The San Francisco call., 1904-02-27

shall of the cruiser NlckSburg IN re-
fusing to join the other naval officers
at Chemulpo in protesting against the
japanese plan to attack the Russian
warships Variag and KOreitZ in the
neutral harbor is unqualihedly sus-
tanned. As 70 the Russian accusation
that the Vicksburg refused TO rescue
drowning Russian seamen after the
sinking Of the Variag-an incident
which has greatly incensed the Rus
sian rOpulace against Americans, but
which has not yet been confirmed-it
is held that even though the charge
be true the American officer did right,
as the Russian crews had not surren-
dered and their rescue from drowning
would have been a breach of neu-
trality- This view is directly antagon-
istic 10 that held by Great Britain and
other powers represented at Chemul-
20, the British and French warships
not only picking up the Russian sea-
men, but showing them every cour-
tesy and ultimately arranging for their
parole
COULD HAVE REACHED SHORE.
II - DElltAel Eeles now MeAel. lIldl IL
was not a matter Of saving life. 1t is
believed that the Russians could have
landed on shore and refrained from
doing SO only because they feared to
be captured by the japanese soldiers
OF the town. Had Commander Mar
shall received them aboard the Vicks-
burg he must have taken them in as
prisoners. for that was the status ac-
4 ],
British naval forces present There
fore. as the Russian sailors would have
been practically japanese prisoners,
I'm either case whether they landed or
whether they boarded the Vicksburg.
the American captain IS regarded as
justified in having declined to receive
them.
The following bulletin was posted at
the Navy Department this afternoon:
A dispatch from Commander Mar
shall. commanding the United States
ship Nicksburg, states that he sent
medical aid as well as boats to the as
sistance Of the Variag."
The cablegram is badly garbled. and
the officials have not been able to fully
translate il
PROPOSED CABLE TO JAPAN.
At the Cabinet meeting to-day the
question Of the landing Of the Japanese
cable on the island Of Guam was con-
sioered. A proposition has been made
by the Government to the cable COM
pany, or behalf Of Japcl, to land a
cable on the island Of Guam in order
TO connect Japan with the American
cable at this point Japan has two
cable lines connecting it with the out
world of
Nagasakd across the lower end Of the
Yellow Sea TO Shanghai. If these
cables should be cut by the Russians,
Japan would be cut of from communi-
cation by cable with other countries
This question Of granting permission
10 the cable company to land its cable
AT Guam involves, 10 some extent, the
neutrality Of the United States in the
pending Far Eastern conflict. Practi-
cally, it is understood. a decision has
been reached that such permission
could be granted without violating the
terms Of neutrality laid down by the
United States in its proclamation. It
seems not unlikely. however, that some
conditions may be attached to the per-
mission. if il should be granted. The
question now is in the hands Of Secre-
tary Hay. and a determination Of it
probably viii be reached very soon.
ASSAIIS UNITED STATES.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 26. - The
NOvoe Vremya this morning published
a long leading article regarding the re-
lations existing between the United
States and Russia. In considering the
unfriendly manifestations against the
latter in the United States the Novoe
Nremya argues distinction must be
made between the people and the Gov
eminent, and it attributes the agita-
ton in the press to A campaign engi-
necred by the Jews, who. il has been
said, even talk Of building a battleship
for the Mikado. The paper insists.
however. that the traditional friend
ship for Russia occupies a firm position
in the American mind and heart and
that the people cannot really prefer the
japanese to the Russians, who never
have harmed them.
The Novoe Vremya. on the other
hand, contends that without reason the
Washington Government has been un-
friendly to Russia, and compares the
most brilliant feat Of the State De-
partment-the telegraphic ratification
Of the Chinese open port treaty-to tele-
graphic marriages which. it says, some
times are practiced in America.
But il is idle. the article goes on, to
talk now Of sending United States Con-
suls TO Manchuria- Unsatisfied with
his success, Secretary Of State Hay
undertook to secure the naturalization
the inviolability Of administration and
the entity Of China. Diplomatists, lexi-
cographers and Iublicists beinz in
doubt as 10 what all this meant, Sec
retsry Hay kindly announced that he
did not care to have his proposal de-
fined in detail The article concludes:
THAT CHENIULPO INCIDENT.
The American Government has TAX
en- a position which i'll accords with
the former good relations with Russia,
and we are convinced that the con-
duct Of the United States gunboat
Vicksburg in refusing to protect and
receive drowning Russians will not