The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-04-01
WAR CLOUD LOWERING
OVER The FAR EAST
Clash Of Arms Between Russia and Japan is De.
Clared TO be Imminent
Great Britain Intensely Interested in the Military Activity
Turkey is Menaced.

Copyright 1900, by the Associated Press)
London, March 51-Russian activity
has been the international factor OF the
week and diplomatic functionaries att
tached TO the court of St. James are
asking themselves. What does it all
mean and where will it end?"
The Russian ambassador smiles
blandly ard assures his dear friends
that it means nothing, absolutely
nothing" but just the same specula-
ton is acute. There are many men of
fair standing and a tolerable knowledge
Of internal Inducements who are
willing to say that war between Russia
and japan has now come within meas
urable distance. OF these Henry Nor
man, who has just returned from a trip
to Russia, is one. But the Associated
Press learns that no such view is taken
by the British foreign Office which.
during the recent troublous times. has
sized up the international situation
with wonderful correctness.
The next few weeks may, perhaps.
bring up a tremendous war scare. IL
the salient fact remains that Japan is
not ready for hOStilities- Alarming tel
egrams from the far east may increase
and multiply and Korea may seem TO
be on the verge of annexation by Rus
STA, but the calm of Downing street is
not likely to be disturbed.
Affairs in Korea
Korean matters have been arranged
by treaty and Lord Salisbury does not
believe that Russia intends to break the
treaties. though her relations with
Japan may become strained to a serious
point If all this rumpus in the far
east had been postponed for another
year, there is scarcely any doubt that
war would be a serious probability. but
those having any intimate knoWledee
OF Japan's far-reaehing naval projects
and her recent state Of incompleteness
do not hesitate to say that Japan is not
going to risk anything until her plans
are matured.
japanese naval maneuvers in the
coming fall are to be carried out on an
unprecedented scale, and will partake
more Of the nature of a demonstra-
ton than of peaceful evolutions. Forty
or more war vessels are expected TO be
present in japanese waters. The moral
effect of such an aggregation upon far
eastern questions is causing no little
comment.
AS lar as Great Britain IS concerned
Russia's military. rather than naval ac-
tivity, is chiefly interesting, though the
press is not yet allowed to take I'D its
cue in this matter. The foreign offic 4
while only family interested in Korea,
being sure that no serious trouble Will
result there, is devOting careful in
vestigatiOn to the warlike preparations
occurring in South Russia.
Turkey Being Menaced.
There seems no longer to be any
doubt that Turkey for her hardness to
meet the Russian demands regarding
railway concessions is being menaced
by her northern neighbOr; and many
signs point to the fact that Russia in
tends to settle herself in the northeast
of Asia Minor unless Turkey gives in.
Already a quarter Of a million Of Rus
sian troops are maintained on those
borders. while the Black sea squadron
is ready for business at a moment s
notice.
To what extent British moral assist
ance can be given to Turkey in with
standing the Russian demands is e
question which at the present moment
is occupying Lord SaIisbury's attention
TO an even greater extent than the
South African war. IN view of tn
troubles of Great Britain in South AT
RIGA, it is more than probable that Tur
key will meet the demands and that