Evening star., 1904-02-16
ALARM FOR MISSIONARIES.
Relatives and Friends Express Concern
for Those in the Orient.

PHILADELPHIA, February 16.-Rela-
t1ves and friends of missionaries now sta
toned in Korea, Manchuria and Japan are
alarmed for their safety !,
In Seoul Miss Minerva L. Guthapfel of
Germantown has for several months been
conducting mission work for the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Nothing has been
heard from her since the war began, and
uneasness is felt by her friends
Rev. Wilbur c. Swearer of Beaver. Pa,
is also in Seoul, and Rev. W. Arthur Noble
and his wife of western Pennsylvania are
in Pingyang.
ary society of the Methodist Episcopal
Church was contained in letter from Mr.
noble, dated January 1. He wrote:
Hard to Control Native Christians.
"The general conditions here in Seoul, as
we'll as elsewhere, are good However. all
our work is much affected by the generally
disturbed condition of the country. 1t is
difficult to keep the Christian groups out
of political questions. We are expecting
japanese troops to land in two or three
days. They are needed here to keep the
Korean coolies in order In case war should
be declared"
Rev S. w. Thomas, editor of the Phila-
delphia Methodist and a member of the
methodist missionary board, said today that
all missionaries stationed near the seat of
war have been notified to use their own
Judgment in remaining or fleeing from their
stations.
Safety for Women and Children.
The following cable message was sent to
Rev. Stephen A. Beck at Seoul:
Wire us if there is any immediate dam
ger to persons or property in our Korean
mission. The board recommends caution"
AS no answer was received another mes
sage was sent follows:
The mission is advised to act prudently
Secure safety of women and children
British Effort for Protection.
OTTOWA, Ont, February 16.-Secretary
of State Scott, in response to a reuues. to
take necessary steps to secure immediate
protection for the missionaries of the Pres
byterian Church now in Korea cabled the
British minister al Seoul requesting him to
protect the missionaries and church prop
erty. The minister. Mr.. Jordan, replied as
follows:
Ching interrupted. but i sent message on
11th instant to Wonson to be forwarded
overland, recommending that women ans
children at Song Ching and Hamheung
should be sent to Wonson."
China Must Strengthen Her Army.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
NEW YORK, February ia cablegram m
from London says: Admiral Makharoff who
has been commandant at Cronstadt, will
command Russian SQUADRON that is being
formed in Baltic to reinforce Russian fleets
in far east.
Direct telegraph communication between
Port Arthur and Irkutsk has been estab-
liShed.
The japanese government has informed
the Chinese minister that in the event of
China's proclaiming her neutrality she must
secure her frontiers and strengthen her
army along line of the great wall
cablegram from Paris saws: Russian
ambassador here announces Russia does
not intend to raise war loan.
Japs Secure Foothold in Manchuria.
A cablegram from Nagasaki says: Jana
nese authorities have seized American can
ned provisions, consigned to Port Arthur.
on board steamship Coptic, from San Fran
cisco.
cablegram from London saws: IT is re
ported to have been telegraphed from Port
Arthur that Admiral Alexieff and his staff
VIII move to Harbin in a few days and
make that place headquarters Gen. Kuro
PatklhoW Russian minister of war: Cen
LiineViIcn Admiral Dubasoenf and Ad
hirai RoJdestvinesky are expected 70 a.
riVe at Fort Arthur soon. Russian ofIie,als
ADMIT that japanese have secured footbaid
in Manchuria GU ioo'hoia