Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-27

6atAOA VI at WON oCh WY e~oOAS -
attack the foreign forces at Picking,
Japanese and Russian cavalry were ex-
pected to encounter them on the goth.
The dispatch further states that Chi
nese infantry some 5000 strong, with
fifteen guns are advancing northward
from Shan Tung to make a rear at
tack 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 SER
ious, 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 or
ficers there, interest to-day conferred in
The Diplomatic Phases
of the existing trouble. The rumor Of
declaration of war with Russia, it is
expected, may have grown out of the
operations of the troops of the Car
in the protection of the southeastern
frontier of his empire; or it may have
arisen from the reported statement of
the commander of the Russian forces
at Pekin that his government was at
war with China and, therefore he must
prohibit communication with the Chi
nese. Neither the operations of Rus
STA on her frontier nor the prohibition
by Russian general of communication
with the Chinese would constitute, it is
said, a declaration of war by Russia.
No general, by a mere dictum, could
declare war. Even his statement that
his government had declared war
would not make it so.
A declaration of war, it is pointed
out, by the best authorities, is 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 declaration been made, name
ly IN 1872 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 Congress. The Mexi-
car war had progressed fourteen
monGns before action was taken by
Congress. Troops of the United States
had invaded Mexico and several i'm
portant battles had been fought before
Congress, to insure the legality of the
contest and to protect the rights Of the
United States as probable cOnqueror,
declared that a state had existed from
a date fourteen months prior to the
action Of Congress. Congress did not
declare war with Spain. 1t declared
simply that
State of War Existed
from a specified time.
Among European nations, the
method of procedure is simple, but
quite as obvious. War is declared by
them by edict or proclamation. 1t
may be declaration Of war, or it may
be the official recognition that a state
of war exists
In either event, the news of such &C
ton woulI be published to the world
Immediately. Diplomatic representa-
tives Of the power making the decla-
ration would be notified instantly, in
order that they might communicate
the information to the governments of
the countries to which they were &C
credited. The information, too, would
be conveyed at once to the nation
against which the declaration was
made. In turn, this nation would mott
ly it's diplomatic representatives
abroad, that they might govern them
selves accordingly. Within three
hours after the official declaration of
Congress that the United States was at
war with the kingdom of Spain the
Bpanish government had on the wires
an identical note to all the govern
Ments to which it had accredited rep
Tesentatives, notifying them of the ex-
istence of a state of war between Spain
md tha limited States
The understanding among Washing
ton officials of Russia's action is that
the empire has declared the three pro-
vlnces on its southeastern frontier in
state of siege. This
Is Altogether Different
from declaration of war. 1t CORE
spends to a declaration of martial law
by Great Britain, and to a suspension
q the right of habeas corpus of the
United States. 1t is super-session of
civil by military authority. 1t has no
effect upon such treaties as may be
in force between the two countries,
whereas, a declaration of war or dec
laration that a state of war exists
would tear up all treaties.
1t is pointed out further, that Russia
has two objects in her present opera
tiOnS in China-the rpScue and prntep-