The evening times., 1900-04-05

VICTORIA, 3. c., April 5.-AceoTding TO
Advices brought by the c. ?. r. Empress.
just arrived from the Orient. there is no
longer any attempt in Japan TO conceal
the regretted imminence of war with Rus
bia. Preparations for the struggle Cn both
sides advance. Russia has practically Is
sumed control in Korea by methods pecu-
Ilarly Russian. She is now hurrying her
troops and warships 10 the scene Of fu-
ture action. and when the long threaten
ing cloud does burst it viii find her wei
prepared. Japan's statesmen realize with
reluctance the inevitable They say. and
the conservative press Of Japan echoes the
sentiment. that there seems no recourse
but war, although Japan must not strike
the FIRST blow.
Meanwhile capital has taken alarm and
the money market is more disturbed by
lar thaG when the nation was on the eve
OF hostlities with the once mighty China
Finauciers demand higher and higher R-
tcrest and loans are not incurred. From
The treaty ports. and even HongkCua, for
eigue-s are leaving by scores and by hun
drcds. determined not 10 be caught IN the
midst OF the horrors Of war. while Japan,
as one Of her statesmen expresses it, is
compelled Ito wait with magnificent pa
thence the working out OF the plot and in
trigue OF her enemies"
Recently Russian energy has been con-
ceutrated in two directions The diplO-
mats Of the Car have cautiously but sure
ly insinuated themselves into the virtual
control Of Korean affairs a visit TO the
Korean Emperor by n. AIeXiess. Russian
Governor General Of Liao-TunE Peninsula,
being Immediately followed by the an
nouncement OF n three million-yen Rus
sian loan and the appointment Of Rus
sian diplomat as supreme adviser in af-
fairs of Korean state. Coincidently the
Russian engineers are hurryiug to COM
UiCfiOn the TrauS-Siucrian Railway. work
ing day and night They are negotiating
also az Peku for the purchase Of the In
terror Chinese Railway and the populating
OF New-ChwanE as q Russian possess ion
this spring.
An average Of 500 soldiers a month have
been sent TO the orient from odessa since
September laet aud warships are gathering
AZ every vantage point. Five Russian
warsnips are now az ChCmulpo. The trans
ports Petersburg and EarOuigz. having just
arrived with 2.+1G men. while the Admiral
of the Russian Pacific fleet. with his flag
ship and three other vessels is moving t0-
ward the Korean seaport.
ON the other hand. Japan has commenced
20 mobilize her torpedo boats and TO hast
o. forward all naval contracts. TO place
large orders FOR outside work. and to set
all her own military supply depots going
Speculation as to when Russia viii strike
the FIRST blow is the absorbing topic OF con
versatiCu
II was ruuorod on March o hat a Rus
siau WarsLip. while cruising near H0k
Katie. had dis, harEel q torpedo near The
eide oi q Japanese warship. the latter
drawing or. and returning the FIRE. The
extreme tension Of feeling in the Orient is
shown by the fact that the extreme i'm
probability of such an occurrence did not
appeal 20 anyone for a time. and 80 w.s
OIL after thorough investigation that the
people Of Japan could be assured that the
storm had not already broken.
The Korean Government Ends Itself at
present in a peculiar position through the
concession having been given TO Putchard
Morgan to work the great gold mine al
- per cent royalty To the Government.
This did not suit the Russian powers Tc-
hind The throne, and riots have broken cut
- rs ueighborhoCd OF the mine. the Pc
RiusIIa Government being forced To- order
4 rOml any 0f soldiers from the Tiaug Yang
garrison to protect the concession iutrrcs..