The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-12-19
Peacefully Occupied by the
Russians
CHINA GIVES FULL CONSENT
GERMANY AND JAPAN WERE
XII NOT ASKED
Another Steamer Leaves Kiel With
Men and Arms and Still An
other Will Follow


LONDON. Dec. ia dispatch to the
Standard from Vienna says 1t Is rumored
that the Russians have occupied Port
Arthur. which Is situated at the extrem-
ity Of Kiao Tung peninsula. 1t has prac-
tically been in the hands Of Russia for
some time past. After the Japanese
evacuated the port, after the war with
4 wishing the reconstruction of the docks
and forts which had been destroyed by
the Japanese previous to leaving the
place.
Previous to the war between China and
Japan, Port Arthur was the largest ma
val station possessed by the Chinese,
and was strongly fortified. There were
q naval dockyard, a large refitting basin.
spacious wharves and quays. two docks
Zone 400 feet long) and facilities for re-
. pairing ships of all sizes. The foundries
ana workshops were constructed on the
most approved models and contained the
best modern machinery. Japan was very
anxious to hold Port Arthur, but Russia
STRONGLY objected and would have backed
, up her objections by force.
Russia's great anxiety to possess Port
Arthur is due to the fact that the harbor
Ii free from ice all winter, which is not
the case with Vladivostock, the present
headquarters Of the Russian fleet. 1t Is
proposed to connect Port Arthur with
the Russian railroad now being built
through Manchuria, which in turn will
connect with the great transsiberian
railroad.
CHINA CONSENTS
ST. PETERSBURG Dec. 1S.-It is an
nounced that Russian squadron, under
Rear Admiral Beuono, has entered Port
Arthur on the Chinese coast, with the
entire acquiescence of the Chinese gov
erHment. The squadron intends to re-
main at Port Arthur throughout the
winter. This Is due solely to the need
OF temporary winter station and in
wolves no question of foreign occupa-
ton or hostile occupation, or any in
tention against China, Germany, Japan
or any other power.
GERMAN wARSHIP
KEEL, Dec 1S.-The North German
Lloyd steamer Darmstadt, having on
board half the number of volunteers
bound for China and an immense
amount Of war material, left here today
for the East. The steamer Crefeld will
follow in fortnight with the rest Of
ths volunteers and more war material.
= sag IN THE REICHSTAG
BERLIN, Dec. 1S.-(Copyright. 1879
The past weeks sittings Of the reichstag
were interesting. The government
throughout was on the defensive, and
Herren Bebel, Richter and Lieber and
other oppositionists Haunted the fact in
Prince Hohenlohes face that he had
broken his word to the reichstag in not
Occurring for the workmen the right of
coalition, and in failing to secure the
right of LIBERALIZATION for political
clubs. The chancellors replies were de-
didedly lame.
Another important statement, made
Jointly by Varon Won Thielmann, min
lister OF foreign affairs, and Count Posa-
dowsky, was that Germany was pre-
pairing an autonomous tariff to enable
her to Immediately retaliate upon coun-
tries enacting tariffs unfavorable to
German Industries and commerce. This
announcement was greeted with wild
cheering and expressions Of delight from
all the agrarians and has been accepted
BY the Conservative press.
: On Thursday the government an
nounced that measures were under way
to relieve the distress in Silesia caused
by the flood and to guard against re-
currence Of such disasters. The prin-
cipal features will be the construction
OF five huge accumulation tanks of a
capacity Of S0,000,000 cubic meters in the
mountainous districts, where there are
the rivers Loebo, Zaokar and Quiess,
costing 100000 marks. 1t is proposed
TO utilize the water power thus accumu-
lated for industrial purposes. The dam
age done by the floods during the past
summer in the above named districts
- officially computed at $500, 900 marks.
When dining with Admiral Won Knorr,
the emperor said: China is like an arti-
choke-it has to be eaten bit by Bit"
A German railway official, who was an
eyewitness Of the fact, tells the corres-
pondent here of the Associated Press an
unpublished story Of the czar's journey
from Darmstadt to Coburg in October
last. Information reached Russia
through the secret police Of plot of nj
hiiists studying at German universities
to wreck the cars train, and most ex-
traordinary precautions were taken to
protect his majesty. The train travelled
only from seven to twenty-one kilo-
meters per hour, instead of eighty, and
the whole trip consumed twelve hours.
Twenty Cossacks of the bOdyguard.
with rifles and revolvers, constantly pa
trOIed the QqnpWavs of tho train arI