The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-04-04
JAPS ARE READY
TO DRUB RUSSIA
Seems That Bloody Clash
Is Near at Hand.
ACTIVITY AT NAVAL STATIONS
Washington Officials Doubt That
Hostilities Will Begin, Notwith-
standing Contrary Reports.

Advices from Yokohama, Japan, are
to the effect that the feeling that there
Can be no peace in the orient, save by
administering drubbing to Russia,
is growing stronger 1t is almost the
unanimous voice of the native press
that if the powers do not take meas
ures to curb Russian aggression, Japan
must undertake the task alone. COupl-
ed with the strong undercurrent of
public opinion is the evidence that the
government is preparing for the emer-
gency with the utmost possible dill
gence. Unceasing activity at the
various naval stations and yards is re-
ported. The nation is evidently gath
ering it's resources and energies for
the struggle.
The Yokohama newspapers say it IS
proposed to relieve the japanese troops
in the Chinese province of Pe-Chi-Ll
by a force so per cent stronger.
Although May is the usual month in
which the relief of the force at Seoul
takes place, the relief of the troops
there will take place Immediately.
Three officers of the headquarters staff
will also proceed to Korea. These
movements, with the usual activity at
the arsenals, is taken to point to the
adoption of a strong policy by Japan.
A dispatch received in st. Peters.
burg from Vadivostock, dated Tues
day, March Goth, says that conspir-
acy on the part of the Korean minister
of justice and General Tchu-Sei- Men
to bring foreign troops to Seoul was
betrayed to the Korean cabinet. The
object of the conspirators, the dispatch
adds, was to cause the downfall of the
ministry. The principal plotters have
been deported.
THINK WAR IMPROBABLE.
4 i. A Washington special says: State
department officials are not as much
i exercised over the probability of war
between Japan and Russia as might be
indicated from the published reports
from the far east. 1t is asserted in
diplomatic circles that Russia has
much to lose and little to gain by 60
ing to war with Japan.
A high authority on Japanese affairs
said that there is but little danger Of
war between Japan and Russia
while the present government of Japan
exists. Ia the first place, it is con-
ceded that Japan has a navy far supe-
rior to that of Russia, and in case Of
hostilities between these two countries
Russia would be at a disadvantage.
Manchuria would probably be the bat
tleground in the event of such war.
In that event Russia would have but
cne base of supplies in that vicinity,
which is Port Arthur. Japan would
at once seize that point and render
Russia destitute of naval station or
any haven of refuge for her warships.
In addition to this consideration,
the present government of Japan is
inclined to be pro-Russian in its poll
q .cy, and for that reason neither the
Japanese nor Russian representatives
in this country anticipate war in the
near future.
There was report in circulation few
Mays ago that all che naval and militia
Ey attaches of the Japanese government
jim this country and in other countries
had been hastily summoned back to
man japanese warships in anticipation
of early hostilities with Russia. This
statement was promptly denied at the
Japanese legation.