The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 15, 1904, Page 2

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1904. CALL CORRESPONDENT VIEWS CHEMULPO- BATTLE JAPAN TO APPEAL JAPAN PLANNING || caLLs summary TO TAKE REVENGE Nation Is Deeply Stirred by Ru§sian Cruisers’ Action in Sinking a Merch antman. —_—— TOKIO, Feb. 14Japan is deeply stirred and bitterly resentful over the sinking of the merchant vessel Zensho Maru by four Russian cruisers, which on Thursday attacked the Zensho Maru and her companion, the Nakamura Maru, while they were on their way from Hakata to Otaru, on the island| of Hakkaido. The attack of the Rus- | sians is declared to have been a wan- ton crime, unjustified under any cir- cumstances, even assuming that the Zensho Maru disregarded signals, which | 1s denied. The Foreign Office issued the follow- ing statement regarding the sinking of the Zensho Maru: 5 “Two Japanese merchgnt vessels, the Zensho Maru and the Makamura Maru, tonnage 170 and 700 respectively, while sailing from Hakata for Otaru, were | suddenly attacked by four Russian | cruisers from Viadivostok on February 11 when ten miles off Jansangtu. Fire was opened without any order being given the vessels to surrender. The Nakamura Maru succeeded in escaping. The other vessel was surrounded by the cruisers and sunk. All on board | were either killed or drowned.” It is said the Japanese Government is planning reprisais. Several Russian ships that have been detained in order to prevent reports of the movements ot the Japanese reaching the enemy will now, it is said, be sent to the prize courts and all probably will be con- fiscated. d The presence of Russian squadrons in Northern Japanese waters centers all interest there. The country is iso- lated and it 1s difficult to obtain satis- factory reports from there. RUMOR OF BOMBARDMENT. A varlety Of rumors are stirring Tokio. One says that Matsumaye has been bombarded and another that Jap- anese cruisers have engaged the Rus- sians. The Government has mnot con- firmed anything except the Zensho Msru incident. It is doupted that Matsumaye "has been bombatded, because it is un- defended. It is regarded as probable that the Russian fleet either returned w Viadivostok after completing a | movement planned to divert the Jap- | anese or else passed through the Tsu- gara Straits, moving southward. The: Japanese cruiser squadron is | scouting in the hope of locating the Russian fleet. If the Russians should attempt to effect & junction with the | Port Arthur fleet the Japanese will attempt to block the way and force an engagement. The Japanese Government has de- cided to accept the parole of France for the Russian prisoners captured at Chemulpo, at the time of the sinking of the Variag and Korutz, provided they be sent to Shanghai. Russia en- gages not to let them come north of Shanghai until the end of the war. An exception is made in the case of twenty wounded men aboard the French steamer Pascal. They will be taken to Chefu and placed in a hospital. Baron de Rosen, the Russian Minis- ter, withdrew from the capital at 9 o'clock Thursday night. Lines of mounted police guarded and kept clear the streets from the legation to the Shinbashi station, where the Min- ister entrained. The crowds were not difficult to handle, but were good- naturedly intémt on celebrating the success of the Japanese navy. The | diplomatic staffs and many friends, both Japanese and foreign, assembled at the station and bade Baron de Rosen farewell, with a ceremony somewhat mournful. The police guarded the train and accompanied the Russian Minister and party to Yokohama, where it embarked on the French steamship Yarra, which sailed at 9 o'clock Friday morning. PAVLOFF LEAVES VOLUNTARILY The Japanese Government denies that Pavioff, Russian Minister to Korea, withdrew from Seoul on Fri- day under Japanese pressure, claiming that his withdrawal was entirely vol- untary. It is sald that Pavioff. through the French Minister, inti- mated a desire to leave Seoul and en- trust Russian affairs to the care of the French legation and have placed & French guard around the legation. The Japanese Goverrment acqui- esced in this arrangement and ar- ranged so that when Pavioff left the legation to-day soldiers instead of po- Jice guarded the route to the station, where a special train to Chemulpo was supplied. An officer escorted Pavioff to Pascal. The Japanese fleet was give.. instructions not to interfere with Pavioff’s departure. From Pas- cal Pavioff will go to Chefu. The foregoing disclaimer by Japan indicates that, despite the Korea