The herald., 1897-12-31
ENGLISH
CRUISERS
Drop Their Anchors OH
Chemulpo
JAPAN PREPARES FOR WAR
AND LOOKS TO GREAT BRITAIN
FOR ASSISTANCE
JAPAN PREPARES FOR WAR
Seizure Of Hai-Nan by France Is
Taken to Indicate Concert of
Action With Russia

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Dec. 31.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Shanghai, dated yes
terday (Thursday) says:
A British fleet Of eight ships and -four
torpedo boats has arrived at Chemulpe
(the port Of SeouD. 1t Is reported that
there are two Japanese cruisers in the
Yang Use Kiang river. Japan Is work.
ing night and day preparing for war. 1t
is believed that the British and Japan
ese fleets are in close touch.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from To-
kio says Marquis Ito is forming a cabi-
net.
According to a dispatch to the same
paper from Nagasaki, dated yesterday
(Thursday), it is believed that Marquis
Ito will aim to maintain peaceful atti-
tude.
The Daily Mail has received a tele-
gram from Hong Kong and from Ton
quin denying the report of French oc-
cupation of the island of Hai-Nan, but
it regards 1t as morally certain that Hai
Nan was occupied about fortnight ago,
when Port Arthur was occupied by the
Russians, the coincidence forcing the
suspicion that France and Russia are
acting in concert.
dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Singapore. dated yesterday (Thursday),
says: The news that the French had
occupied the island of Hal Nan was
brought here from Saigon, capital OF
French Cochin China, on Tuesday, by
the French mail boat Ernest Simon.
Before the latter left Saigon on the 25th
French cruiser arrived there with
either Admiral Bedoliero or letters from
him to the French government of Sal
gon. The Ernest Simon delayed for an
hour at Saigon in order to take the gov
ernment dispatch relating to the hoist
ing-of the flag on Hal Nan to the French
governor.
4 The cause of the delay Yves known only
to q few officers on board the Ernest 81.
mon. but inadvertently the secret was
impaired to French officer here (Sing-
apore), who, not being bound to secrecy,
let the matter out. 1t Is believed that
the French hold the telegraph office at
Hoy Kow (How Kow) and prevent com
munication to Hong Kong. The cable
between Hal Phong (Tonquin) and Sal
gon Is broken and under repair, and
therefore 1t is impossible for Admiral
Bedoliero to telegraph the news of the
seizure to Saigon.
Admiral Bedoliero, with the war
ships Bayards and Descartes, left Hong
Kong on December 11th. He called at
Hai-Phong on December 18th and at
tended the meeting of the defense COM
mittee at Hai-Phong about that date,
when the seizure of the island of Hal
Nan was decided upon.
The Daily Graphic asserts ION au-
thority" that the British squadron was
definitely instructed to assemble off
Chemulpo, to support strong British
expostulation with Corea on the dis
missal Of McLeavy Brown, British su-
perintendent Of Corea customs, who, ur-
der the advice of the British consul, has
twice turned the notice of dismissal
served upon him.
With regard to Port Arthur, the Daily
Graphic asserts that there Is every rea-
son to believe the Russians will adhere
to their pledge to evacuate at the end of
the winter, and there is therefore no
ground for complaint on the part of
England. Neither does the government
regard the occupation Of Kiao Chau as
calling for action because British in
terests are not threatened. According
to the Graphic, both the foreign office
and the admiralty agreed upon the sub
ject.
A letter from Kobe says: Military
maneuvers Of great magnitude were ex-
ecuted in Japan last month for the first
time since the war with China"
RESISTANCE TO RUSSIA
CHICAGO, Dec. SO-A special from
Minneapolis says: Advices from Of
tawa indicate that the British govern
ment is preparing to actively resist Rus
sian occupation Of Port Arthur and Rus
sian influence in Corea; also that the
cooperation Of the Japanese fleet with
that Of Great Britain is we'll settled
fact.
Information has been received from a
reliable source that the Ottawa govern
ment three days ago notified the Cana
dian Pacific officials to be in readiness
for the Immediate transportation from
Montreal to Vancouver and Esquimault
Of $500 men, the contingent consist
ing Of engineers, gunners and deck off,
GERS According to the information at
hand the road had prepared for hand
ling 5000 men, five trains being held in
readiness for this service.
The officers included in the first con-
tingent are intended to reinforce the
Japanese fleet, which is said to be very
short on engineering talent and deficient
in gunnery.
The dispatch adds that a secret agree
ment has been concluded between Great
Britain and Japan by the terms of which
the Russian pretensions In Corea are to
be overcome and Russian aggrandize-
ment in Asia permanently checked.
Captain Ronald Rolfe. r. N. (retired)
on inspection service. just returned from
the West and on his way to Eng
land via New York, says that in his
opinion the force above referred to is
destined to increase the efficiency of the