Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-09

| 1Okl }, March S.-Ihc Rates seem al
most resolved 10 cmbroil japan and
China by fair means or foul. No soon
/ or does one diplomatic issue appear to
| be on the eve of satisfactory settlement
than another one crops up to prolong
the agony and keep the Toxic foreign
office and the Chinese foreign board
more or less busy.
Now I chinese WarShip seized x
Japanese merchant steamcr-thn Tatsu
Maru i'll Chinese territorial waters,
just outside Macao harbor. and cs-
corted her to Canton on the charge
that she was engaged in ain attempt
TO sIAugsle arms and ammunition into
China. TO add to the irritation the
Chinese commander hauled dUWn the
Japanese flag en- route and ran up the
Chinese dragon flag in its stead. The
Japanese foreign Office has lodged Il
strong protest with the Chinese for
eiEn Ctlice. demanding the immediate
release of The Tatsu Maru and the
punishment Of the officials responsible
for her seizure. Quite Irrespective If
the merits of the Japanese minister
maintains the action of the Chinese
authorities in Selling the steamer and
hauling down the Japanese flag was an
Insult to Japan even though it were
the outcome of misunderstanding.
The facts of the case as nearly DIS can
be aSccrtained from both sides appears
TO be these: The Japanese contention
is that the vessel left Kobe on Jan.
26. with "a cases of rifles and 70 cases
of ammuniti0n consigned By the Ataka
Shokai # Osaka 10 MeSsrs. KWong Yo
N1pJn n rn Nv
the Macao government 10 deal in
arms.
1t is asserted that the ALASKA Sho-
kai had obtained the necessary permit
from the Macao authorities with re
gard to the arms ana ammunition and
that the usual customs and police for
maltes had been complied with a
Kobe. The fact that the 1atsu Maru
anchored outside the harhor is en-
planned by tho statement that her
draft was too great to permit her to
permit her to enter tn" harbOr in safe
ty and that the intention of the Cap
tain and the consignce was to have
the cargo discharged into lighters.
According to the captains story, the
vessel WAS surrounded by four Chinese
gunboats and was shortly afterwards
who declared that although the steam
er was in possession Of u certificate
issued by the Portuguese authorities ii
Macao. the Chinese government was
informed that She was bound for
Macao with Il cargo Of 1874 cases Of
arms and ammunition consigned to a
Chinese and that he had been ordered
by the Tatotai Of Canton to stop the
discharge Of this cargo. Later two
customs officials and 20 bluejackets
boarded the steamer.
The incident created no Srlall ex-
element among the steamers passen-
gers, some approximations being enter
tanned that the japanese cruisers in
Hong Kong harbor might attempt a
rescue, in which event it is deemed
probable that the Chinese gunboatS
WOULD have sent the Tatsu Maru to the
bottom without further ceremony. The
fat would then have been in the fire
with a vengeance.
1t was to safeguard the vessel |
against any attempt to escape that the |
Chinese commander ran up the dragon |
flag. thus technically placing the YES
sci under arrest.
Further inquiry has elected the in
formation that the seizure of the TatSu |
was brought out through report sent
from Kobe or Osaka to the Chinese |
authorities to the effect that although ,
the rifles and ammunition We're con-
signed to a firm in Macao they were |
really to be struggled into the hands |
Of insurgents in their interior Of China |
Acting on this assurance, the Chinese |
authorities took immediate steps to
seize the steamer. 1t is surmised that |
the informant of the Chinese govern
mcnt may have been a Chinese resi-
dent in Japan.
The Shippers Union of Japan. one of
whose members is the owner Of the
arrested vessel. has not been idle, but
has adopted a resolution calling Tor
the immediate release of the steamer
and for payment of proper compensa-
ton
In the meantime the situation re-
garding the captive steamer has been
found impossible of adjustment, AMI
yesterday a high official of the foreign
office had the following to say with re-
gard to Japans course Of action:
Japan will not resort to force in
with the seizure Of this
vessel unless compelled to do 50 by
the action of China"