is largely dominated by the Japanese military force, the Govern- ment has no intention at present of wcsumine territorial on. Wednesday night's celebration over the naval victory at Port Arthur far exceeded that of the day in noisy en- thusiasm. Early in the evening im- promptu processions of thousands of men began to form and paraded through the principal streets and surged about the public buildings and the palace, carrying banners and cheering wildly. The Russian legation was dark and silent. No unfriendly demoastration was made there by the immease crowds constantly passing it. but “aron de Rosen’s associates plain- 1 hcard the din and noi > of “"e tri- umphant people. Bands, drums and horns added volume to the cheers of the noisy populace. Every reveler carried a lantern, flag or transparency. The people have been restrained and calm for so many months that they @re pouring out their long pent-up feelings into a wildly enthusiastic cel- ebration of victory. It was Manila, Ladysmith and Santiago mights du- plicated, with an Oriental setting. —_— RUSSIAN CRUISER ASKOLD GOES DOWN IN THIRTY FATHOMS . Feb. 14.—It is reported that 12,000 Japanese troops were landed at Dove Bay last Wednesday morning and that they were met by the Russians, who engaged them in a hand-to-hand | fight. The report says the Japanese | were driven back. It also is reported that Japanese troops have been landed forty miles farther west. Passengers who have arrived at Port | Arthur say the Russian cruiser Askold was damaged in Tuesday's battle in: % H | rived here for coal. the roads outside of Port Arthur, but was kept afloat until Saturday, when she sank in thirty fathoms. The Russians have explained their reasons for firing on the British steam- ship Fuping and wounding thrée of the Chinese crew. They assert that the vessel was leaving port without clearing. v The British steamship Wanshow is being held by the Russian authorities at Port Arthur for refusing to.deliver Japanese passengers. Captain Gundarsen of the Norwegian collier Bygde has been imprisoned at Port Arthur for four days for having in his possession a chart of the Sing Yang Tan coaling station west of Port Arthur, and showing the chart to the Japanese. The Japanese were arrested with him, but their whereabouts is not known. It is reported that a correspondent has been arrested while attempting to send news by the steamer Chefu, sail- ing for Port Arthur. The captain was allowed to Jeave on agreeing to say nothing about the unconfirmed report that fifty-one Russian sailors had been killed in the engagement on Tuesday. One refugee says he saw seven bodies landed from a disabled cruiser which was in a bad position, with a heavy list, bow down. All foreign steamships that have left Dalny have heard nothing of the Jap- anese fleet or army. There are 200 Japanese still in Port Arthur, it is said, and there is some uneasiness concerning their safety. | Refugees who have arrived here claim that they were thrown into prison and that their money and’ clothing were/ taken. 0 The steamship Chefu arrived here to- day from Port Arthur with a largé number of refugees, mostly Chinese, but a few Europeans. The report of a land fight between Dalny and Port Arthur on Tuesday morning is not con- firmed by those who came from Port Arthur. After the attack on Port Arthur on Tuesday, the Japanese fleet did not return. About thirty shells struck in town. One on Main street broke every window. Others struck on the hills among small houses, one killing a woman and a child. The people are 1anic stricken and are leaving the town by every train. The German flagship Hansa has ar- Her movements are being watched with interest. She left Port Arthur three weeks ago and | has since that time been cruising in the Guilf of Pechili and along the Korean coast. It is also remarked that the German steamer Chefu was given pref- erence over other vessels in leaving Port Arthur. Advices from Dalny, dated Wednesday, stated that every- thing was quiet there. . > ! RUSSIA’S BALTIC SEA FLEET HAS BUT FOUR UP-TO-DATE VESSELS The report from Germany that fif- teen Rusgian warships have started from the Baltic for the Orient is apparently an exaggera- tion. There remain in the Baltic ports only éight battleships, four armored cruisers, seven coast defense ships and two protected cruisers. Of the battle- ships the Alexander III, Borodino, Kniaz Souvaroff and Orel are new ships, launched in 1901-02 and ought to be completéd by this time. They are of 13,600 tons and eighteen knots speed. The Alexander II, the Peter Veliki and the Sissoi Veliki