RUSSIA AND NEUTRAL SHIPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 202, 24 August 1904, Page 5

RUSSIA AND NEUTRAL SHIPPING.

BRITISH STEAMER HIPSANG. A MOMENTOUS DECISION. TORPEDOED UNJUSTIFIABLY. NO CONTRABAND ON BOARD. BRITISH FLAG FLYING. (Received !) a.m.) LONDON, August 23. The Naval Court at Shanghai, which has been investigating the - case of the British steamer Kipsang, has nor/ arrived at a decision. The Court finds in the first place that the Russian destroyer Raztoroptii discharged a torpedo at the Hipsang, and sank her. Secondly, the Court holds that the Bussiaa destroyer acted without just cause, inasmuch as the Hipsang had no contraband on board, but was quietly voyaging from Nin-chwang to Chifu with her lights burning an J her i'lag flying.

Admiral Aiexeieff. reporting on August 2 on the sinking of the Hipsang, said that she i-iuergrj without lights from Fuciian Bay, whicii lliP. Japanese occupied then as now: that i-he disregarded ten shot* fired from the Russian torpedo-boat: and that she used her small arms and endeavoured to escape under c6v<-r of the fog. The and crew, consisting of six Englishmen, one. Russian and 70 Chinese, were rescued. Twelve Chinese were wounded aJid removed to hospital. Several persons were drowned. On the 7th inst, tho Russian.* added a statement that they mistook the Hipsang for a Japanese vessel flying , the British flag. It was also stated that Captain Bradley tired upon the torpodo-boat-CTRGENT RESOLUTIONS PASSED. FAR. EASTERN TRADE SUSPENDED. LONDON. August 23. The safety of shipping and the necessity for a definition of contraband are the keynotes of a number ef nrgemt resolution* passed by the Liverpool Chamber of Comisierce and othes. , Iw>dies in the United Hingdoin. The Pacific Steam Navigation Company and other companies are not accepting freights front San Francisco to Japan. Trade with the Far East is practically suspended. BRITISH FLEET EXPECTED. STANDARD WARNS JAPAN. i Received 7.40 a.m.) ■ LONDON, August 23. j The repairs of the Russian cruiser Askold have been suspended. The British fleet is expected at Shanghai to-day. The Standard warns Japan that I she is not entitled to abuse ihe I TTcakaess of China to the injury of neutrals. It is high time, the Standard continues, that the ccmraeicial nations agreed npoa rules regarding the Dt-.utra.lty of ports, and also defined contraband. . The Morning Post says that the refusal to obey Shanghai orders -when she obeyed German orders at Kiao-chau shows that Russia is not prepared to respect the Eeatrality of Ciiina. I THE VOLUNTEER CRUISERS. BRITISH STEAMER DETAINED. LONDON, August 23. A Russian cruiser, supposed to be I the volunteer steamer Smolensk 1 stopped the Britisn steamer Comedian near Durban, examined hex papers, and allowed her to proceed. The Times comments on Russia's lead, faith if tke vewel be really the Smolensk, and aika where ike ooal-

Ed wiea voyaging sontli. Wty was a visit to a. coaling port concealed ? Another account from Durban says the cruiser was a former German steamer. A CONSULAR MEETING. WO CONCERTED ACTIOM, (Received 7.40 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. Tlxe Times' Shanghai correspoadeat states that the Tiaotai sought to induce the Consuls to adopt collective measares in order to avoid tSie possibility of hostilities aad protect the interests of neutrals, wisich he feared were endangered by the presence of Japanese warships, overlooking; the fact that the danger of complications was due \ solely to Russia's refusal to cam- I ply with. China's demands esiforcing neutrality. Mr. Qtaghiri, the Japanese Con- j sul, howevei*, strongly protested agaiasit any collective Consular action affecting the rights of belligerents, and the meeting endorsed thia view, holding that China alone •eras responsible for the inainteaaoce of neutrality. Reference of ti\e Question was, at the instance jof My. Warrea, tie British Con-snl-Genexal, made to t3h" f-isin I Pekin Government. WO COAL FROM BRITISH COLONIES. 1

EXTENSION OF PROCLAMATION LONDON, August 23. The proclamation issued at Malta recently prohibiting the giving of coal and supplies to steamers of Russia or Japan engaged in searching for contraband has been extended to the colonies and dependencies throughout the British Empire. THE REFUGEE WARSWPS. AMERICAN ASSURANCES. NO INTENTION TO INTERFERE. ( Received 9 a.m.) LOKDOIf, August 23. The Viceroy of Nankin has refused the Taotai's request for a Chinese squadron to proceed to Shang- | I hai. j TYTr. Goodson states that the ! American Government does not intend to interfere. Though the cruiser Chauncey was i cleared for action while entering Shanghai, Admiral Sterling now' ;-.s3ert3 Ckat site v-as only canylag despatches, aatl had no coarse- ' tion with the arrival of the Japanese destroyesr. ; JAPANESE DESTROYER LEAVES SHANGHAI. i Received f>. 14 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. The Japanese destroyer which entered Shanghai and was followed by an American destroyer has now left the port. LONDON, August 23. The Berlin newspaper "Kreuz Zeitung," though pro-Russian in ils views, says that the demands made by the Japanese in regard to the Askold and the Grozoroi are perfectly just.