Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25

by the Russian volunteer fleet steamer
Smolensk is matter for the British gov
eminent. 1t is not a matter which in the
least concerns the United States. This is
the view taken in official circles here. How
ever, the decision of the Russian govern
ment to withdraw the authority given to
the volunteer fleet to make searches and
seizures simplifes the situation very ma
terially. Presumably. in view Of this new
attitude Of the Russian government, the
Ardova will be released promptly. the seiz-
ure disavowed and the incident will be
closed without delay.
Turkey Closes the Dardanelles.
A cablegram from Constantinople last
night says: 1t Is stated that as the result
OF the protests made by Sir Nicholas
O'Conor, the British ambassador, Tewfk
Pasha, the foreign minister, has given the
necessary orders to prevent any attempt
which may be made to take the Peninsular
and Oriental steamer Malacca or the Rus
sian volunteer fleet steamers st. Petersburg
and Smolensk through the Dardanelles into
the Black sea.
Another Merchantmen Sunk
A cablegram from Tokyo last night says:
The Vladivostok cruisers were sighted at
100 o'clock this morning. thirty-ive miles
south OF LEU promontory. They were &C.
companied by a merchant steamer. which It
is supposed they had captured. and have
since sunk. At 10 I'm. the squadron steer
ed westward.
The immediate object of the squadron is
apparently to seal Tokyo bay. Its general
object is believed here to be to interrupt
trade between America and Japan. The
vessels are evidently steaming slowly, IN
order to economize in coal. All possible
steps have been taken by Japan to suspend
the traffic. but steamers en- route for Can
ada and San Francisco are in serious dan
ger from the cruisers.
Witnesses ashore saw the merchantmen
following the fleet. Then they saw her fired
upon, after which she disappeared.
The Russian warships were last reported
at II o'clock this morning to the southwest
of Cape 1ro, 1zu province, steering to the
west.
A cablegram from London says: The ves-
sci sunk by the Vladivostok squadron is
supposed to be the Hiogo, belonging to the
Nippon Line.
Cape Iro is about sixty-fve miles south
west of Yokohama. and about fifty miles
from the entrance to the bay upon which
Yokohama and Tokyo are located.
Japs Nearing Niuchwang.
A cablegram from Niuchwang last night
says: A battle was fought Saturday near
Tatche-kiao. attended 1t Is believed. with
heavy losses. The progress Of the battle
was watched by many people in Niuchwang
from the roofs of houses. The day was
clear and the smoke Of the guns could be
plainly seen.
III the engagement the fSuSSldH LOSSES dTo
reported to have been 100. The Japanese
are slowly nearing Niuchwang Great OK
element prevailed in that city during to-
days and yesterdays fights.
Jap Cruisers Off Yinkow.
A cablegram from st. Petersburg last
night says: The reported appearance Of
Japanese cruisers and transports OF YIN
kow, coupled with foreign kilograms telling
Of heavy fighting in that region, bear out
the intimation conveyed in the mutilated
dispatch from Tatche-kiao to the Asso-
ciated Press. mentioned in these dispatches
yesterday morning. that serious movements
have been undertaken by the Japanese to
gain this coveted base on the northwest
coast 1t should be pointed out that there
Is an apparent conflict between the dispatch
from Tatche-kiao and that received from
LiaO-yang under date of July %. saying
that all was quiet at Yfnkow on that date,
but II is possible that owing to the pressure
on the telegraph at the front there may
have been a confusion Of dates.