range from 9927 tens to 8880 tons and are deficient in speed and protection. The Navarin, of 10,200 tons, also is out of date. None of the four armored cruis- ers are fit to stand up against the rough usage by Japanese ships, as they are com; tively old, of small size and slow Speed. The coast defense ships range in size from 3462 to 4200 tons, three be- ing built as far back as 1867-68, the others in 1893-94-96. They are rated at about ten knots and would be ut- terly useless in the open sea. The two protected cruisers are the Almax and the Admiral Korniloff. The lattér was built in 1887 and has done many years’ service in Asiatic waters, necessitating her present re- construction, now in progress; and the Almaz, just completed, is of only 2385 tons. Under the most favorable conditions the Baltic relief force would not exceed the four new battleships referred to, with the possibility of the Navarin be- ing added. PN S b WRIGHT CORRECTS HIS REPORT THAT RUSSIAN SHIPS ARE AT MANILA ‘WASHINGTON, ' Feb, 14.—The ad- ministration is somewhat puzzled over the report from Governor Wright that there were seven Russian warships in Manila Bay yesterday. Becretary Taft received a cable message from Gov- ernor Wright yesterday afternoon, which read: “‘Seven Russian warships in the har- bor. Send instructions. Has United States declared neutrality?” Secretary Taft immediately took this message to the White House and a conference with the President and Secretary Hay followed. Secretary Hay was anxious that these warships should get away from Manila before their presence should generally become known, to prevent the danger of a naval battle In the réegion of the Phil- ippines and possibly in waters under the juristiction of the United States. Secretary Taft cabled the full proc- lamation of ‘neutrality to Governor Wright and also sent instructions to the effect that the Russian ships could be allowed to remain at Manila not -| more than twenty-four hours. Last night Secretary Taft received a mesgage from Governor saying: . of Russian warships in har- an error.” Just mc‘v‘afl'll:t“ h(l‘e meaning of Governor ght’s two dispatches neither the of War nor thé President i: able to say. ———— i Laring for Wounded Russians. LONDON, Feb, 14.—The Japanese Jegation here has been informed that thirty-four of the Russian wounded in the fight between the Japanese and Russian fleets at Chemulpo will be laced in the hospital and the nursing me, where they will-be treated by Japanese OF DAY'S WAR NEWS . Reports of a terrific battle with bayonets, in which 12,000 Japanese troops were driven back by Russian soldiers, come from Chefu. ~Attempting to land at Dove or Pigeon Bay, near Port Arthur, on- Wednesday, the Japanese invading force, the dispatches state, was met by the Russians before a foothold had really been gained. The clash was desperate and the bayonet was the arm used by both armies. While details of the battle are meager, late dispatches fully confirm The Call’s special cable, printed on Friday morning, in which it was said that an attempt- ed landing had been made by the Japanese at Pigeon vBay{ ; v Tokio js incensed at the destruction of a merchantman by Russian cruisers, calling the affair a wanton crime and threatening reprisals. Japan has accepted France’s parole for the Russiag prisoners who, fled from the = de- stroyed warships Variag and Korutz at Chemulpo. * 8 < L St. Petershurg officials were thrown into a condition bordering upon consterniation on learning that American naval officers are on board the Japanese fleet at Port Arthur. ; In a special cable to The Call the fall of Port Arthur is declared to be certain, the Japan- ese army and navy working together to that end. A new complication has appeared in the puzzle as to the whereabouts of the Vladivostok squadron, reported torpedoed in Tsugaru Straits, and also said to have bombarded Hakodate and to have sunk a Japanese merchantman. - From Nagasaki comes a report that three of the giant cruisers actually were torpedoed in the Ts port is not yet accepted as authentic. & The Japanese have captured six Norwegian steamships carrying coal to Port Arthur. Chinese regulars have been ordered to defend the frontier of Manchuria. France has issued a proclamation of neutrality. ‘Russian Viceroy Alexieff confi at Chemulpo, Korea. ' A special cablegram to The Call gives the first reliable and vivid description of the engage- ment in Chemulpo harbor, the destruction of the Russian warships Variag and Korutz having been witnessed by its corréspondent aboard the steamship Ajax. Russia is preparing for the possibility of war with Great FIRST AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT "~ OF GREAT NAVAL COMBAT How'the Variag and the Korutz Were Destroyed in Unequal et - Battle With Entire Japanese Fleet. Special lhi:le w The O-.Il‘and New York Herald: Copyright, 1904, by the New York Herald Publishing Company. % NAGASAKI, Feb. 14.