The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-13
EXPLANATION OF CAUSE
OF ALL THE TROUBLE

Toxic, March u.-Chinese warshtps
seized a Japanese merchant steamer
the Tatsu Maru-in Chinese territorial
waters, just outside Macao harbor, and
escorted her to Canton on the charge
that she was engaged in ar attempt to
smuggle arms and ammunition into
China.
To add to the irritation inseparable
from such a course OF action. the h
nese commander hauled down the
Japanese flag en- route and raj up the
Chinese dragon ensign in its stead.
The japanese foreign office has de-
manded the Immediate release Of the
Tatsu Maru n the punishment of the
Quite irrespective of the merits of the
case, the japanese minister maintains
the action of the Chinese authorities in
selling and hauling down the japanese
flag was IN insult to Japan.
The facts in the case. as nearly as
can be aScertained from both sides, APP
pear to be these:
The japanese contention Is hat the
vessel left Kobe on January 26 with "a
cases of rifles and 40 cases of ammuni-
ton consigned by the Ataka Shokai. Of
Osaka. to Kwong 70 & Co. Of Macao.
who are LICENSED by the Macao govern
ment to Teal in arms. It is asserted
that the Ataka Shokai had obtained
the necessary permit from the Macoa
authorities with regard to the arms
dIlu dlIlIIlulllllOll anu lHttl VIC uSuds
customs and police formalities had been
complied with at Kobe.
The fact that the Tatsu Maru an-
chored outside Macao harbor is ex.
planned by he's statement that her draft
was too large to permit her to enter
the harbor in safety and that the in
tention Of the captain and the con-
signees was to nave the cargo dis
charged into lighters. According to the
captains story the vessel was surround.
ed by four Chinese gunboats n was
shortly afterward boarded by the Chi
nese commander, who declared that al
though the steamer was in possession
Of q certificate issued by the Portu-
guese authorities at Macao, the Chi
ne8e government was Informed that she
was hound for Macao with a cargo Of
1874 cases OF arms and ammunition con-
signed to q Chinese firm, and that he.
had been ordered by the taotal of Can
ton to stop the discharge of this cargo
Later two customs officials n 20 bluey
Jackets boarded h steamer. The in1
ctdent created no small excitement
among the steamers passengers, some
approximations being entertained that
the Japanese warships in h harbor
might attempt a rescue, in which rel
1t is deemed probable the Chinese gun
boats would have sent the Tatsu Maru
to the bottom without further cere-
mony. 1t was to safeguard the vessel
against any attempt to escape that the
Chinese commander ran up the dragon
of China, thus technically placing the
vessel under arrest.
Further inquiry has ELECTED the in
formation that the seizure Of the Tatsu
Maru was brought about through a re-
port sent from kobe or Osaka to the
Chinese authorities to the effect that
although the rifles and ammunition
were consigned to a firm in Macao.
they were really to be struggled into
thn hands NJ inSr1rporfS In fhn infor{oM
(, of China. Acting on this assurance the
Chinese authorities took Immediate
steps to seize the steamer. 1t Is sur
missed that the information Of the Chi
nese government may a come from
a Chinaman residing in Japan.