The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-29
DID SINK AN AMERICAN SHIP,
FLEETS ACTION CONFIRMED AND
RUSSIA rs ASKED TO EXPLAIN.
President Takes Prompt Measures-Rumor
That Rojestvensky Destroyed tho
Ship In Fear That She Would Betray
His Whereabouts-May Cause u Crisis.

Ship IN Fear That Sne would Betray
His WhereabOuts-May Cause Crisis
Special Gable Dsspaieh 10 The SUN.
TOXIC, May 2s.-The Ministry OF Marine
announces that there are positive indi-
cations that vessels Of the Baltic feet at
tackled and sank an American steamer near
Formosa last Friday. The crew were saved.
WASHINGTON. May pa serious situa-
ton between Russia and the United States
is threatened by the reported sinking OF an
American merchant steamer by the Russian
Baltic fleet of Formoea about May 20. The
report was officially transmitted to the
State Departm early to-day by Lloyd
C. Griscom, United States Minister at Toxic,
and an inquiry was Immediately directed
by President Roosevelt. Acting Secretary
OF State LOOMS, after a conference with
the President, telegraphed Ambassador
Meyer at St. Petersburg. instructing him to
make full Investigation there, obtaining
any information or reports the Russian
Admiralty may have on the affair. Mr..
Griscom is very active at Toxic in seeking
information and further advioes from him
are expected soon.
II the report be true the action Of the
Russian feet may lead to very delicate
situation between Russia and the United
States 1t is quite probable that the Rus
sian Government has some news of the
incident, as Admiral Rojestvensky was in
touch with cable lines after the sinking
Of the vessel occurred, both at the Saddle
Islands, where score or more Of his vessels
remained for several days, and at Woosung,
the port Of Shanghai. From there he
would probably send report Of his in
tentions and Of what had already occurred
during his trip northward from the China
Sea. The inquiry which has been insti-
tuted will be thorough. as it Is the intention
Of this Government to go clear to the bot
tom Of the incident. If it Is true that the
Russians sank tho American vessel. or II
any Of Rojestvenskys ships even I'M
warrantedly fired upon her, reparation
will undoubtedly be asked for.
been received by the Government from
any source, and the name Of the vessel
alleged to have been sunk Is not known.
Advices received here from Russian
sources, but not officially confirmed, say
that the American merchantmen was sunk
by the Russian feet to prevent her from
furnishing information a. to Rojsstvensky's
Whereabouts. II this statement proves
to be correct, and 1t comes from a quarter
which indicates that It LIS authentic. the
incident Is even more serious. The first
supposition here was that the vessel had
probably attempted to run away from
the Russians, perhaps because she had
contraband OF war aboard intended for the
Japanese, and the claim that she had tried
to escape might be regarded as an ex-
tenuating circumstance In Russia's behalf
when the matter became an international
issue.
But to sink vessel flying the flag Of a
neutral Power on the theory that she might
disclose valuable military information to
the enemy Is different matter. The end
said to have been desired by the Russians
might Just az well have been accomplished
by making the American merchantmen a
temporary captive and attaching her to
the Russian feet.
The information thus far received OF the
occurrence is too meager and indefinite,
however, to form the basis OF any fixed
opinion, and officials are not inclined to in
dulge In speculation. That the affair is
regarded as important Is shown by the
prompt action Of President Roosevelt, who
did not deem 1t necessary to wait for details
before calling on the Russian Government
for such information as It possessed. 1t Is
admitted here that there might have been
unusual circumstances to justify the re-
ported radical action OF Admiral RoJest-
vensky, but the assertion Ia made that his
explanation must be exceedingly clear.
and his excuse exceptional. to prevent the
matter from becoming a dangerous issue
between Russia and the United States.
In a measure the alleged sinking OF an
American st Gamer places the United Stat es
In the attitude OF England when the British
North Sea fishing feet was fired on ny Ro-
Jest venskys warships OF, the Dogger Bank.
In that case the Russians pleaded that they
had mist AIKEN the fishing vessels for hostile
ships, and this excuse permitted an adjust
ment of the affair by an Internal ional court
without resort to host illtiee. The sink
ing of neutral merchantmen by vessels
of the Russian volunteer feet was also ad-
justed through diplomacy, because 1t was
shown that these merchantmen had con-
tratand Of war aboard and were thus liable
to drastic treatment. In the present in
at ance however, granted that an American
vessel was sunk deliberately by Russian
warships because Of the fear that she would
give military information that would be
useful to the Japanese, the situation is
different and will require the most delicat g
handling to prevent trouble
COMPROMISE WITH CHINA.
Russian Warshlps II Leave WOOsung, but
r..-.nn.ta UNI n .r,.~p