese torpedo boat destroyers Of the Rus
sian destroyer Rieshiteni in the harbor of
Chefoo, as conveyed to Washington by
Consul Fowlers cablegram today, was re-
ceived with the deepest interest and also
concern. for 1t was Immediately realized
that there were in this incident the germs
OF most serious international trouble 1t
1S noted that Consul Fowler speaks of the
ana1r as a cuttfng-Out expedition, thereby
differing in an important point from the
press dispatches, which appear at first
reading to indicate that the seizure of the
Russian boat was in at least some degree
caused by the action of the captain OF the
craft in attacking the japanese boarding
lieutenant. 1t may be that upon this point
will turn the decision to whether or not
there has been violation of Chinese neu-
trality by the Japanese. If the expedition
was genuine cutting-out one, then there
is no question in the minds of the officials
here that the Japanese have committed not
only an offense against international law
by violating Chinese neutrality, but that in
addition they have broken the agreement
they entered into at the beginning of the
war, at the instance of the United States
government. to limit the field of warlike
operations to Manchuria and Korea and
their waters.
Grave and Vexatious Results.
Should this prove to be the case the re-
suits Will probably be exceedingly grave
and vexatioas Under the tenets Of inter-
national law the captured vessel must be
returned to the custody of the Chinese
government and an apology rendered for
the offense against Chinese neutrality. But
if Russian lives have been lost. as report
ed in the press dispa tches, greater complf-
cation will follow, for Russia may, in turn,
hold China responsible for the punishment
of the japanese who caused the death OF
her sailors when under the shelter OF the
Chinese port authorities Altogether the
situation is full of danger, and the main
apprehension OF the officials here is that II
may be the incident that shall break down
the agreement of the powers and plunge
China into the war as a full-fedged belig-
erent and ally of Japan. The consequences
Of such an act on Chinas part upon exist
in alliances between Japan and Great
Britain and between Russia and France
can only be conjectured. and the prospect Is
so alarming that il is not doubted that the
State Department will do its utmost along
with neutral powers to effect such settle
ment of this incident as shall preserve the
agreement as to China in full force
More Russian Boats Expected.
Consul General Goodnow eabled the State
Department today from Shanghai that
Russian torpedo boat destroyer had just ar
rived there and that four Russian cruisers
were expected tomorrow. 1t is understood
here that If these vessels intend to remain
more than twenty-four hours at Shanghai
they must dismantle and remain tied up
until the end of the war. Probably the
treaty of peace which will finally conclude
the war between Russia and Japan Will
contain a paragraph making disposition OF
the Russian vessels which have thus taken
refuge In Chinese waters; If Japan Is the
victor she will probably claim the ships,
otherwise they. will be again armed and re-
turn to Russian ports.
Status Well Defined.
The status of the Russian vessels which
are reported to have taken refuge In kiao-
chou harbor. German waters, is said here
to be well defined in international law and
the Berlin advices indicate that the Ger
man government is in no doubt on that
point. The vessels must, IL able quit the
port within twenty-four hours after their
arrival else Germany Will herself be guilty
of a breach of neutrality. The alternative
is that the ships shall be dsmantlc1 ana
the German government will be respou-
sible for their detention in the harbor until
the end of the war. In the case of the
CzarO CZarevftch. the battle ship reported
to be in unSeaworthy condition, the
German authorities may allow emergency
repairs before requiring her to leave the
port, but the seaworthy vessels must go,
taking only sufficient coal to move them
to the nearest home port, which would IN
this case probably be regarded as Vladi
vostok. 800 miles distant.