—At 4:30 o'clock p. m. February 8, the Japanese war- ships Akashi, Chigoda, Takachiho, Naniva and Mikasa, with seven tor- pedo boats and three transports, en- tered Chemulpo harbor, having on board 2500 men. They began to land troops immediately, in perfect order and under a superb system, and at dawn of February 9 all of the men were billeted safely. The warships then withdrew. At 10 o'clock the Japanese Consul warned British residents that Admiral Uriu, commanding the squadron, had given the Russian senior officer, the captain of the Variag, and the com- mander of the Korutz until noon leave port, failing which he would bé- gin action. D At 11:30 o'clock in the forenoon the Variag and the Korutz steamed away. I proceeded in the steamship Ajax, from which I saw them met by eight Japanese vessels. The first gun was fired at 11:40. The Japanese, scorning the Korutz, concen- trated their fire on the Variag. The latter continually circled around, reply- ing from her sides alternately, but it was apparent that her shooting was not good. On every side her shells went wide. It was observable that the Jap- anese gradually closed, the battleship Mikasa doing most of the firing and damage. At 1:15 p. m. they ceased firing as the Variag re-entered the harbor and took up a position, with the Korutz, among the other warships. One of her boilers was injured and she was on fire astern. The flames were extinguished by flooding the compartment. She re- fused to disclose ‘the number of her casualties. “The Japanese, meanwhile, had with- drawn again, waiting until— (Here the special cable was broken off, but_ it began again as follows:) Four o’clock—My writing was inter- rupted at this moment by a terrific re- port. The Korutz has been blown up by the Russians, whose men can be seen in boats pulling for the Variag, An immense column of smoke arose and then cleared away, ving a sight of Korutz with funnel and mast just above water. The Japanese ashore are wildly cheer- ing. The Variag still remains at anchor. At 5:20 p. m. fire appeared in the after part of the Variag and spread slowly. The Japanese then stopped firing. The Variag heeled over, surely but barely perceptibly, and at 6:05 she sank with a loud rumble. The Russians admit the Korutz fired the first shot, but say it was accidental, no doubt. They made a fine fight against odds. PR N JAPANESE ACCOUNT . OF SINKING OF THE VARIAG AND KORUTZ NAGASAKI, Feb. 14s—The vessels that comprised the Japanese fleet which destroyéd the Variag and Kor- utz were the cruisers Naniva, Taka- chiho, Asahi, Suma and the Asama. The Japanese did not lose a man. A dispatch from Chemulpo gives the following account of the destruction of the Variag and Korutz: % LA The Japanese fleet, commanded by Admiral Uriu on the flagship Adzuma, arrived at noon and sent a wireless telegram to the Japanese cruiser Cki- goda, which was Iying at anchor be- tween the Variag and Korutz to join the fleet outside. The Ru-sians found themselves trapped. Admiral Uriu then signaled, giving the Russians five minutes in which to surréncer. The Russians ignored the demand to sur- rendcr and the Japanese opened fire. A brisk engagement, lasting .two hours, followed. The Russia. vessels, getting the worst of an encounter .in which the odds were overwhelmingly against them, steamed back into the harLor. The Variag, which was badly damaged, listed heavily. ~ Two hours later the Russians at- tempted to break through the Jap- anese flee! which was |encountered four miles from the inner harbor A fierce fight followed. The Russian ves- sels were badly damaged. The Korutz was blown up, pfesumably by its own crew. in order to escape capture.. A portion of the crew was rescued by the Fre.ch and Italian -essels in the har- bor. The Variag tried to escape, but sad enly an explosion occurred and the Variag was seen to sink. Wheth- er she was sunk by a Japanese -hell or by Yer own crew is not known. The United States gurboat Vicks- burg and the British cruieer Talbot witnessed the battle. The survivors of the Variag and the Korutz still remain on board of the British cruiser Talbot, the Italian cruiser Elba and the Fr.nch cruiser Pasc:.l. ‘The situation is becoming acute, as the Japanese have twice made demands on the