THE RECHITELIN INCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 201, 23 August 1904, Page 5

THE RECHITELIN INCIDENT.

JAPANESE CLAIM THE SHIP. DEFENCE OF THEIR ACTION. (Received 9.10 aun.) LONDON, August 22. The Russian cruiser Rechitelin, which was attacked by the Japanese in Chifu Harbour, is now at Dalny. The Japanese are justifying her capture on the grounds that she was fully armed and manned, and that she began hostilities.

They declare that there is no analogy between her case and that of the Confederate steamer Florida seized by the United States war steamer Wachu9ett at Bahia in 1864. The neutrality of Brazil on that occasion was, it is held, perfect and unconditional.

Experience had shown that, as in the cases of the Russian cruisers Mandjur and Askold, China did not take adequate steps to enforce her neutrality. Russia, in establishing a wireless station at Chifu, and working it till now, despite the protests of Japan, had defied the neutrality of China, and was. seeking in Chifu and asylum which Port Arthur had ceased to afford. Thus she had broken her agreement to restrict warfare to Manchuria and Korea. The new incident had terminated the neutrality of Chifu, and had reserved the question of Chinese neutrality applying to those places not occupied by belligerents. CHINA REPLIES TO RUSSIA. OFFICIALS TO BE PUNISHED.' A CAUTIOUS INJUNCTION. (Received 9.10 ajn.) LONDON, August 22. According to French advices, China has replied to Russia that the officials concerned in the Reehitelin incident will be punished, and that there will be no repetition of the occurrence. According to the Japanese China has merely notified Russia that she must keep her engagements in future.