The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-30
War Vessels and Soldiers From
GarriSons Returned to Eng
liSh Waters.
CONCENTRATION AT FooCHoW
Rumors That These Moves Are Con
nected With RusSia'S Acts in
the Far East.


cial order which was received from the
British War Department to-day has caused
no end of comment in diplomatic circles.
The order in question is for the recall of
half of the garrison now in Canada and
the return to English waters of several of
the largest vessels of the North American
squadrons. While even officials in high
circles are unable to give any explanation
for the peremptory order, it is thought to
have an immense bearing on the troubles
which are brewing in the East, and that it
is in order to have all the forces possible
concentrated to start at moment s
notice. That the troops have been
recalled as soon as the ruEhored action of
Russia in the East was made known to the
War Department, and that they ordered
the Canadian office to have the troops
ready for recall, and the dispatch with
which the first order has been followed by
the more peremptorv one is viewed as hav-
ing only one significance-great proba bility
of an Eastern war.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, Oct 29-
A dispatch to the Novoe Vremva from
Vladivostock says that a British naval
squadron has concentrated at Foochow.
The paper says that Great Britain is
zealousiy seeking pretext to declare war
against China, in order to counteract Rus
sia's successes and restore her shattered
prestige in the Pacific
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 29.-Wong
Chi Chuan, who is accredited with having
10 Dat
treaty giving to Russia the right to carry
the Siberian railroad through Manchuria
to Port Arthur. is described here as being
high in the favor of the ruling authorities in
China. He is between fifty and sixty years
of age. His last office was that of Provin-
cial of Heutch, a dignitary only second in
importance to that of Viceroy, which is
the rank of the great Ii Hung Chang, who
negotiated the recent treaty of peace at
Shimonoseki. The osten sible purpose of
his trip to Russia was to congratulate the
new Gar and to tender to him the pres
sents given by the Chinese Government in
return for those sent by Russia to the
Chinese Dowager Empress some months
ago.
Nothing Is known here as to the secret
treaty which Wong Chi Chuan is said to
have carried. He is now again in Peking
awaiting promotion, which it is believed
will be fully in keeping with the important
character of his recent mission, which he
is understood to have so successfully per-
formed.
LONDON, Eng, Oct. 29-It is stated at
the Russian embassy in this city that a
telegram was received some days ago from
Prince Lobanoff Rostovski, the Russian
Foreign Minister, declaring that the report
that a secret treaty had been concluded be-
tween Russia and China is unfounded.
The sole object of Wong Chi Chuan's visit
TO st. Petersburg, SO far as the embassy IS
aware, was to congratulate the Gear upon
his accession to the throne.
The embassy knows nothing whatever
of Wong Chi Chuan being the bearer of
secret treaty on that occasion, and is
equally ignorant of any steps being taken
by Russia to build q railway in Chinese
territory. The Siberian railway has now
reached Omsk, and there has been no pro-
ject hitherto to extend it to Tsitsihar.
The railway from Vladivostock is laid in
q northerly direction to Lake BakaI, so as
to join the Omsk railway, and does not
touch Chinese territory. The officials at
the embassy further stated that they are
not aware that Russia claims any right of
anchorage at Port Arthur for her vessels
beyond what was conceded to the other
powers. The statement is incorrect that
Russian squadron or any part of Rus
sian squadron will be permanently sta
toned at Port Arthur.
Nothing is known at the embassy of the
speech attributed to the Governor of East
ern Siberia in which he was made to say
that VIadivostock must remain the Rus
sian headquarters, although part of the
fleet would be at Port Arthur. 1t could
only be said that he would have nothing
to do with the Governments policy in
such matters. In conclusion denial was
entered of all the reports current in the
past few days regarding Russia's action in
the East. The origin of the reports, the
officials declared, they were unable to ex-
plain.
1t is remarked in other well-informed
quarters that Japan is still occupying Port
Arthur, and that the Russians could be
there with Japanese permission.
A dispatch to the Globe from Hongkoug
of to-day's date says Wong Chi Chuan was
appointed last fall to go on special mis-
sion to Russia, ostensibly to congratulate
the new Gear Nicholas upon his accession,
but really to convey secret treaty conced-
ing the right to carry the Siberian railway
through Manchuria and construct a branch
railway from Tsitsikar, Moukden, to Via
livestock.
The dispatch in other respects confirms
the Times Hongkong dispatch of October
25, asserting the existence of treaty be-
tween Russia and China, giving especial
military and commercial advantages to
the former, and adds that Russian feet
OF fourteen vessels arrived at Port Arthur
yesterday.
BERLIN, GERMANY, Oct. 29.-A dispatch |
from st. Petersburg to the Cologne Ga
Zette saws that nfficnrs ,uhn a-a Gnannial |