The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-08-16
SHOOTING OF JAPS
Witt Not Call for Apology by
United States.
TECHNICALLY BURGLARS
Further Details of Staying Five Seal
Raiders in the Pribiloff Islands
Received at the State De-
partrent In Washington.

! Further details CT the killing Of
five Japanese raiders in the Pribiloff
Islands is contained in a dispatch to
a New York paper dated Dutch Har.
Dor, Alaska, July 26, via Seward,
Alaska, August Z, which says:
Five japanese were shot and killed
and twelve taken prisoners on the
island Of St. Paul of the Pribiloff
group, by order of the agent Of the
department Of commerce and labor,
on July II. as the result of a raid
b. four Japanese schooners on tho
seal rookeries.
Traders we're discovered lying near
northeast point, St. Paul, by native
lookouts Of the North American CON-
mercial company, which leases the
seal privilege from the government.
Word was telephoned from the patrol
station near the rookery, for which
the raiders were aiming, and Special
Lempke. OF the department of COM
merce, on duty in the Pribiloff Islands,
arrived on the spot as the Japanese
reached shore. He ordered the boat
crew to surrender, which they did.
On climbing the promontory at the
end Of the cape overlooking one OF
the large rookeries schooner was
seen close in shore.
Locking straight down over the
cliff, the patrols saw dozen or
more Japs skinning a number OF
seals, which had been slaughtered.
The raiders refused to surrender
when Lempke reached the scene, and
tried to make of with their booty in
small boats, several of which were
drawn up on shore The agent then
ordered his guard OF natives to open
fire. 'rhe Japanese offered no resist.
ance, being without firearms.
Three Of the raiders fell dead on
the beach, a fourth was seen to be
thrown overheard from one of the
boats that escaped, and a fifth body
drifted ashore later In another boat.
The Japs had killed over 200 seals,
mauy OF them cows. Those who es
capped carried away about 100 skins.
A Washington special says: Acting
Secretary Of State Bacon has sent
to Ambassador Wright at Toxic, ia
pan, the substance of the above dis
patch received by the department of
commerce and labor from Solicitor
Sims at Sitka, Alaska. In sending the
dispatch the acting secretary states
that it Is forwarded for the purpose
of giving information such as this
government has Of regrettable incl
dent, news Of which may reach Japan
In distorted form. There is no inten-
tton of offering an apology or any
further regret than Is contained in
this dispatch, as the state depart
ment regards the Japanese fishermen
as poachers II they were within the
three-mile limit, and the dispatch
from Mr.. Sims emphasizes this fact
It is stated that American fishermen
in New Foundland waters, II within
the three-mile limit, would be subject
ed to arrest by the authorities and
would have no redress, sa they
would be poachers the same as the
Japanese who were killed.
Seals are recognized as property
by international law, and the Jap
anese killed stand as burglars shot
in the act of stealing according to
prominent authorities on international
law. No international incident can
resrlt from the shooting, it is said
at the state department.
The government of the United
States will take no further active
interest in the matter of the killing
of the Japan poachers, save that the
twelve prisoners insult be tried by
United States authorities and accord.
Ing 10 the United States laws.