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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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obtained. Coming back to the local event and upon Japanese consts, that it was a which has prompted these comments, we hostile factor whose elimination was a very cannot reconcile ourself to the conviction important desideratum indeed. With the that this particular jury appreciated the Vladivostock squadron rendered absolutely exactions of their joint oath, to "present hors de combat, Vice-Admiral KAMIMURA no man for hatred, malice, or illwill." In would have been free to co-operate more their colloquial usage, those words seem too immediately with Admiral Togo. The harsh for application to the motives that importance of capturing or sinking the two must have underlain some of the recom- ships he had already partially defeated, if mendations of these jurors. The particular, not crippled, was so vital a necessity that comments or suggestions implying displea all but the ultra-squeamish would have felt sure at the management or mismanagement obliged to excuse him had he considered it of the police are, however, healthily indica- his duty to continue the pursuit, leaving tive of easily recognisable human tendencies, the Rurik'a crew to shift for themselves. the tendencies to resent, and blame, and There is nothing & inguinary in thus speak- censure, what has not appeared satisfactory.ing: allowing the existence of war in fact, So far as we can judge, the utmost that the adage that "what is worth doing is should have been alleged against Sergeant worth doing well" is still applicable, con LEE was an error of judgment, and that an sistent with due observation of the permis- error which, according to a professionalsible limits of violence as agreed upon by witness, any unprofessional man might the international conference at Brussels, have made. That police officers should and more lately defined at the Hague Con- study what is known as First Aid is a reference. Truces to alleviate the lot of the commendation which commends itself. So, wounded are not expected until the objects | for that matter, should every man. As a of the particular engagement have been matter of fact, the ambulance course has achieved. Had NELSON ordered the "cease been enthusiastically taken up by the police fire" when the first ship of the foe went generally, and to those who have graduated, down, Trafalgar would not have figured as the public cannot be too grateful. But it is conspicuously in the victorious annals of not an accomplishment that anybody--even England as it does. The subsequent course jury-may demand as a right from a of history might also have been very differ- policeman. Else, with that and other cults ent. There is even now no telling what that would present themselves, we should mischief the Russian remnant, once repaired require every recruit for the constabulary to and refitted, may yet accomplish in revenge be a sort of ADMIRABLE JAMES CRICHTON. for KAMIMURA'S consideration. There is There was a very similar case at Shanghai one item of the affair that is productive of not long ago, in which a man.supposed to satisfaction for the pro-Japanese observer. be " dead drunk" was dying of opium After this, any repetition of the allegations poisoning. In that case, the man had been of Japanese inherent barbarism will be at a drinking, smelled of drink, and when he discount. Turning to the flight from Port died, the police were quite exonerated, Arthur, it has been a subject of con- evidence being given that they frequently jecture as to the cause of that dash int had ordinary "incapables" brought in who the open, by a fleet that looked like shelter presented identical symptoms. It is almost ing beneath the forts until the end of the safe to assume that had any member of this War. Wus it that the a Iverse ending was jury seen the deceased lying on the road, he within measurable distance, and did the would have passed by like the Levite, satis- Russians hope thus to save something from fied (without the alcoholic odours that the wreck ? Was it professional egerness misled the police) that it was only a case of on the part of Russian officers to show that drunkenness. It is, of course, all very sad; they too could bravely do or die? Or was but we must not allow our sympathies to it, as has been suggested, that the high work injustice upon the living. That the angle fire of the attacking Japanese arti.lery jury was actuated by impulses more of heart was making their situation intolerable? than of head is evident in their expression The latest information on this head comes of opinion that the widow should be recom from REUTER, who savs that the fleet left pensed for what they had just decided was Port Arthur in accordance with an impera- an accident. Such recompense would doubt- tive order from Admiral SKRYDLOFF. This, less be acceptable, and an act of grace, but of course, does not explain much; but from whom did the jury expect it to come? infor nation vouchsafed by some of the From the P.W.D., or from the Police, or Russian officers who sought sanctuary in whence ? In only one particular are we neutral ports suggests that part of SKRYD. able to side with them in their fault-finding. Lorr's scheme, at least, was the effection of We agree that, on the evidence, it was a a junction of the two fleets, with probably case in which the authorities might reasou- some forlorn hope of a coup beyond that. ably have spontaneously ordered an enquiry. With reference to this skulking in neutral It is our hope that, after what we have said, ports, one comment forcibly presents itself future jurymen will remember to act in for utterance. It is that with regard to such reasonable manner as will not dis breaches of neutrality, Russia seems to have courage our busy magistrates from sum.