commanders of the _ree foreign vessels that the Rus- sians be surrendered as prisoners of war. The captain of the Talbot, being the senior naval officer, each time re- plied that he was awaiting _instruc- tions from hisiGovernment. one of € Russians are on board ‘the Ameri- can gunboat Vicksburg, whose * com- ‘mander considers that the Japanese are right in their demand, as the Rus- sian took advantage of the clemency of ‘the Japanese, returning to the har- bor and then taking refuge on the for- eign vessels and refusing to surrender, whereas the Japanese fleet refrained from sinking them in the oren sea as it could have done. A magnificent episode of the battle was the second sortie of the two Rus- sian cruisers. With bands playing the national anthem, the international fleet loudly cheering the bravery and gallantry of the Russians, the Variag and Korutz faced the ent.rc Japanese fleet and certain destruction. The position of the wrecks appears to be such that it will be easy to re- cover the same. The Russian losses were one officer and forty men killed and 464 wounded. RUSSIANS CHEERED BY BRITISH AS THEY 60 FORTH TO FIGHT SEOUL, Friday, Feb. 12.—The fol- lowing account of the battle off Che- mulpo, which resulted in the loss of the Russian cruiser Variag and the gunboat Korutz, has reached here: During the night of February 8 the Japanese landed 1300 men at Che- mulpo and on the morning of the 9th three Japanese cruisers, four gunboats and eight torpedo boat destroyers, under command of Admiral Uriu, ap- proached the harbor, but did not enter. The Korutz and Variag were lying in the harbor. The Japanese Admiral gave them until noon to come out. Both Russian vessels cleared for action. All the shipping in the harbor was notified by A-~iral Uriu to get out of the firing line. There was in the harbor also the British cruiser Talbot, the French cruiser Pascal, the Itallan cruiser Elba and the United States gunboat Vicksburg. All were active. The Variag signaled the Talbot and a boat from the British cruiser went to her. hortly afterward the Variag and rutz got under and steamed out of the harbor. The crew of the English warship cheered them as they went out to fight. < When the Russians were four miles out the Japanese threw a shot across their bows, but they did not stop. The -:nl‘?ea!nen!‘lag; b]e‘tlween hethe islands, ten ou loc] i Py g ng the only entrance When the Russians were six miles from the Japanese fleet heavy firing be- gan on both sides. The Variag turned her broadside loose at 11:55 a. m.. Then the Variag turned at right angles to the westward and steamed a short-distance as if to make the beach, but was seen to suddenly turn again and give the enemy her other broadside. The Japa- nese continued firing until 12:22 o’clock, when the Varlag was seen to be on fire near the stern. The Russian vessels then turned back toward the harbor and ceased firing at 12:42 p. m. The Japanese followed almost to 'the en- trance of the harbor, firing on the Variag, which had a heavy list to port ar:l w_‘u;?I ev&dent‘ly in a llnfl‘l’ll condi- e Korutz w: - touched. i e The Variag lost thirty men and seven officers killed and forty-two wounded. Count Muro was killed on the bridge. s About €00 shots were fired in all, but the firing was not very accurate and the Variag was hit in only six places. One shot which struck her on the waterline amidships wrecked one of her engines, - ‘When the Russians anchored off the ent{:nce mt ttlu harbor the British crulser sent four hospital boats on board with a and nurse. The United gunboat Vicksburg also ugaru Straits. No details are given and the re- rms the report that 19,000 Japanese troops have landed Britain. sent three boats with surgical assist- ance. The Korutz was abandoned at 3:30 p. m,, her crew going on board the Pascal, and at 3:57 p. m. she blew up with a terrific explosion. The Variag was abandcned soon afterward, her officers deeming her situation hopeless. Her dead were left on board. The crew of the Variag went on board the Talbot, the Pascal and the Elba. Some also went to the Vicksburg. The Variag burned until 6 p. m., with frequent explosions, as the flames ig- nited her amunition. She sank, turning over to pprt as she went down. The Russians 'eventually went from the Pascal ‘to the steamship'Sungail. A Russian officer told the captain of the Vicksburg that he had come to ask asylum for one night only. The Japanese casualties are not known, but it is rumored that one tor- pedo-boat destroyer was sunk during the action. NO RUSSIAN WARSHIPS PUT OUT OF ACTION IN PORT ARTHUR FIGHT PARIS, Feb. 