The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-29
Chinese Speculatlons.
War Not Declared by Russia.


Germany aud Japan have not de-
ciared war upon China. either sepa
rately or in concert. This statement
is made upon authority of the highest
character
What those nations may do within
the next 4S hours or within the next
fortnight. is question which no one
in Washington is prepared to an
swer
4 brief dispatch from Chefoo con
veying rumcr current there that
Russia, Germany and Japan had
ioined in declaration of war upon
China aroused some interested com
ment among Washington officials and
among diplomatic representatives OF
foreign governments resident here
In neither official nor diplomatic Cir
cles, however, was the rumor taken
seriously No information of such
action has reached either the depart
ment Of state or the legations OF the
governments primarily interested
That fact alone is accepted in official
circles as a sufficient refuta.ion OF
the rumor
Officials of the war and navy de-
partments were at their desks early
today, but up to the hour of closing
for the day not word bad been
received from Minister Conger Gen
Chaffee or Admira! Remey Since
the dispatch from Consul Fowler was
received late last Thursday night the
department. of state has received no
advices from any source in China,
except brief cabIegram from Min
lister Conger !Dquiring how he should
route messages The text Of the
dispatch, which it was explained was
very brief aud purely administrative
in character was not r,.ae public
The var department has received 60
dis3atca from Geo. Chafsc. kooHa 80
have cons directly t.oG ti:r. for soou'
a week. C25isgrarss sigoea Oh fee
Save 5sea .ece:ged. be, as taey COZ
tanned onsy lists CT casaatsss, 1t g IS
sauec! tley ae5e sent h7 so..e su5o-c;
nate oficer IL Geo ;Gaa2&aes n2as
E.on so of:;;3;al source Gas tie dspa7'
a:aa: learned Of the departure 9: 49
.icor;eans t.2.a 2esio to7 'G!eo 5s;;a.
as repc,;ea ID special cispa'ch 70 4
L,nioo lemspaper uader as'e CT AuE
lo
In the absence c: cf5siai iuforn,.:ion
from Ca;os CT f:on Uaited States Of
G;ers there. interest today ceares IL
:ae diplomatic phase OF the ex's'lsg
t.ouble. The runor Of declaration
OF vsr BY Russia is explained may have
grosn crt of The operations Of tie
trcoos Of the czar in the p.otsc:,on Of
the Southeastern frontier Of his empire.
or i: may have arisen f.om the reported
statement CT the Russ!ao conmaodes OF
the Rus:ian forces io Pekin that bis
government was at war vita China aud
therefore be nast p7ohi5is con mmua,cs-
,icn with ;he Chinese. Neither t6c
operations CT Russia OF ae: !roo,!er oor
the prohibition By Russian general g:
communication with the Chinese woaia
Constitute. i, is said. declaration Of
var By Russis. No general By uere
dictum coola declare var Even bis
statement ,tas els goyernoeut bad de
clared war would not make i. So.
The uode:stsnd dag among Washing
ton officials of Rassia's acsiou is ths:
tie enpire uas declared the three
provinces oo its southeastern frontier 10
a state Of siege This is altogether
dlfferen, from a declaration Of war. 1t
corresponds TO declaration Of MARTA!
Law by Grea: Britain aod to a suspeo
sion Of the right Of babeas corpus BY
the United States. It is suppression
of civil by military authority 1t Is
poiuted ont further that Russia has
TWO objects 10 her present operations
in Chlna-,he rescue aud protection OF
the foreigo legatiooers aod the p7otec
ton of her meuaoed frontier. TIE
avowed otjeo. CT the other powers Is
simply the rescue aod protection OF the
Iegatiooers and other foreign subjects
IL carving oot her secooo oojec;.
Russia has se.zed New Chwang. This
was dooc 70 obtain a base CT cpe,s'!2as
from which the frontier could easily
be reached, precisely as TaSu vas
seized as base of operations hy sae
allies IN their operations against Pesia.
Whether, 10 TIE event c! deci&rs
ton OF var By ose OF more OF 'he
powers in Chipa. an invitation would
be e3teuceG to the United States TO
retire from Ch;aa, as innua,ed 10 the
dispatches from Cde:oo, is cpap 20
doubt. and it IS decidedly problem atl.
cal, it is said. whether the Invitation
you'd be accepted, even if il @s.e
tenoersd