Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-25
RUSSIANS AT SANGHAI.
Cars Ships at That Port Could Quick
ly Put to Sea.
Letter in the Shanghai Mercury

Letter in the Shanghai Mercury.
Undoubtedly, this is the queen port of the
far east; still. it must contain the most sim
pie minded people on the face of Gods earth
"a very broad assertion, but still carried out
by cold facts. Listen: We just escaped the
sound of the boom of Port Arthur's guns
the echo reached US in the shape of Il fine
armored cruiser, with five tunnels, and one
of the swiftest torpedo boat destroyers
afloat-the latter masterpiece of naval
construction, reached our port first, steamed
up to an anchorage and her consort fol-
lowed shortly after.
The foregoing is more as Introduction
than anything else, something to attract
the notice of a few; the sequel follows: The
Gunboat Mandjour of the Russian fleet is
an obsolete nonentity but still, although
not stripped of all her honors, like her con-
sorts, is allowed to wear her flag, and Is
trading on her reputation and assisting in
a very serious attempt to make history. We
do not speak without the book, for at the
present time a certain latitude is allowed to
these so-called disarmed Russian men-of-
war; truly disarmed, but not disabled.
Take away a breach-block from gun, that
gun is useless until such a time as the block
Is replaced So far SO good take away
from machine or an engine vital part,
that machine or engine is in a like state.
Who in community where shipping and
engineering holds such sway as it does in
Shanghai is ignorant of the simple fact
that every vital part of an engine is carried
In duplicate on board every steamer, be she
tramp or legitimate trader, and can be
placed IN position at moments notice.
This fact has been absolutely overlooked
by the authorities in dealing with the dis
armament of the Russian men-of-war in
our midst, and | hardly like to make the
assertion that at the present moment
should they so desire, the Askold and
GfosoVo1 could not leave their moorings and
steam to sea. Who is going to stop them?
ha inc
international dock, for she will be only
capable of putting a few shots into her on
passing where she lies a anchor which will
no doubt do more harm to the surrounding
property than the esca ping cruiser There
are undoubtedly other warships in mort but
they nave no status in the present quarrel
Should they make such a status for them
selves, or, in other words take if unon
themselves to interfere, it will mean the big
gest miXup the world has ever seen These
soJourners In our midst have been treated
TOO well during the months they have been
with us; nothing has been denied to add
10 thelr comfort. They have been allowed
10 take as much coal as they like nominalIv
Tor heating and lighting purposes AS far
as heating is concerned, a few kerosene
stoves would do all that Is REQUIRED and
the lighting is done from cables passed on
board from the Mandjour. The bunkers, If
NOT iull, contain ample coal to run the
Askoid sufhciently far to join the Baltic
squadron, and her engines, If not actually
ready to go ahead, could be made so within
a very short space of time
me nghtlng worth of fast cruisers lies in
thelr speed more than in the weight of
metal they can hurl and the Askold's guns
are only secondary consideration, but still
IT is well-known fact that one breech-
block Is only duplicate of another in
gun or equal caliber, and should this boat
safely negotiate the passage of the Wang
poo and join the rest of the Russian fleet
enc would quickly be made an efficient
Hgnting Item by the simple addition of a
few breech-blocks from some other vessel