15. — The. Journal's Yengchau correspondent, under date of February 12, says: “Russian wires being absolutely for- bllidden, I am obliged to leave Port Ar- thur. ‘‘Monday’s surprise was absolute. The squadron was anchored, only one ves- sel using a searchlight. When firing began the officials and several naval officers thought that only maneuvers were intended, as the Japanese had hugged the coast with lights veiled. “The Cesarevitch, the Retvizan and the Pallada were not destroyed and the two former are floating in port with re- pairable breaches. Complete repairs will be difficult at Port Arthur, but the vessels are utilizable in the roadsted. All three took part in the second en- glaemen(, which took place on Tues- ay. “The population is fleeing from Port Arthur and the authorities are endeav- oring to rid themselves of useless per- sons. Viceroy Alexieff apparently for- sees a long siege. It is certain that Russia is preparing to make a great ef- fort here.” P RS RAIDING CRUISERS ARE EMBARRASSING, JAPANESE COMMERCE YOKOHAMA, Feb. 14.—The four Russian cruisers which sunk the Zen- sho Maru had first appeared in the Taugaru Straits on Feb 11, escorting a transport from Viadivostok. Another steamship, the Nakamura Maru, met ::q R an cruisers, but escaped from em., All traffic between 'Hakodate and Aemeri been suspended, owing to Russian raiders. Great indignation is felt here over the sinking of a com- mercial steamship and it is believed that it is a violation of the interna- tional law of warfare. STEAMSHIP MONGOLIA, ERRONEOUSLY REPORTED SUNK, IS AT DALNY SHANGHAT, Feb. 14.—A private telegram received here says that Vice- roy Alexieff has gone to Harbin, Man- churia, / The Russian mail steamer Mongolia, reported captured by the Japanese, which sailed from Shanghal on Feb- has arrived safely at Dalny. e e Russian Warships in Red Sea. SUEZ, Feb. 14.—A steamship which has just arrived here reports a Rus- sian volunteer fleet cruiser, a battle- ship and four torpedo boats anchored at the island of Jebel Zukup, in the Red Sea, about ninety miles from the Strait of Babel Mandeb, on February 10. The steamship also reports that previously she passed the Russia; transport Smolensk and one torpedo boat, steaming slowly southward. To Cure a Cold in One Day. ruary 7, "| tained at Port Arthur. TO THIS COUNTRY Wants America to Protest Against Rus- sian Detention of the Mikado’s * - Subjects. ‘WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.—Japan will appeal to the United States to prevail on the Russian Government to release the 100 Japanese subjects reported de- Takahira, the Japanese Minister, will, it is expected, present the appeal to Secretary Hay to- morrow. In a cablegram received from Tokio to-day the Minister was informed that, according to news brought to Chefu by 100 Japanese refugees had been taken from the steamship by the Russian authorities just before the vessel salled, in spite of the protest of the Japanese. Having agreed to look out for Jap- anese citizens in Russian territory dur- ing the war, this government will in- struct McCormick, the American Am- bassador in St. Petersburg, to inquire of the Russian Government as to the Japanese in question. A The best naval opinion here is to the' éffect that the detention of these Jap-| anese at Port Arthur is a strategical necessity to prevent the Japanese gain- ing information as to fortifications, troo etc. . An official says: “During the siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian war. Representative Hitt, who was then in charge of the American Legation there, looked after | the large number of Germans who were deta’ -d at Paris by the French Gov- ernment."” Although Ruscia’s answer to Sec- retary Hay's note asking her to respect the neutrality of China and localize hostilities as much as possible, has not yet been received, the State Depart- ment knows indlirectly from London and Paris that Russia will reply favor- ably. It then will remain for the pow- ers to fix the scope of their note and to draft a more definite proposition for acceptance by the two combatants. Satisfaction is expressed by adminis- tration circles that Great Britain as well as Russia has decided to waive objections to the note. It is expected that all the formal agswers to the Sec- a British steamship from Port Arthur,' retary’s note will reach here early this week. R et BELATED TELEGRAMS FAIL TO LOCATE THE VLADIVOSTOK SHIPS LONDON, Feb. 15.