The age-herald., 1900-01-28
TROUBLE BETWEEN
 RUSSIA AND JAPAN Departure of Japanese BattleshipS
 Causes Excitement. JAPAN IS GETTING READY It May be She is Only Making a
 Demonstration. 4 POWERFUL FLEET BEING BUILT Shikisima is the Largest Vessel Which Has Ever Attempted to Traverse
 the Suez Canal-The Trip
 Planned Long Ago
JAPAN IS GETTING READY
\ POWERFUL FLEET BEING BUILT

London January 27.-Some of the after noon papers associate the departure today of the new battleship Shikisima with prob able complications in regard to the situa- ton dn China, and particularly as it Is an- nounced the Shikisima will endeayor to traverse the Suez canal by divesting herself of her armament.
 Up to the present time no ship of such size has traversed the canal
 The interpretation that the depar rture of the Shikisima was directely due to the situ- ation in China is incorrect, as the Associat- ed Press learns today that the date set for the sailing was decided on many weeks ago. and farewell party was held on board of her previous to the deposition of the Elm peror of China. But though this incident was given exaggerated importance in the afternoon newspapers the Associated Press is able to say that those in England most cognizant of the secret aims of Japan es- pecially those who are fulfilling her naval contracts, have for some time past thor oughly believed she meditated striking a blow at Russia If this impression is cor rect, and there is the highest and most conservative authority on which to base 1t, 1t is not unlikely that Japans hands may be forced, and that her intended coup will be attempted before her plans are Acom- pleted.
 It may be that Japan only meditates for the present a demonstration to prevent Russia from accomplishing the designs which various correspondents have credited her with since the change dn China's em- pire. Two powerful war vessels, built for JanaO n hsa 1yx7a urid l,. sail, while others are in the course of rapid construction. Their strength has not at- tracted much attention, but their impor- tance as international factors can be judg- ed from a statement made to a representa- tive of the Associated Press by one of Eng lands greatest shipbuilders, who declared the vessels building for Japan were the most powerful in the world and could de- stroy the best British ships in fifteen min- utes.
 Several of Japan's vessels in course of construction would have been completed before now had not Japan encountered financial difficulties. The British builders would not let The vessels sail until every thing was paid for dn cash. To accomplish this Japan induced syndicate of English bankers to advance the money, and their action has been the subject of a good deal of private criticism in the interior admi- ralty circles, when it was realized what tremendous naval power Japan was accu-I mulating and though Great Britain's strength was not impaired, it was thought inadvisaible for British capitalists to so materially assist Japan to become a dan- gerous rival.
 A well-known naval expert tells a repre- sentative of the Associated Press that if Japan puts in commission the ships sched- uled for service in the near future she will be ready for war within six months, and can then defy Russia, and, as the Japanese and Russian ships a present In the far east compare Japan's fleet would have an ex- cellent chance of controlling the situation
 Russia Taking Precautionary Measures
 St. Petersburg, January 27.-The Herald publishes a pointed article discussing the