The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-08-26
UNITED STATES BROKE I'M.
Naval Vessels of Uncle Sam Ready to
Protect China,s Neutrality.


Shanghai. Aug. 24.-shanghai was
thrown into excitement by the arrival
of a Japanese torpedoboat. She passed
the Woosung at full speed and started
up h river Thu for Shanghai. The
United States torpedoboat destroyer
lowed the japanese destroyer. The
Japanese boat was cleared for action.
She anchored of the cosmopolitan dock,
where the Russian cruiser Askold Ia
undergoing repairs. The Chauncey
came to anchor practically between the
dock and the japanese destroyer.
Shanghai, Aug. 22.-The steamer
'Haitin, which arrived here today, re-
ports having sighted a japanese squad
ron last night off Gutzlaff island. about
sixty-dve miles southeast of Shanghai.
The squadron showed no lights.
The United States monitor ,Monad-
mock and two ~torpedoboat d~estnpyers
have been ordered to be ready to pro-
.itect the neutrality Of Shanghai.
The American consul general has
called a meeting Of h consular body
for 1 o'clock tomorrow. 1t is believed
the foreign consuls Will then arrange
means to strengthen the hands of the
toatai in dealing with the matter of the
Russian warships here.
Later reports declare the Japanese
squadron to be twenty miles from Woo
sung. Woosung is the outside harbor
of Shanghai.
Chefoo, Aug. s2.-with the exception
of Chinese vessels the United States
cruiser Cincinnati and the United
States gunboat Frolie are the only war
ships at present In this port. They are
ready to sen men on shore at a mo-
ment's notice. should occasion arise.
The fear Of trouble, however, is remote.
There Is some fear that the local Jap
anese may clash with the Russian sail
,ors from the torpedoboat destroyer
lRyeshitelni. who are now at the Rus
and others in authority all united in
saying nothing has occurred to give
reason to expect trouble. The situa-
ition is absolutely quiet.
Tho Japanese Attitude.
London. Aug. 22.-The interview Of
the American squadron at Shanghai in
the Japanese operations against the
,erable surprise in official and diplo-
tmatic circles here. The Japanese lega-
'tion was at first inclined to believe
that the report that the United States
torpedo boat destroyer Chauncey
steamed into a position between the
sian cruiser was a Shanghai fake"
as it had understood that the Amer
lican government would not object to
faction against the Russian warships
in case OF their failure to observe Chi
nese neutrality.
An official Of the legation said:
III the report 10 not untrue, the
american commander must have had
!good reaso for his action, such as the
protection of the American interests,
which would have been ENDANGERED by
flying shells.
Japan has been very reluctant to
send ships into the harbor, for she rec
lognized the international neutrality Of
Shanghai and that the laws of neutral
iity demanded that China should order
{ Askold and Groxovoi to dismantlc
or cave the port, and that she having
given h order that the Russian ships
having refused 1t was then incumbent
for Japan to act, thereby protecting
Chinese neutrality and at the same
time exerttng her rights as a belliger-
ent.
ut would never have done to per-
NIT Russian ships to remain in a Chi
nese port deliberately and avowedly
violating the neutrality Of the country.
Whatever actuated the
American commander. IL he really did
as is reported, It Is certain that no
complications will follow"
It is believed at the japanese leRa-
ton that II the American commander
interviewed to preserve Chinese neu-