Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-08-25
A Tip" FOR CHINA.
Japan Demands That Celestials Turn
a Deaf Ear to Russia.
DOMINANT POWER In FAR EAST.
Question Of Refusing n Haven for
Russian Ships I'm Neutral HarboF
Is Agitating Diplomats Of
All Nations.

St Petersburg, Aug. 1&-The repor
that Japan has sent an ultimatum u
China threatening to repeat the Ryes
hitelni incident In the case of the cruis
er Askold and torpedoboat destroyer
Grozovoi, at Shanghai, especially aftel
1t was understood that Russia had al
ready agreed to the disarmament Of
these vessels, is regarded here more al
q political than a military move, the
purpose Of which is to oyerawe the
Pekin government and to compel II
henceforth to turn a deaf ear to Rus
sia and to recognize Japan as the domi-
nant power in the far east, 1t being In
conceivable that western power would
permit Japan to carry out her threat
to engage in hostilities in the neutral
waters of China.
The Russian authorities who under
stand thoroughly the effect Of dis
play of force upon the Pekin govern
ment appreciate how greatly China has
already been impressed by the I'M
broken record Of Japanese successes on
sea and land and are inclined to be-
lieve that Japan's act is designed to
compel China to stand firm against
Russia's demands In the Ryeshitelni
affair to which China's first reply was
unsatisfactory.
Should Russia then regard China
as the active ally Of Japan the purpose
of the United States and other powers
in seeking to limit the area Of the
war, to prevent disorders and to pre-
serve the neutrality of China might DO
defeated. The whole situation is con-
sidered to be fraught with the posi-
bilities Of ugly complications unless
Japan listens to the friendly counsel
of the powers, whose advice, in the
case of the Ryeshitelni she has declined
10 follow.
Precedents on Both Sides.
Washington, Aug. 18.-Mr. Takahira,
the Japanese minister. has received a
ong> communication from his govern
nent setting forth its views as to the
light of Russian ships to take refuge |
n Chinese ports. 1t Is believed to be
IDENTICAL with other notes submitted
o the European chancellories and is
an indication Of the Japanese
purpose to make defense, In advance,
or drastic action which 1t proposes to
AXE regarding these Russian ships.
he officials here freely admit that the
roblem presented in the Japanese de-
nand that Russian ships shall not be
arbored by China Is most intricate
nd perplexing one and there are
recedents on all sides of the case. As
ate as the Spanish war the American
couts and gunboats made frequent
Sc Of neutral ports In the West Indies,
otably Danish and British ports, to
by cable with the home
overnment and with sections of the
merican fleet, yet there was no
large that neutrality had been vio-
ted.
The Japanese are understood in this
ote to object to being deprived Of
leir lawful prey by the dismantlement
Russian ships in Chinese harbors
I'd also in the German harbor Of
'ingchau, but in the Spanish war the
irish government held an American
rpedoboat, the Somers, in asylum :
roughout the war. But II is also :
tinted out that the ability Of the !
navy to secure such priv i,
'ges during the Spanish war by no =
sans constitutes n positive assertion =
the right Of the neutral nations to !,