The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-03-03
RUSSIANS. ANGERED.
Over Alleged fTo-]apanese
Feeling Shown in America.
FRIENDLY TIES STRAINED
Vicksburg Incident ~is Taken by Rus.
sian People as Proof Of Our En-.
mity-Government, How
ever, is Non-committai.

ever, iS Non-Committai.
A st. Petersburg special says: The
news that the United States had as
sented to the extension Of the Pacific
cable to Japan with the reasons there-
for assigned in dispatches from Wash
ington, still further aggravated by the
popular belief that the United States
is siding with Japan against Russia.
The few Americans in st. Petersburg
have all remarked on the changed de-
meanor of their Russian friends. For
merly they were treated with the
greatest cordially, but now the Rus
slams greet them with the question:
"Is America our secret enemy and
shall we have to fight her also before
the war comes to an end !"
How deeply the Russians are wound
ed by the belief, which is destined un-
less checked, soon to become convic-
tion that America has scored her old
friend and is now playing a hostile
part, is shown by the severance OF
personal ties. The Russians feel ag-
grieved at all Americans since the re.
ported action of the commander OF
the United States gunboat Vicksburg
at Chemulpo, in refusing to rescue or
take aboard Russian martens from
sinking battleships. .,-e
The attitude Of the United States
is a subject CT constant discussion,
even in the highest circles in ST. Pc
tersburg where, with the greatest re-
gret, the fear is expressed that the
two countries, without excuse, so far
as Russia is concerned, seem to be
drifting apart. The recently reported
cancellation of American contracts In
| Russia indicates how resentment OF
Americas supposed hostility has in
vaded business affairs. Popular feel
ing is to be attributed largely to Rus
sian newspapers which have suddenly
! turned their attacks from Great Brit
| ain to the United States and have seiz-
ed every rumor to give the worst pos
sible Interpretation of it.
Without waiting for an explanation,
which, it is apparent from the latest
dispatches received from washington,
may put another complexion on the
Vicksburg incident, the columns OF the
press for days past have been full OF
excited comment based on the original
version of the affair. In spite Of the
state of popular opinion, the govern
ment, It can be asserted, places the
highest value on American friendship,
and, although the course Of American
diplomacy is at times privately view
ed askance, officially, the czar assumes
that the American attitude has been
strictly correct. The slightest disposi-
lion to question its acts is not mani
! tested
At the foreign Office Friday, the As.
sociated Press was informed that the
government knew nothing officially OF
the Vicksburg incident, and that it had
not instructed Count Cassilr. ambassa-
dor at Washington, to ask for an ex-
planation. 1t was, however, said to
be possible that the ambassador had
courteously inquired as to the truth OF
the Vicksburg reports without having
had specific instructions.
Regarding the reports Of the cable
to Japan, the government is also with
out official advices and the impression
left with the representative Of the AS
sociated Press, after speaking Of the
affair, was that even were these re-
ports true, Russia would not necessar
rfily regard the running Of this cable
as breach of neutrality.