Japanese navy trying to prevent coal-bunkering by Russian warships near the Saddle Islands acccording to the Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 16 August 1904

An item reported that a small Japanese squadron was patrolling to prevent that colliers coming from Tsingtao [then theGerman leased Kiautschou Bay Leased Territory, nowadays Qingdao, China] and Peking would provide the Russian ships near the Saddle islands east of Shanghai with coal.

Note

1. Russo-Japanese War 8 February 1904-5 September 1905