The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-25
All Attempts to Stop Merchant
men to End.
WILL BE RELEASED.
All Vessels Seized Are to Be
Turned Loose at Once.
VladivOst0k Squadron Is Prey
ing Upon Merchant Shipping.

ciated Press is informed that the Rus
| sian volunteer fleet steamers Smolensk
and ST. Petersburg have already been
ordered home and that instructions
for them to return have been cabled.
The assurances given Great Britain on
this point are declared to be salts
factory.
The instructions given the COM
manders of the vessels repeat the or
dispatches, directing them to refrain
from further attempts to stop mer-
chantmen either in the Red sea or the
Mediterranean.
The decision not to insist upon the
war status of ships was probably
reached at the conference held Satur-
day. The two ships may be brought
to the Baltic and formally recommis-
stoned.
Russia has reiterated her assurances
that all vessels seized pending the re-
cepit of instructions by the captains
of the Smolensk and st. Petersburg
shall at once be released and that the
British steamer Ardova will be freed
upon her arrival at Suez or Port Said,
the same as the Scandal.
ArdOva's Captain Protests.
Suez, July 25.-Captain Smith of the
Ardova has lodged with the British
consul a protest against the capture
and detention of the steamer. Part
of the Ardova's crew who are on
board the Smolensk will be landed at
Jedda, Arabia.
Still Outside New Chwang.
Tien Tsin. July 25.-Information
has been received here to the effect
that the japanese have not entered
New Chwang. The Russian civil adj
ministration departed last night, Sun
day, and the destruction of Russian
government property began this
istration. Thee fighting reported yes
terday took place between New
Chwang and Ia Tche Kiao and Jap
anese troops from Kia Chou were en-
gagged No engagement has taken
place at Ia Tache Kiao.
The Ardoya Reaches Suez.
Suez, July 25-The British steamer
Ardova, which after being fired at by
the Russian volunteer steamer Smo-
lensk was seized by that vessel, has ar
rived here with a. Russian crew on
board. 1t is declared her destination is
a Russian port. ~
The British cruiser Venus is anchored
close to the captured steamer.
vIadivostok Squadron Sighted.
Toxic, July 25-1O A M.-The Vladi-
vostok squadron was sighted 20 miles
off Katsu-Ura, in the prefecture of
Shimosa, at o'clock this morning
steaming east. Katsu-Ura is about 100
miles northeast of Cape Iro, where the
Vladivostok squadron was reported yes
terday.
The British steamer Gilman has ar
rived at Yokohama with the crew of
the British steamer knight Comman-
der which was sunk by the Russian
VladivoStok squadron off LEU. The
Knight Commanders cargo was gen
eral one. Her European passengers
were detained by the Russians and her
of transferred
Gilman which also reports that the
Russians sank two Japanese schoon-
ers.
Saw Battle From House Tops.
Newchwang, July 25.-A battle was
fought Saturday near Ia Tche Kiao,
it is believed, with heavy
losses. The progress of the battle was
watched by many people in Newch-
wang from the roofs of houses. The
day was clear and the smoke of the
guns could be plainly seen.
Japanese Advancing on New Chwang.
Tien Tsin. July 25.-News has
reached here of battle outside of
In the engagement, the Russian
losses are reported to have been 700. |
The Japanese are slowly nearing
Great excitement pre-
walls in that city.
A report from Newchwang states |
that Saturdays battle was at Tahsui
Tong. six miles distant, and that the |
Japanese were successful.
Many Chinese refugees arriving at |
Newchwang have reported that nine |
Japanese gunboats from Port Arthur |
have arrived at Tahting Shan.
Acute Stage Is Passed.
London, July 25.-While no protest |
has yet been made against the action |
of the Russian volunteer f1eet steamer |
Smolensk in firing two shells over the
British steamer Ardova, if the official !
report of the British government bears |
out the press dispatches, a strong pro- |
test will probably be entered against |
the SmOlenSk endangering the lives of
the ArdOva'S passengers by the irregu-
lar proceeding of the captain OF the |
Smolensk, custom requiring that when |
a vessel at sea refuses to obey the
signal of a warship to stop to follow |
it up with a solid shot across her
bows.
The captain of the Smolensk. it is
added, might be liable to a severe
penalty for his act and for the trans
fer of the Ardova's crew on board the
Smolensk But these collateral queS-
tons will be the subject of mutual |
negotiations when Great Britain pre-
sents her bill for damages. The main
thing is that, so far as the volunteer
feet steamers are concerned. the acute
stage of the diplomatic crisis has been
passed.
1t has been directed at the request
Of Great Britain in order to avoid fur
her loss of time not to send the
Malacca to Suda bay, Island of Crete,
put to release her at Algiers. The As
sociated Press is informed that it is
possible there will be no formal in
oection of her cargo by the British and
Russian consuls, but merely declara-
ion by the British consul in behalf of
he British government that the NUM-
ions on board the Malacca belong TO
Great Britain.
German Steamer Stopped.
Berlin, July 25.-The German
steamer Lisboa of the O1denburg-P or-
-ugal line has been stopped and
searched by a Russian warship in the
gulf of Finland. She was then re-
eaSed.