Evening Post

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1904, Page 4

Evening Post

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2C, 19CM. UIQII-JiANDED RUSSIA. » Admiral Stirling's brilliant coup at Shanghai has ended in a fizzle after all. Though ho sent one of his squadron denied for action on tho heels .of the Japanese destroyer to take up a position between \m and th© Grosovoi, ho now explains Hint this remarkable proceeding was merely a coincidence which had no significance whatever. Tho Chauncey was "only carrying despatches, and had no connection with the- arrival of tho Japanese deetioyert.." Why the despatches needed delivering in this particular fashion, and why the vc&sel bearing Ihom needed to clear for action in their honour, is not explained, and perhaps never will be ; nor are- wo likely to bo told whether tho efccort which, tho American Admiral offered to the Russian vessels had also some esoteric reforenco to the carrying of <ie- | Bputehes. Tho fact, of cour&o, is that he and not the Japanese commander lias had to back down. It was moral pressure at the most that America was justified in using to prevent a breach of the pwico in neutral waters, but the Consuls have refused tlte TuoUii's invitation to exercise this moral pivsmiro by collective action. Tho responsibility must rest with his om'ii (JovernnuMil, whose lust notice to quit htui been dUivgurded by the Russian vessels as wiitejiipluouely as the previous one*. The refusal of the British company which luia liad the repair* in hund to proceed with tho work afier the expiry of tho time limit iias, however, probably proved more effective, and the Russians have accepted the alternative of disurmament. Tho Chiuw fleet, which has been sent away on a cruise for foar it»» services might be needed, may now return to (Shanghai ; it would have shown bad taste if it had remained in a Chinese port which tho belligerents required to fight in, but tho dancer appears to be past. The Shanghai episode nl least proves that Japan is in no mood to be tricked or bluffed, and the incn easing gravity of tho news to-day from London and St. Petersburg shows tbnt Britain must aseert herself in a 6imilar way if the insults and dangers wkich she continues to mi if or at tho hands of Russia are to cease. A mtuft must have a heart of stone if he does not foci some sympathy for the dittos! era and the sufferings of the Russians during the present war, yet through them all tho duplicity, the arrogance, tho insolence of Russian statesmen weem to proceed from bud to worse. Count Lamodorffs pacific assurance* have been again belied, and the position is juHt as bad us when the Malacca was seized hi tho Red Sea. Th* obstruction > of our commerce by vesiols of doubtlui atatus now extends all the way from ! Gibraltar to Durban, and the coastal I commerce of this colony might with equal reason he overhauled on the search for contraband if the mercantile marine of 1 Russia or Germany could supply privar t«er« enough for tho purpose. •Then now seems no room for doubt that it was tlit j Smolensk v< hich stopped tho Comedian near Durban, and tho prow of St. Petersburg, for which the war has provided few wiccewes to chronicle, is in ecstasy over such " heroio prowess." The sinking of tho Knight Commandor in ut(*r violation of fche law of nutions, and the torpedoing of the Hipsang, which the Shanghai Naval Court lias dcolared to have carried no contraband, and merely U> havo botn "quietly voyaging from Niuohwang to Chofoo with lighta burning and tho British flag flying," ar© further samples of the kind of triumph which appears to delight tho Russian press moio than any of the more orthodox glories of war. It is perfectly clear that in the presence of such a spirit nothing but the energetic action which the leading English oiguns aro advocating will secure to our commerce the ordinary rights which other neutral Powers aro enjoying without question. It is admitted by enlightened opinion in St. Petersburg that Great Britain would bo justified m sending warships to escort her merchantmen on the higli seas and protect tkem from the co. price of Russian officers. But evon the British Navy will not be equal to the task of convoying erory merchantman, and direct action against tho pirates seems to be the only practicable course. War may still bo avoided if Russia even at tho eleventh hour recovers her reason, hut wo must be ready for the worst. Lord Lansdowne Imm indeed a ticklUfi # taßk ir hand, and the fall in Consols shows' that opinion in tho Old Country is by no means sanguine as to his success. '