The San Francisco call., 1904-03-29
Martial Law Proclamation
Closes NeWchWang
to Commerce.
Russians Haul Down Flags
of United States and
Great Britain.

NEWCHWANG, March 2S.-The civil
administrator late yesterday evening
notified all the foreign ConsuIs and res
idents of Viceroy Alexieff's order plac-
ing the city and port of Newchwang
under martial law, explaining that it
had been so ordered for the purpose
of safeguarding the commercial inter-
eSts of the port. Pending the publica-
tion of the full text of Viceroy AIexf-
ems order, the following regulations
are ordered to be Immediately oper-
ative:
First-The entire territory Of the city and
port, also all persons without distinction of tu-
risdiction and nationality, resident in said ter
ritory. are subjected to special regulations re-
Second-All travellers arriving by sea and all
eargoes entering port are to be inspected by ma
val officers and customs officials.
Third-The importation of arms ana ammuni-
tion is forbidden.
Fourth-The expectation OF contraband Of
FIfth-Persons desiring to export contraband
goods are required to deposit a equivalent
to the value of the cargo This deposit is to
serve as guarantee that the cargo is not to
be forwarded from neutral ports to either Japan
or Korea
Sixth-The functions Of the lightship and
haroor guides in the river Lao are suspended.
Seventh--Contraband OF is to consist OF
sued by the Car on February IS, defining con-
traband OF war.
A list of contraband goods then fol-
lows. This list includes beans and bean
cakes and other foodstuffs.
The foreign Consuls had a conference
with the civil administrator of
Newchwang this morning. The ad-
ministrator informed them that the in
tention OF Russia, in the order issued
yesterday. was to proclaim martial
law. as well as to annul consular juris-
diction in Newchwang, and that this
jurisdiction already had been annulled.
This exp'aRa ton was made because
the British Consul here had INTERPRETED
the order of yesterday as not declar-
ing martial law, and the other Consuls
were unable to comprehend the inten-
tions of the Russian authorities. The
administrator agreed with the COnSulS
to suspend the rigid enforcement of
this order until such time as the for
eign governments took action. 1t is
believed that the operation of this or
der will lessen the existing complica-
tions here.
Americans in Newchwang call atten-
tion to the defeat of the aims of the
Government of the United States re-
garding the establishment of American
| Consuls in Manchuria, brought about
by the execution of the Russian order.
The flags of the United States and
OF Great Britain were removed to-day
! by the Russian military authorities
from the buildings and property in
Newchwang Of Englishmen and Amer
leans.
LONDON, March 2S.-The Under
| Foreign Secretary, Earl Percy, an
nounced in the House OF Commons to-
day that despite the British Consul's re-
quest that the gunboat Espiegle remain
at Newchwang, it had been decided
| after consultation with the commander
/ in chief Of the China station, that IL
would be inadvisable to keep the vessel
| there.
Up to tonight no official communi-
| cation had reached the Foreign Of
| flee confirming the declaration of mar
tial law at Newchwang, and officials
| are inclined to the opinion that this
| indicates that the Russian Govern
ment had not yet sanctioned Viceroy
| Alexieff's action.
The declaration of martial law is
somewhat anxiously discussed by the
! London papers, among which the
/ question has arisen as to whether
| Russia is desirous of dragging China
/ into the conflict.
The Standard, recognizing that the
| neutral powers may protest, considers
that "it will be difficult to refuse tc
either belligerent the right to regard
strategic considerationslas paramount
| over ILL OillClS IL
The Post considers that Russia.
action is Calculated to relieve Japar
of some embarrassment by removing
| some of the difficulties Japan would
have experienced in dealing will
! Newchwang in the event of it becom
ing necessary to attack the Russian
| forces at that point"
T1ENTSIN, March 2S.-Lloyd's agen
at Newchwang telegraphs as follows:
1.-The port is now open. Five junk
have already arrived, seven steamer
are due tomorrow and several other
are expected shortly. The Russian
have not blockaded the river up to tn
present. There are no movements O
troops and the town is in perfect order
The Espeigle and the Helena will un
dock on April q"
CHEFU. March 2S. = Five Britis1
merchant steamships left here to-da-
for Newchwang, just before the re
ceipt of the information that mar
tial law had been declared there.
S-1>-3---