Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25
ADVICES FROM CONGER
SQUADRON SINKS
KNIGHT COMMANDER.
Crew Transferred to the Tsinan and
Landed at Yokohama-German
Ship Captured.


cabled from Peking to the State Depart
ment brief communication of the press
reports Of the sinking by the Russian
Fladivostok squadron of British steamer
having on board goods consigned to the
American Trading Company.
L. s. Hopkins a. Son. the local agents
here for the American Trading Company,
furnish the following information relative
to the vessel sunk by the Vladivostok
squadron off the Idzu peninsula:
The vessel was the knight Commander,
6,O0O tons, which sailed from New York
about sixty days ago under charter by
Howard Houlder. Rowatt & Co. of London
and New York, with a Cargo of general
merchandise mostly belonging to American
merchants and consigned to the shippn
agents at Yokohama of the American Trad
ing Company. 1t is stated positively that
there was no contraband in the cargo.
The Departments Policy Outlined.
The weeks study by the State Depart
ment officials of the problems connected
with the operations of belligerent ships
against neutral merchantmen has crystal
ICED In letter addressed by the department
to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
This corporation last week. fearing for ;he
safety of the big steamer Shdwmut with
her cargo of food supplies intended Tor
Japan, and of other vessels of the line
about to follow with general cargoes, ad-
dressed the department an inquiry To as
certain the rights and exemptions and la
bIities of their vessels on the high seas
and within the zone in the east.
TO that communication the department
has just made reply, but ii is not deemed
opportune to make it public. 1t is under
stood to be based upon expressions deliv-
cred in preceding administrations of the
State Department. which in substance
warned shippers against the carriage of
contraband and of violation of port rules
imposed by belligerentS in position to en-
force them. The position of the department
in this matter will be speedily and publicly
developed. not ac9Cemically. but in connec-
ton with the first protest which is lodged
with the department against the action OF
one OF the belligerents toward Ameri-
can ship or an American cargo.
Tie Case of the Knight Commander.
The case of the Knight Commander is re
garded complicated and difficult OF
treatment although fuller statement OF
facts is expected TO simplify the problem.
The general doctrin Of neutral flag covers
neutral goods" has, IL is apprehended, been
violated in the destruction of the ship and
cargo by the Russian cruisers. provided no
contraband was included in the cargo, as
is asserted by the agents of the shippers.
This last is question of fact that can
not be determined only by recourse to the
copies of invoices and manifests, probably
on file with the agents of the shippers in
New York. As for the Knight Commander
herself, the State Department will prob
ably leave to the British government the
adjustment of any issue with Russia grow
ing out of her sinking
AS some surprise has been expressed at
the reports of the sinking by Russian
cruisers of defensclcsS merchant ships In
stead Of taking them into port, ii may be
stated that the general naval opinion here
justifes that course Only in the event that
the Russian warshps have, is suspected,
,ant fnan l,,. n ltSh
crews to conduct the captured ships to the
nearest prize court
That is a desperate course, and according
to the naval view here is full OF risk for the
Russians. who must be prepared to pay in
full and in cash for any maritime property
elCnging to n citizen of a neutral power
able to demonstrate that his goods were
not contraEand and that his ship was not
subject to seizure under the rules OF a prize
court.
Report From Yokohama.
YOKOHAMA, July 25.-The Vladivostok
SQUADRON Yesterday sank the British steam
er Knight Commander from New York, OF
the province Of IZu, after transferring the
crew of the Knight Commander to the
steamer Tsinan, which arrived here this
morning
The American Trading Company the
agents here for the Knight Commander
The Vladivostok squadron also captured
a German vessel, believed TO be the Arabia,
with 1900 tons of flour, and an unknown
British steamer. The two vessels were
sent to Vladivostok in charge Of prize
crews.
Sailed From New York May g.
New York, July 2J.-The Knight Com
mander, according TO the Maritime Regis
ter, Is a British steamer of 2116 tons
burthen. commanded by Captain Durant.
She sailed from New York May 6, going
later to Shanghai
The owner of the Knight Commander is
the Knight Steamship Company 0imited)
of Liverpool She was built at Newcastle
by the PalmerS.
Crew Arrived at Yokohama
TOKYO. July p. 10 a.m-The British
steamer Tsinan has arrived at Yokohama
with the crew of the British steamer
Knight Commander, which was sunk by
the Russian Vladivostok squadron OFF Izu.
The Knight Commanders cargo was a gen.
eral one. Her European passengers were
detained by the Russians and her crew OF
twenty-cne transferred to the Tsinan.
which also reports that the Russians sank
two japanese schooners.
Sighted Off Katsu-Ura.
TOKYO, July 25-I0 a.m.-The Vladivo-
stok squadron was sighted twenty miles on
in the prefecture of Shimosa-
at Z O'Clock this morning, steaming slowly
east.
Katsu-Cra is about 100 miles northeast Of
Cape Iro, where the Vladivostok squadron
was reported yesterday. katsu-Ura lies al
most due east of Tokyo.
Sighted Eastward of Kazusa.
TOKYO, July 25.-The Russian Vladivos-
tok squadron was seen to the eastward Of
Kazusa province at o'clock this afternoon.
It was steam ming to tie east.
Kazusa province is on the east side OF
Tokyo bay.