Evening star., 1902-08-27
1T D|SPLEASES JAPAN
This Country's Claim to
Wake Island.
FORMER CASE CITED
JAPANESE OFFICIALS DO NOT UN-
DERSTAND.
They Wonder What Any Nation Would
Do With the Remote Pos
session.
FORMER CASE CITED

TOXIC, August Is, via Victoria, B. c.,
August 27.-This is a period when the
United States seems to be looking after the
Pacific islands. First it was Marcus Island,
but news came that the Washington au-
thorities recognized Japan's claim thereto.
The incident caused little f1utter at first
and a Japanese man-of-war was dispatched
with an official on board to await the ar
rival of Captain Rosehll, the American
concessionary. The warship landed its Off
cial, charged with documents, one being
from United States Minister Buck, but so
far no word has been received of Captain
Rosehills arrival. The telegraphed solu-
tion Of the matter has been hailed with
pleasure by the Japanese press which ex-
ats the magnanimity of America and points
out how consistently she has shown her
self to be the friend of Japan.
Just on the top Of that favorable impress
sion, however, there arrives telegraphic
word that the United States sent a war
ship to oust the japanese from Wake Is
land, south Of Marcus Island. The Japa-
nese papers claim the island was unin-
habited until some of their bird catchers
visited it, and profess to fail to understand
of what benefit the island would be to any
nation. So far the nature of America s
claim to the island and the purposes of its
present enforcement, If the news is correct,
are unknown here.
Japanese Elections.
Japanese elections, accompanied by Sc
cret ballot, took place on August 8. The
campaign was very lively, although TIE
usual feature Of the interference Of paid
hirelings of the candidates was conspicuous
by its absence. On the other hand, accu
satons of bribery flew around and some
of the local prisons were choked with al
legged offenders in this regard. The result
enough is gathered to show a p-eponder-
ance of the constitutional party generated
by Marquis Ito, Japar's leading statesman.
Damage to Rice Crop.
YOKOHAMA. August Il, via Victoria. B.
c., August 2I.-The extraordinary weather
this year in Japan makes the prospect of
good rice crop-the main food of the people
very gloomy The Thermometer has
hardly reached 90 degrees in the open, and
has been generally lodging around Go to 75
degrees.
Heavy rain has been falling, eliminating
in typhoons on July 10 and IL. The wind
blew al hurricane velocity. the river rose
six and eight feet, embankments were car
ried away, whole villages were inundated
and the reports of loss of life and damage
to property are daily growing.
Russia to Evacuate Manchuria.
NJ. Pauvloff. Russian minister to Corea,
who has been visiting Japan, has returned
to Seoul Regarding the question of the
evacuation by Russia of Manchuria in Off
cial quarters, information has been re-
ceived to the effect that preparations for
evacuation have commenced in Kincho
midway between Shanghai-kwan and New
Chwang. In the course of six months after
the signature Of the Manchurian agree
ment April the Russian troops from the
southern portion of the province of Mukd-
Ter. as far as the Lias river, are to be with
drawn and the railway is to be restored at
the same time.