a most imperfect idea of what may or may moning their services where thev promise not be done. When Japan seems to trans- to be useful.
gress international law in any such way, Russian perception seems to be quickened but recent St. Petersburg protests compel the assumption that there is no Russian equivalent for the philosophy of the Goose and Gander maxim. What is sauce for Russia would seem to be poison for Japan. The first breach of Chinese neutrality in the current war that we can recall was the Russian attempt to evade the limitation of the right of asylum at Shanghai, in the case of the Mandjour. The Japanese, up to the incident of the Riesitelini's seizure at Chefoo, have acted throughout with a scrupulous discretion, and whatever Russia has had to say about neutral ships, she has had no accusation to make until now against
AFTER THE NAVAL FIGHTS,
(Daily Prese 18th August.) HUMANITARIANS, learning Vice-Admiral KAMIMURA's reason for not making sure of the two Vladivostock vessels that got away, will applaud his action in devoting all his resources to the rescue of the drowning men of the Rurik. Naval men, if any consider his conduct in that instance with a view to professional criticism, will be sure to say that it was a tactical mistake to let them away. Limited as its powers were, the Vladivostock squadron had already shown, by its demonstrations in northern waters,
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(August 22, 1904,
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Japan. Now the Russian Minister at Pekin is attaining a wonderful vehemence of pro- test, and has launched a complaint of com- plicity against Chinn. REUTER quotes the words "cowardica" and "treason Chion, with its usual susceptibility to loudly- voiced complaints, is said to have demanded the restoration of the Riesitelini. We would fain offer Japan Punch's advice, in the form of an emphatic "Don't.' One of the oldest authorities on international law gave it as his opinion that a belligerent might, dum fervet opus, continue in neutral waters a chase commenced in open sen. Whether this opinion still holds good or not, the Japanese commander at Chefoo has a better excuse than had the American commander of the Chesapeake in 1863. Abandoning altogether that perhaps weak contention, China has a perfect case for submission it Japan refuses to surrender the vessel thus captured. The President of France, in an arbitration between Great Britain and the United States, established as a principle that a belligerent attacked in neutral waters forfeited his redress against the neutral power if he attempted to defend himself. The Japanese necount is that the Riesitelini was the first to open hostilities at Chefoo.
It is certain that the Russians there had recourse to violence. The Russian repre- sentative at Pekin is therefore out of court. That precedent established by Russia's ally, just quoted, is not so unreasonable as its prima facie appearance seems to suggest. The Riesitelini, in Chefoo, had the option of surrendering to Japan's unlawful seizure, and relying upon subsequent diplomacy to secure its release; or of violating the laws of neutrality by resisting. The minimum count against it is that it elected to try the latter remedy. So it is now a lawful prize. With regard to the sheltering of Russian ships at Shanghai, Tsingtao, and Chefoo, their coutinued abidance there must be sub. ject to disarmament. A French army fleeing from the Germans in 1871 sought sanctuary in Switzerland. They had to disarin. In disarming the Mandjour at Shanghai, Russia has already submitted to the principle. Yet we find the Russian refugees talking quite glibly of trying to get back again to their bases. Very likely, if China finds sufficient barkhone to insist upon their departure or disarmament, as the German authorities have alrealy done at Kiaochao (vide to- day's telegrams), there will be more protests at Pekin. We have now said sufficient, however, t prevent readers from attaching too much importance to the repinings of the Russian Minister.
CANTON RIVER OBSTRUCTIONS.
(Daily Press, 19th August.) Congratulations are in order on the publication of the advertisement in anotber column, over the signature of Mr. R. DE LUCA, the Acting Commissioner of Cudoms ut Canton. Therein will be found adequate indication that a question of great moment to the shipping and commercial interests of the Colony, which has occupied particular attention for about twenty years, is about to be answered satisfactorily. In August 1885, the Hongkong Chamber of Com nørre wrote to our Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, calling attention to the serious loss and in- convenience being caused by the delay of the Chinese Authorities in the removal of the obstructions in the Canton Biver. It was during China's trouble with France that huge stone barriers were dropped into the waterway, preventing ships passing be The Teung-li Yamen's yond Whampoa reply was that it had already ordered their removal, but would repeat its instructions
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