Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-08-27
Rumors Of War Declarations
and Refutations.
DIPLOMATS TAKE 40 STOCK.
Russia, Germany and Japan Said To BE
In a Fighting Mood and Want the
United states and England To Retire
From the scene of Action.

the Ghlnese troops and Boxers
who modified at Nan Yuen were
about to attack the foreign forces
at Picking. Japanese and Russian
cavalry were expected to encoun-
ter them on the Goth. The Chi
nese infantry, some 5000 etrong.
with Is guns, are advancing north-
ward from Shang- Tung to make a
rear attack on allies.
Washington. Aug 81 Russia. Ger
many and Japan have not declared
war upon China. either separately or
In concert. This statement is made
upon authority of the highest charac-
| ter.
What these nations may do within
the next 4s hours or within the next
fortnight is q question which no one
In Washington is prepared to answer
A brief dispatch from Che Foo. con
veying a rumor there that Russia.
Germany and Japan had joined in a
declaration Of war upon China aroused
some interested comment among
Washington officials and among q .plo.
matte representatives of foreign gov.
ernments resident here.
In neither Official aor diplomatic
circles. however. was the rumor taken
seriously. No information OF such ac-
ton has reached either the depart.
| ment Of state or the legations Of the
governments primarily interested.
That fact alone is accepted III official
circles as Il sufficient refutation of
the rualor
Another telegraphic dispatch. dated
Taku. Aug. %. states that as the Chi
nese troops and Boxers which had
gathered at Nan Yuen were about to
attack the foreign forces at Picking,
Japanese and Russian cavalry were
expected to encounter them on the
goth. The dispatch further states that
Chinese infantry, some 5000 strong,
with Is guns were advancing north.
ward from Shan Tung to make a rear
attack ON the allies.
A copy of the dispatch was trans
mitted to Acting Secretary Adee at
the department of state. and by him
furnished to the president While the
news of a possible rear attack upon
the comparatively small force of the
allies was not received with surprise.
it generally was not regarded as seri-
Gus. as the foreign forces are believed
to be abundantly able to take care of
themselves against any force of Chi
nese likely to be sent against them.
In the absence of official information
from China or from United States Off
GERS there interest today centered in
the diplomatic phases of the existing
trouble. The rumor of a declaration
of war by Russia. it is explained may
have grown out of the operations of
the troops of the ear In the protection
of the southeastern frontier of his en-
pire. or it may have arisen from the
reported statement of the commander
of the Russian forces at Picking that
his government was at war with
China, and, therefore he must pro-
hibit communication with the Chinese
Neither the operations of Russia on
her frontier nor the prohibition by Il
Russian general of communication
with the Chinese would constitute. it
is said. Il declaration of war by Rus
STA. No general, by mere dictum
could declare war Even his state
ment that his government had de-
clared war would not make it so.
A declaration Of war. it is pointed
out by the best authorities. is a per-
fectly distinct and obvious proceeding
In this country declaration of war
may be made only by congress.
Only once in the present century
has such a declaration been made
namely. in 1912 against Great Britain
War may exist actually between the
United States and another country.
as was the case between this country
and Mexico. without action by con
gress The Mexican war had pro-
crossed II months before action was
taken by congress. Troops of the
United States had invaded Mexico
and several important battles had been
fought before congress. to insure the
legality of the contest and TO protect
the rights of the United States as a
possible conqueror, declared that
state of war had existed from date
IA months prior to the action of con-
gress. Congress did not declare war
against Spain. 1t simply declared
that a state of war existed from q
specified time. Among European ma
ltcHS the tlltluDO VI bloStuuTt Is SlIii-
pie, but quite obvious. War is declar-
ed by them by edict or proclamation
1t may be declaration OF war or it
may be the official recognition that
state of war exists. In either event the
news of such action would be publish
ed to the world Immediately Diplo.
matte representatives of the power
making the declaration would be mott
fed instantly, in order that they
might communicate the information to
the governments of the countries to
which they were accredited The infor-
nation, too. would be- conveyed at
once to the nation against which the
declaration was made. In turn, this
nation would notify its diplouatic rep.
resentatives abroad that they might
govern themselves accordingly. With
in three hours after the official decla.
ration of congress that the United
States was at war with the kingdom of
Spain the Spanish government had on
the wires an identical note to all gov