OCR Text |
Show RUSSIANS SINK AMERICAN VESSEL Washington. Confirmation has been received hero from Shanghai of tho press report that tho Russian warships havo sunk an unknown American ship off tho Chinese coast. In tho absence of any Information whatover regarding tho reported sink-'ing sink-'ing of an American steamer by Vice Admiral Rojestvensky, officials in Washington profess a disinclination to discuss publicly any International aspects' tho caso may .havo. ' Much depends on the action of tho vessel whoa sho was halted, wjiether tho cargo sho carried was contraband, and on other matters. If tho vessel refused to stop whon tho Russians ordered or-dered it to, tho latter, according to the view here, in tho exerciso of their rights under tho existing war conditions, condi-tions, had a right to sink her on tho spot, i Many American as well as vessels ves-sels of other nationalities aro asserted to bo carrying contraband of war in tho far cast, and if tho vessel sunk was doing tills sho was Hablo to seizure seiz-ure under thoUaw as to prizes, and to bo disposed of according to tho rules of war. |