—There were a number of belated telegrams reaching London from the Far East last night, but they added little or nothing to what is already known regarding the situation there. The mystery surround- ing the fate or whereabouts of the Vladivostok squadron is still unsolved. The Daily Mall, the Daily Telegraph and other papers publish dispatches from Tokio, Nagasaki and Shanghai re- porting the destruction of three Rus- sian cruisers by mines or torpedoes in the Tsugaro Strait, off Aomori, Japan. The Daily Mail, which at first de- scribed the news as official, later in a telegram says the report still lacks ab- solute confirmation. In the absence of confirmation the reports are not gener- ally credited. A statement that China will maintain neutrality is published in Peking. It is teported from Tientsin that all foreigners and civillans have been or- dered to leave Port Arthur. It is also-reported that the Siberian railroad has been wrecked in six places, covering a distance of seventy miles. The correspondent of the Standard at Tientsin, cabling under date of Febru- ary 11, says the British, American, French, German and Italian Ministers have jointly notified the Rusian and Japanese Ministers that no hostilities will be allowed on Chinese soil other than that of Manchuria. it CHINA EXPLAINS WHY NEUTRALITY BECOMES IMPERATIVE PEKING, Feb. 14—The edict issued by the Goverhment declaring its neu- ‘trality in the Russo-Japanese difficul- ty announces that war between these countries has commenced and says that, sceing that these nations are friendly to China, she must declare her neutrality. Viceroys ‘and Governors are ordered to maintain neutrality and to preserve order and carefully protect missionaries and merchants and for- eign property. The Peking authorities are especially warned against allowing the spread of evil rumors. The im- portance of protecting legations and churches is emphasized and disturbers of the peace are threatened with pun- ishment. Grave offenders will be sen- tenced to immediate decapitation. A separate edict reprimanding the censor who memorializes the throne against the court’s flight says: “War exists between Japan and Rus- sia, not Japan and China. Moreover, Peking and its vicinity are tranquil. Why then should the court leave?” President of the Foreign Officé Na Tung has been appointed to the charge of the gendarmerie and of the Depart- ment of Public Works at Peking, re- placing Prince Su. Private advices from Newchwang state that the mis- sionaries are - congregating" there on account of the grave condition of af- fairs in Manchuria. e SEAENE TURN NIPPON MARU INTO WAR VESSEL FOR JAPAN'S USE Among the passengers on the steam- ship China, which arrived yesterday from the Orient, were a number of of- ficers of the Japanese lners Nippon Maru and Hongkong Maru, which were recently taken off the line between this port and Yokohama and transferred to the Japanese naval service. All the foreign officers attached to the vessels were relieved from service as soon as the two liners reached Japanese waters and their places immediately filled by ernment has appropriated the vessels for its own use the former officers are still under pay of the steamship com- pany and a few taking advantage the prospects of a prolonged war, ol tained permission to ,etnrn to this little brown men. Although the gnv-‘ country. ‘When the m_Maru entered the Japanese har! -Jmfllfi!fi \ ‘In ter- Co.. Buffalo, agents fof'.l'l_n United States. no hailed by a small government boat om which were a Japanese admiral and a captaih, who promptly boarded the vessel and formally announced to the commdnder of the latter that they were there in the name of the Japan- ese government and were prepared to assumé charge of the vessel. Captain Green, apparently having expected the naval officials, acknowledged their authority with the remark: “Gentle- men, she is yours,” and as soon asethe passengers and cargo had been remov- ed, the captain and officers of the Nip- pon and even the members of the crew, irrespective of their nationality, with few exceptions, left the vessel. storekeeper and the chief engineer and his assistants, all Japanese, were re- tained, the first mentioned as the resentative of the steamship com; Hardly had the officers and men de- parted before boats bearing new of- ficers from the navy and a crew of 550 men came alongside of the Nippon and she was soon headed for the naval yards where arrangements had already beem made for overhauling her. The officers’ cabins were hurriedly torn out and re- placed with hammock quarters and the work of renovating begun as the ves- sel started for Yokosuka for her arm- ament. The latter consists of a six-inch gun on her bow and one at her