Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-17
THREATEN TO FIRE ON SHIPS
Almost n Rupture Between Russia
and Japan ut Fort
Arthur.

| VICTORIA, d. c., Nov. 16.-According tc
advices from the Orient brought by the
| steamship Empress of China the difficulty
arising out Of the Masampo affair is evil
IDENTIFY far from adjustment. As Masampc
lies in a commanding position between Flu
| san and Tsushima and as 1t is of immense
! Importance from a strategical point of view,
| Russia is anxious to gain possession of 1t
! 10 use as a naval base connecting Vladivos-
tok and Port Arthur.
Prior to this Masampo affair, however 1t
was said that difficulties which might cause
war between Russia and Japan existed, and
many southerners living in Port Arthur and
Che Foo hastily removed to Shanghai for
safety.
| The story is now told of almost breach
on an occasion when two japanese cruisers
in the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li unexpectedly ap-
pcared before Port Arthur. The Russian
signal officers at the outer station signaled
| that the port was closed to foreign ships of
war. Disregarding or misunderstanding this
signal, however, the two Japanese cruisers
steamed straight into the harbor They
were intercepted, however, by a Russian
steam launch, having on board an official
who warned the Japanese captains that the
forts would fire on the cruisers If they
were not Immediately withdrawn.
This advice was taken, it is said, by the
Japanese commander, but with very bad
grace.
G. p. Greathouse, who was consul general
of the United States to Kangawa, Japan,
from 1886 to 1883, died at Seoul october 81.
At the time of his death Mr.. Greathouse was
adviser to the Corean government, a posi-
tion he had held without interruption during
his ten years residence in Corea. The en-
| all
and ordered an escort of 200 soldiers to at
tend the obsequies. Mr.. Greathouse was
the author of a book on Corean folklore.
The Empress of China brings the follow
ing Oriental advices:
Stories are current respecting the display
OF French jealouses in South China. The
Hong Kong correspondent of the Courier
dHaiphong d mentions piracy prevailing in
the Canton delta and goes on to say that the
English who never miss good opportunity,
have made this state of affairs a pretext for
sending gunboat up the West river
The same paper says that the English
wish to police Kwang Tung and Kwangsi for
their exclusive profit, as was done in Egypt,
and advises the French government to take
all necessary measures in order that they
may not operate alone. 1t is reported at
Hong Kong that the French consuls there
and at Canton have urgently requested the
dispatch of gunboat from Saigon.
Elaborate experiments in wireless teleg-
raphy have recently been conducted by the
Japanese government. Successful results
have invariably obtained and the various
communication companies have put the sys-
tenn into permanent operation between
Obidso Point and Mikami island, distance
of nine miles
1t is evident from the tone of Japan and
China newspapers that the relations be-
tween Russia and Japan are far from ami
cable official statements to the contrary not
withstanding. An indication is the state
ment emanating from Shanghai that the
Russian government has protested to the
dents being sent to Japan, also against the
engagement OF Mr.. Yano as adviser to the
Chinese government, and against Japanese
officers being engaged to train the Chinese
army.
The latest development just prior to the
sailing of the Empress is the report that a
Russian war ship arrived at Masampo to
enforce Russian demands. A conservative
statement. that of the Chinese Gazette, fol-
lows: 1.-THE Nippon observes Russia's pro-
ceedings in Corea with considerable uneasi-
ness Concessions secured In connection
with whale fisheries, acquisition of lease of
Ulung island, purchase OF land at Fusan
and apparently determined attempts to pro-
cure property at Masampo, all these incl
dents constitute in our contemporary's opin-
ion, valid evidence that the great northern
power Is pushing for another port in south