Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-12
# Capt Shestakovsky during the
nony.
Captain Greatly Affected.


mony.
Captain Greatly Affected.
1t was evident all the preceding day tina.
the necessity of abandoning his ship,
which had served him SO well. greatly al
fected the captain, who won consideraoie
renown while at Port Arthur. 1t Is thought
that when he discerned the purpose OF the
Japanese he gave hurried order to blow
up the ship, intending to end his life and
that Of his assailants with the life OF the
ship.
One of the reports in circulation states
that the captain, who was severely wouno-
ed. was rescued and Is now being secreted
by his friends. 1t is presumed that the
captain was wounded by the japanese sal
lors who were wrestling their lieutenant
from him. Later reports claim that ma
jority of the Russians reached shore safe
ly 1t will be some time before this IS ac-
curately determined.
Action Regarded Gravely.
ST. PETERSBURG, August 12-2:12 p M
The action of the japanese torpedo boat
destroyers in attacking and towing out the
defenseless Russian torpedo boat destroyer
Ryeshitelni at Chefoo is regarded In G 2lo-
matte circles as being very grave matter
for Japan. AS soon as the facts are Off
cially established no doubt exists that Rus
sia will promptly call the attention of the
powers to this breach of the neutrality or
China.
aside from the possible questionable right
of an uninjured warship to seek sane
tuary in a neutral port when not forced to
do by stress of weather or lack of coal
and provisions. all the diplomats agree as
to the absolute illegality of belligerent
ships entering neutral ports and there COM
mitting hostile acts.
The case, so far as the facts are known,
is considered much more fragrant than that
at Chemulpo, where all the foreign COM
manders except the commander of the
American warShip there, protested against
the proposal of the japanese to enter and
fight the Russian cruisers Variag and kor-
ietZ in neutral harbor
Franco-Russian War Incident.
1t Is recalled that at the opening of the
Franco-Pussian war a warship of each of
the beligerents was in the harbor of Ha
vana and they went out to try conclu-
sons, with the result that the Frenchman
was crippled and sought refuge in the har-
bor The German vessel. however did not
attempt to follow the French ship. which
remained there to the end Of the war.
The only possible justification conceived
Is that the Russian destroyer may have
first fired upon the japanese and afterward
entered the port of Chefoo.
1t is intimated that possibly Russia may
represent to the powers that this act was a
violation by Japan of the neutrality of
China under the guarantees given in re-
sponse to Secretary Hays note.
The admiralty has just received a tele-
gram from the Russian consul at ChefOo
reporting the Japanese attack upon the
Ryeshitelni in that harbor, and the towing
of her off. The message says the majority
of the crew survived Capt Shestakovsky
was severely wounded
No official reports from Tsingchou have
leen received here up to this hour and no
details are obtainable of the naval engage
ment.
Formal Protest Promptly Filed.
ST. PETERSBURG, August 12-5:5O pm.
The Associated Press is able to announce
that Russia has already formally protested
to Japan. through France. against the ac-
ton of the japanese torpedo-bo boat destroy
ers in attacking the Russian torpedo boat
destroyer Ryeshitelni at Chefoo and tow
ing her away from that port and that the
protest has been communicated to the
powers.
This prompt action is based upon the
official report of the Russian consul at
Chefoo, which is very explicit on the sub
ject of the dismantling of the Ryeshitelni
saying that not only were the breach blocks
of her guns and all her small arms re-
moved, but her engines were rendered use
less. The vessel therefore was reducd to
the condition of a hulk. The consul also re-
ported that the Japanese fired upon the
Russian sailors while they were in the
water.
While the admiralty at this hour declares
it has received no further news of the Port
Arthur squadron of the sea fight, the
foreign dispatches pouring in have dashed
the Russian hopes that the squadron had
succeeded in escaping, and it seems now to
be only question of the extent of the Rus
sian disaster.
Important to All Nations.
LONDON, August 12.-The British oftcia 5
and foreign diplomats regard the action OF
the Japanese in cutting out the Russian tor
pedo boat destroyer Ryeshiteln at Chefoo
as raising a serious question of importance
to all nations.
The foreign Office received this morning a
dispatch from the British consul at Chefoo
confirming the capture of the Ryeshiteln
and her removal by her captors from the
harbor. The consul added that the facts
were Immediately reported to the Chinese
governor and the foreign diplomats a,
Peking
not SO much at the fact that the attack
| was made on the destroyer at the prece-
dent established by Japan, which Russia
may follow in case of emergency, thereby
extending the area of hostilities which Sec
retary Hay sought to circumscribe.
| The foreign office declined this afternoon
! to comment on the effect of the japanese
I action. but the officials are hopeful that ar
adequate explanation will be made which
| will not permit the incident to serve as
| justification for future violations of Chinese
neutrality. 1t is believed that Japan will
promptly disavow the action of the com
| manders of her destroyers. even returning
| the Ryeshitelni to Cheefoo, provided she Is
| convinced that her officers acted wrong
fully.
The Japanese legation here has cabled tC
| Tokyo asking for an explanation and ex.
poets that an immediate inquiry will be in
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