The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-08
NYAOKA CALLS.
japanese Charge asks About the Kill
ing of His Countrynen.

washington, Aug. S-The following
contains the main features of the dis
patch of Solicitor Sims sent to the de-
partment of commerce and labor and
which was cabled by Acting Secretary
Bacon to Ambassador Wright at Toxic;
Fur seal rookeries st. Paul island
were raided by crews japanese schoon-
ers July Is and IT, About 200 seals
were killed, but raiders were eventually
repulsed as a result of the courageous
action Chief Agent Lembkey and As
sistant Agent Judge at head OF naVai
guard. Five raiders were killed and Il
captured, two of latter being badly
wounded Three boats and some small
rookeries suffered no casualties. Ine
sehooners were first observed on July
16 and were close to shore, easily WITH
in three mile limit On this day boat S
crew of six men which had landed at
northeast point were surprised ana cap
tured by Agent Lembkey and native
guards without casualty on either SIDE.
On the morning of July IT, two native
wounded one of an armed landing par
ty. Crews of schooner, under protee-
tion of a danse fog, shot seals in va
ter close to shore most of the day. Dur
ing this time shotgun firing which could
| be easily heard from shore was fre-
quent. Unknown how many seals were
killed in this manner, but the number
must have been considerable.
"On evening of the same day crews
of at least three schOOners made con-
certed raids on widely separated rock
cries, raid on sea and rookerles was re-
pulsed by native guard after consider
! able firing. Raid on northeast point
/ was partially successful. Owing to
dense fog raiders there were not dis
| covered until zoo seals had been killed
This raid which was apparently partlc-
e1,5r, of
boats, was repulsed by Agent Lembkey
| Judge and native force only and three
| of raiders were killed and five captured
Most of the seals killed on shore bS
raiders were pregnant females VIII
| nursing young, few days old, which
died of starvation Large proportion O.
those killed in water also females II
search of food for young. Some OF th'
I raiders taken, state they are from
schooner Toyai Maru No. 2, ana on'
of the captured boats bore that mum
| Der. Other prisoner states he is iron
schooner Mel Maru.
During the time was on the island
schooners were frequently sighted less
than three miles from shore. It is evil
| dent that at least eight or ten schooners
believed to be japanese are sailing II
close proximity to the islands. The L
prisoners were taken on the cutter Nc
Culloch to Kodiak and after hearing be-
fore commander were held for jury and
taken in charge by marshal"
The Japanese charge, Mr. Nyaoka
| called at the state department this
| morning for information about the kill
ing of the Japanese. He had received
no dispatches from his government con-
! cerning the affair and Acting Secretary
Bacon gave him the same information
which was sent to Ambassador Wright
Seals are recognized as property by
/ international law and the japanese kill
ed by American officials on St. Paul is
| land stand in the same position as bur
glars shot in the act of stealing, accord
ing to prominent authorities on interna-
| tional law. No international incident
can result from the shooting of the Jap
anese poachers, it is said at the state de-
partment. This government has nc
amends to make to Japan, other than
those that courtesy may prompt and a
mere expression of regret that such an
incident should take place, is all that is
| looked for.
Japan has no treaty obligations which
in any way require her to protect seals
| IN the Bering sea
After discussing the matter with Mr..
Bacon, Mr.. Nyioka decided that it was
not case to cause an international
incident, but that it was similar to
other cases that have occurred be-
| tween citizens of one country on the
| soil of another