Evening journal., 1897-12-31
JAPS HARD AT WORK
Preparations For War Now
Being Rapidly Pushed.
BRITISH FLEET IS At CHEMULPO.
Details of the Occupation Of Hainan by
the French, as Told In a Dis
patch From Singapore to
London Paper.

LONDON. Dec. 91.--A dispatch to The
Daily Mail from Shanghai says: "A
British fleet of eight cruisers and four
torpedo boats has arrived at Chemulpo,
the port of Seoul 1t is reported that
there are two japanese cruisers in the
Yangtse Kiang river. Japan is work.
ing night and day preparing for war
II is believed that the British and
japanese fleets are in close touch"
The same paper has received tele-
grams from HonglSong and Tonquin de-
nying the French occupation of the is
land OF Hainan. but it regards it as
morally certain that Hainan was oc-
cupied about a fortnight ago when
Port Arthur was occupied by the Rus
slams the coincidence forcing the sus-
picion that France and Russia were
acting in concert
A dispatch to The Daily Mail from
Singapore says: "The news that the
French had occupied the island Of Hal
nan was brought here from Saigon, cap
ital of French Cochin China, on Tues
day by the French mailboat Ernest
Simon. Before the latter left Saigon,
on the 25th. a French cruiser arrived
there with either Admiral Bedolliere or
letters from him to the French governor
Of Saigon. The Ernest Simon delayed
for an hour at Saigon In order TO take
the governors dispatch relating to the
hoisting of the flag on the island Of
Hainan to the French governor.
The cause of the delay was known
only TO a few officials on board the
Ernest Simon, but inadvertently the Sc
cret was impaired to a French officer
here (Singapore), who, not being bound
TO secrecy, let the matter out. 1t is be-
lieved that the French hold the tele-
graph Office at Hoi Kow and prevent
communication to Hongkong. The ca
BILE between Hal Phong tTonquin) and
Saigon is broken and under repair and
therefore itwas impossible for Admiral
Bedolliere to telegraph the news of the
seizure TO Saigon.
Admiral Bedoliere, with the war
ships Bayard and Dcscartes. left Hong
kong on Dec. II. He called at Hal
Phong on Dec. Is and attended the
meeting Of the defense committee at
Hal Phong about that date, when the
seizure of the island Of Hainan was
decided upon"
A dispatch from Toxic says the Mar
quis Ito IS forming a cabinet. Accord
ing to a dispatch from Nagasah it Is
believed that Marquis Ito will aim to
maintain a peaceful attitude.
The Daily Graphic asserts ION au-
thority" that the British squadron was
| definitely instructed to assemble off
| Chemulpo TO support a strong British
expostulation with Korea on the dis
missal of Mr.. McLeavy Brown, British
| superintendent of Korean customs
who, under the advice of the British
consul, has twice returned the notice OF
dismissal served upon him.
With regard TO Port Arthur, The
Daily Graphic asserts there is every
reason to believe the Russians win ad
here to their pledge to evacuate at th'
end of the winter, and there is. there
fore, no ground for complaint on .th'
| part Of England. Neither does the gov
ernment regard the occupation OF kia'
Chau as calling for action, becaus'
British interests are not threatened
According to The Daily Graphic botl
the foreign office and the admiralty ar
agreed upon this point.