stern and four six-pounders, two on each side. It was later learned that the Nippon Maru was to be used for the members of the Japanese war council, composed of admirals and generals, who will travel from port to port, planning var- jous strategic movements in which the navy and army of the Mikado will par- ticipate. Money was not spared by the govern- ment in hurriedly converting the Nip- pon Maru into a palatial floating es- tablishment for her war representa- tives. The Hongkong Maru was takem over by the government three days be- fore the Nippon Maru and was likewise refitted with the same armament and assigned to the auxiliary division of the fleet as a dispatch boat. Up to the time the China departed from Japan, those who had been eager- ly looking for some outward sign of approaching war, had failed to get the slightest information. “It was generally understood that war was to come,” said one of the re- turning officers of the Nippon Maru last evening, “and the Japanese on all sides were discussing nothing else, yet not one of them could tell you any- thing about the movements of the gov- ernment. Unlike the hurried prepara- tions for war in other countries, there were no gathering of troops in or near the larger settlements and you might travel along the harbor front all day long and not detect a move on the part of the shipping that could be regarded as significant. All the work was being done within the distant naval and army stations and with the greatest secrecy. Many experienced war correspondents, a large number of whom were quarter- ed in the Hotel Metropole at Tokio, agreed that they had never kmown of such a successful system of news cen- soring as was then in effect. They could do nothing but await the sound of the booming of guns which would be their accepted signal of the beginning of hostilities. The censorship even ex- tended to the photograph galleries of the different cities. In every establish- ment of this kind there was stationed a government official, through whose hands every film and plate, présented for development, had to pass and if the officer fancied that the subject of the photograph was in any way likely to be of service to the Russians he promptly signified the fact by destroy=- ing the plate or film. matters until summer, when they hoped, by a great military foree, might at any moment yield to the de- mands of the Japanese in order to es- tablish temporary peace and later in the year, when conditions were more favorable, break off all relations agaim and grab everything in sight.” ——— e — An Important Discovery. Reports have come from New Zeal- and of what is regarded as a most im~ portant bacteriological discovery, made by J. A. Gilruth, who is pathologist in the public health department of that colony. Anthrax has appeared among the cattle of New Zealand, and Mr. Gilruth, during the course of his ex- periments, discovered by chance that an animal ly susceptible to the disease, like a rabbit or guinea will resist the most virulent doses anthrax, provided the germs are mixed with a greater quantity of another species of microbe that, in itself, must be non-pathogenic, or incapable of pro- ducing any disease. A guinea pig or rabbit inoculated with an infinitesimat dose of anthrax culture will sucqumb in from twenty-four to forty-eight h but mixing the anthrax culture with double quantity of innocuous ism, the animal feels no ill ef Mr. Gilruth has further discovered that a certain degree of immunity can be con- ferred by inoculating the animal with the mixed culture.—New York Com- mercial Advertiser. Ly e ————— DOAN’S KIDNEY PILLS. A GREAT RECORD . Scores of representative citizens of San Franeisco are testifying on the fol- lowing subject. Such & record of local endorsement is unequaled in modérn times. This public statement, made by a citizen, is but one of the many that haye preceded it and the hundreds that will follow. Read it: F. M. Tucker, dairy farmer, of 737 Howard street. says: “Trouble with the kidney secretions to me was a fruitful source of annoyance. times nence or stoppage was very marl sometimes the action was too often the a}uunnu too profuse. In addition to this I had backache every now and then. Matters had gone on Mke this for some years, and although I constantly tried to get rid of the cause I was unsucs until I used Doan's Kidney Piils. What 1 saw in an advertisement which induced to take a course of the treatment was true, for the pills acted exactly the my case and a cure was the resul For sale by all dealers, Price §0c. -Milburn N. Fos- sole the name, Doan's, and take