Show JAPANESE MERCHANT SUNK BY RUSSIA china proclaims Neutrality Russia asked to explain detention of american wa vessel yokohama feb 13 it Is reported here that the russian warships groom russia bogatyr the japanese merchant bleamer ako wara maru orf on february uth london feb 13 official advises advices from boklo to the japanese legation say that in addition to M the russian minister te of the lag alon and the russian legation guard all the russians at seoul left the korean capital on the same train yesterday bound tor china via guarded by japanese troops boklo feb 13 the chinese government yesterday proclaimed the neutrality of china during the war between russia and japan berlin feb 13 tho imperial chancellor von buelow in tho ger the governments official organ today issued the following proclamation in consequence ot tho official declaration la of war between the imperial government of russia and tho imperial government 0 japan it becomes the duty of every one in tho german empire and colonies and also of germans residing abroad to observe in all their relations tho strictest neutrality details of prohibitions contained in the british and some other declarations of neutrality arft omitted the officers of alie crown are charged to see that neutrality Is enforced T t yokohama feb ls tho russian diplomatic and consular staffs embarked hero yesterday on their return home london feb jhc thc owners of the british steamer boilon hall from harry dec 11 dortort for Tort arthur coal laden have been advised that the vessel has been detain edby the russian at port arthur russian soldiers have b placed on and her british captain and crew have been sent to che foo ittis reported that several other neutral vessels aro detained at port arthur washington feb 13 the state dc apartment part ment has instructed ambassador Me Cormick russian government for an explanation of the conci detention in the harbor of port arthurton Of tha american steamer Pk lades conveyed a cargo ot flour to that place from honolulu bo fore the outbreak of hostilities the phlp is owned by the boston towboat company by some officials here the opinion is expressed that the detaining of the ship Is not a violation of international law provided ila adequate demurrage Is paid to the owners of the vessel it is assumed th atthe vessel Is detained tor purposes and officers think her departure at this time might enable the japanese to learn important facts about affairs at port arthur boklo 12 on the occasion yesterday of the anniversary of the accession of the emperor founder of the dynasty a banquet was given by the emperor at the imperial palace and his majesty addressed his guests aa follows upon the occasion of this memorable anniversary it gives me great pleasure to entertain the foreign rep ministers officers and other distinguished persons it Is indeed with that the clances beyond our control compel vs to sever peaceful relations with a neighboring we however arc pleased to our relations are dally increasing in cordiality with the powers represented here and that we desire most earnestly to draw these relations still closer we propose the health and happl nabs of tho of these pow new york feb 13 possible action by germany Is regarded here aa a factor in the far eastern situation and Is causing some apprehension cables the london correspondent of the herald the st petersburg correspondent of the dally telegraph already quoted as having cabled that he had information on unimpeachable authority tor stating that it the fortunes adverse to russia a diversion of war prove which may lead to far reaching results is confidently expected from germay further says already proposals aro airmen to haye bucit made by uie chief of that state which it accepted will considerably complicate matters the german government will pup port russia diplomatically in any ac alon taking to bring the alleged evacuation t wet hat wei before the hague resolution Is to fixed germanas germanys Germ anys win back the friendship of russia the dispatch concludes but tho pro sala which have emanated from ber po alln are and concrete and it accepted are likely to interest europe more keenly in the far eastern war |