The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-13
WAR HOvERS NEAR
JAPAN AND RUSSIA MAY BEGIN
HOSTILITIES ANY TINE.
RELIANCE ON GREAT BRITAIN
is PLACED by JAPAN BECAUSE OF
RECENT TREATY.

Landing Troops in KOrea-.Japn-
nese UItimatum to RUSSIA Dis
credited in LOndOn-Russian Pa
pers Review Japan's Military and
Naval Strength-French Statesman
Says Japan VIII Not Fight Unless
She Has Another Power Behind
Her.
Yokohama. Oct. 12.-The announce
ment by M. Lessar, the Russian minis
ter to China, that the Manchurian con-
vention between Russia and China
has lapsed, is received here with ridi-
cule.
Dispatches from Che Foo report that
| Russian warship and a transport
with 500 troops left Port Arthur Oct.
4 for Korea. Sixty Japanese civilians
left Port Arthur Oct. 10 for Nagasaxi.
The Russian forces at New Chwang
are reported to have been increased.
Gen. Kodama, the Japanese Home
Minister, has been appointed chief as
sistant to the military staff The
Premier will assume Gen. Kodama's
| portfolio.
The Premier and the Ministers for
War, Navy and Foreign Affairs had
a simultaneous audience of the EN-
peror to-day.
Baron Won Rosen, the Russian min
lister and Baron Komura, the Japan
Foreign Minister, have not yet had
conference.
Expect Declaration of War.
Berlin. Oct. IA dispatch from
| Shanghai to the F'rankfurter Zeitung
states that news has rachel ere
from Che Foo to the effect that the
| Japanese have occupied Masampno III
that an official declaration of war is
expected. The relations between japan
and Russia have reached crisis, ac-
| cording to the official view here
The exact nature of the diplomatic
exchanges between the two govern
ments that brought out the pre- en-
tension appear to be unknown at the
legations of the two countries hare or
at the German legations at st. Pc err
burg and Toxic, although it is uader-
stood that Great Britain is prlvy to
/ Japan's movements.
London Grows Uneasy.
| London, Oct. 12.-Deprecating the ru-
mors of a Japanese ultimatum in Haya-
STA, Baron HayasFi. the Japanese min
lister to Great Britain. in an interview
to-day, said he had no information of
such a character, adding that had ia
pan taken this action, the Anglo
Japanese treaty would have necessitat-
ed my being immediately notified" so
that he might inform the British gov
eminent.
In spite of the reassuring statements
of the Foreign Office, and Baron Haya-
shi, the frequent reiteration that hos
tilities between Russia and Japan are
imminent, the mysterious movements
of the Russian and Japanese fleets and
the excited state of public opinion in
Japan are beginning to cause disquiet
in Great Britain, which, by reason of
her alliance with Japan, is so intimate
ly concerned in any action which the
latter may take in the Far East
only the most sanguine persons be-
lieve that in the event of hostiIities
they could be kept within the limits
which would free Great Britain from
her obligation to support her japanese
ally Even Baron Hayashi. who here
tofore, has ridicu1ed all suggestion of
war. is not so optimistic to-day.
indirectly he admits the possibility
OF war by expressing the hope that in
the event of a crisis Japan will have
the active sympathy of her ally, Great
Brita!n
While refusing to credit the reports
OF an ultimatum having been delivered.
Baron Hayashi admitted that the dip
lomattc situation had changed since
OCT ., and that developments may
nave arisen from the failure of the
russians to fulfill their engagement to
eVacuate Manchuria on that date. He
however, had heard nothing from his
government on the subject.
Choo-FOo, the source of the late
alarming ic
milses from Ma-san-pho. so the reports
OF the Japanese military movements
there are likely to be a repetition Of
similar stories circulated last week
which later accounts minimized.
In Russia's Capital,
st. Petersburg. Oct. 12.-Significanca
Is attached here to the fact that ths
Of1clal Messenger, and the Journal de-
st. Petersburg, print the Berlin I,olxaI
Al l14 dlspateh relating to the
movement of the Russian fleet. and tha
possible coincident landing of Russian
and japanese troops in different parts
on Korea. Several newspapers publish
reviews of Japan's military, and naval
strength.
French View.
Paris. Oct. 12.-Speaklng of the Rus
so-Japanese situation to-day M Flour
ems, the former Foreign Minister of
France said:
Japan must have another power be-
mind her or else she will not take the
offensive"
One Jap Denies Tension.
Paris, Oct. 12.-The Figaro this morn.
ing publishes an interview with M
Kurino, the Japanese minister here. in
which he says:
My governments last communion
tons were wholly pacific. For the
present at least our diplomatic relations
with Russia are cordial, and no tension
exists between the two governments
whatever foreign newspapers may say.
am inclined to think that the dis
patch was q speculative maneuver."
America Not Concerned.
Washington, Oct. 12.-Aside from ex-
tensive military preparations by both
nations, the Japanese legation here ia
not advised that either Russia or ia
pan has as yet committed any act of
war. The Japanese minister Is being
kept constantly advised by cablegrams
from Toxic of the situation and, re aliz-
ing its gravity, he is moving with great
caution. The negotiations between
Russia and Japan, according to his adj
vices, are still in progress and there il
hope of diplomatic settlement of the
questions at issue.
Tho represe natives of this govern
ment in the capitals of Russia, Japan
and China have not advised the state
Department regarding recent develop
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