The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24

See II Russian WaTehtpS Are Ihere-Eng-
land and Japan Working in HsrmognG
L~tter's Squadron "a. Winter Mt wei.HA
Wei-France Ready to Follow Suitin Sci
Ing Chinese Ports-Partitiou of Chinf
Coast Predicted
Berlin, December 20.-The Paris cor
respondent Of The Cologne Gazette tel
egrapls that he learns on reliable au-
thority that the Russian occupation OF
Port Arthur was connected with the
visit there Of the British warship
Daphne. a week ago when, In spite OF
the protests OF the Chinese the Daphne
entered the inner har5or, sllegedly 10
ascertain whether there were Russian
ships there. China complained OF the
incident TO the representatives Of the
powers al Pekin. The British f~ar-east-
ern squadron is said 10 be al Talic-
moan, and. according to- the CORE
spondent quoted, is shortly expected CT
Port Arthur.
The Cologne Gazette regards the oc-
cupation as merely a continuance OF
the cooperation Of Germany with Rus
sian in eastern Asia.
London, December 20.-An uncon-
firmed report is current here that part
of the British ~for-eastern squadron
Will be stationed at Wei-Hai-Wei this
winter. If true, his indicates that
Great Britain is working in harmony
with Japan. The latter power still oc-
cupies Wei-Hai-Wei. pending payment
of he Chinese var indemnity.
The evening newspapers are much
disturbed over the situation. What
do We get?" is the burden of their COM
plant and they all insist upon the
necessity for immediate action.
The Globe says: Russia and Ger
many now have the two most impor-
tant strategical positions in northern
China, n Great Britain. whose COM
mercial interests are ten times greater
u he content with the crumbs from
the st. Petersburg and Berlin tables
The Pail Mall Gazette echoes The
Standards inquiry as to Americas at
titude and says: "Of course the parti-
ton of the coast, which is bound to
come, will not be confined to Russia
and Germany. Every naval state in
the world is actively concerned in the
disturbance of the equilibrium in the
far east, Great Britain, France and
Japan especially. But the United
States canno be treated as a quantity
to be ignored. The tame acquiescence
with these seizures is not worthy of
our past and is fatal to our future. We
may remark that we shall not be with
out sympathiZers. as the japanese will
most jOyfully back any scheme to re-
dress the bitter humiliation they have
suffered at the hand of Russia"
Advices received here from Paris
show that France is awaiting Great
Britain's action. If Great Britain fol-
lows the lead of Russia and Germany
and occupies a seaport, France will
forthwith follow suit.
The officials Of the Chinese embassy
here do not conceal the belief that the
powers are intending to seize Chinese
ports. They discredit the report that
Great Britain has been required to
assume a protectorate owe the Yang
Use valley and the West river, saying
they have no information on the sub
ject and would know If the rumor was
true.
Sir Halliday Mccartney, the English
secretary of the Chinese embassy, was
asked today if Russia's possession of
l. 4 E1I ClluI "OuIO nc tcIIfDOl dIy III
replied that this plea was usually made
a preteXt for occupation.
st. Petersburg, December 20.-The
Novosti declares the occupation of
Port Arthur has nothing political be-
hind it, adding: 1T must be a matter
of indifference to the powers who are
not planning seizures of Chinese ter
ritory as to which point the Russian
squadron chooses for it's winter sta
tion.'
Yokohama, December 20.-Russia
has notified Japan Of the temporary oc-
cupation of Port Arthur and a large
japanese squadron has left Nagasaki.
Berlin, December 20.-The rumor is
current here that the British East
Asiatic squadron has been ordered to
said for Quelpaert island at the en-
trance of the Yellow sea, presumably
to occupy it. The tone of the German
press is favorable to some such action
on the part of Great Britain.
Quelpeart island which is SIXTY miles
south of COrea, is forty-five miles long
and twelve miles broad. 1t is subordi-
nate to Corea and has been used as a
penal settlement.