RUSSIAN MENACE TO BRITISH VESSELS AT YOKOHAMA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 46, 22 July 1885, Page 4

RUSSIAN MENACE TO BRITISH VESSELS AT YOKOHAMA.

The English community, anrTwe may say the foreign public generally, were thrown into a considerable state of excitement on the 6th May when it transpired that an unprovoked insult had been given to the English flag here by Admiral Crown, the Russian Comnaander-in-Chief m these waters. In the raornin», early, a portion of the English squadron on this coast, consisting of the Agamemon, Sapphirp, and Swift, entered the^har.bour. As the former steamed round to her anchorage, passing outside the Russian flagship, the latter beat to quarters, the guns were run out and pointed at the Agamemnon, and were actually trained on her until «lie anchored, following her luo^ciiionts throMghout, while the Y/hiteJio;! I torpedoes wore also m their .tiil'Od s.;id re;idy t-> dinehurgG. As rjonn jis ilio ViS.-^!^ :in<-'hored, tho oustomuvy pro forum ■.-sal'iiua an;] eoiirltisias were gono through, and Captain' Long, aB senior o^icer, snbßeqnently waited on the Russian Admiral, with the object

of informally asking an explanation. It is said that Hear- Admiral Crown oxpressed displeasure at his ships being followed by the English, considering it to bo a threat, and he had beat to quarters as a monance to the British vessels. But wo helieve he actually did more than this, for, although anchored m a Japanese port, he said that he did not regard it as a nautral one, nor did ho acknowleae any post as a neutral one, where there was not sufficient strength to enforco neutrality. In view of the excited feelings between the crews, Captain Long, having taken m a supply oE coal, left for Yokosnka the sanio evening, Admiral Crown made some slight attempt to make amends for the error he had committed m the morning, when the ships went out last night. The Sapphire was the first to get under Aveigh, follower! by the Swift, and steamed towards the lightship, until signals to stop were made by tho senior officer. The Agamemnon then passed slowly along the port side of the Vladimir Monomach r As the English ship passed the Russian, the band of the latter stationed on the poop played " God Save the Queen," whilst the crew stood bareheaded. The band of the English ship responded with " Auld Lang Syne." The Japanese ram Tsukushi Kan suddenly arrived m the harbour on the morning of the 9th, and anchored under the bows of the E-issian Admiral's ship. An interview betweeu tho commanding officers took place, at which Admiral Crown, persumably, gave assurance that he would respect Japanese neutrality, afterwhich the Tsnkushi Kan took up a slightly loss belligerent position, but one m which he always got the Vladimir .Mondmach covered by her twenty-live ton guns.— Japan Herald. The Japan Mail, referring to the occurrence, says :— lt was a moment of intense excitement, for there can bs little doubt that, had so much as a rifle-shot been fired from the Russian ship, the Agamemnon would have rammed her. In armour and armament alike, the advantage was all on the side of the English vessel, and, when it is further considered that she was under weigh, while the Vladimir, was lying at anchor, however much one may admire the pluck of the Russians, one cannot but marvel at their foolhardiness. /We belive that official representations were made on the subject, but m the meanwhile, it was that, should the English and Russian sailors meet ashore after such an onto-, ward introduction. A collision could scarcely be avoided. Acting, therefore, under the prudent advice of Her British Majesty's Minister, Captain Long took the Agamemnon down to Yokosuka, whether he was followed by the Sapphire and the Swift.