The San Francisco call., 1904-02-15

hailed by a small government boat on
which were a Japanese admiral and a
captain, who promptly boarded the
vessel and formally announced to the
commander Of the latter that they
were there in the name of the Japan
ese government and were prepared to
assume charge Of the vessel. Captain
Green, apparently having expected the
naval officials, acknowledged their
authority with the remark: Gentle
men, she is yours" and as soon assthe
passengers and cargo had been remOv-
ed, the captain and officers Of the Nip
pom and even the members Of the crew.
, irrespective Of their nationality. with
few exceptions. left the vessel. The
stOrekeeper and the chief engineer and
his assistants. all Japanese, were re-
tanned, the first mentioned as the rep
resentative Of the steamship company.
Hardly had the officers and men de-
parted before boats bearing new Of
ficers from the navy and a crew of $50
men came alongside of the Nippon and
she was soon headed for the naval yards
where arrangements had already been
made for Overhauling her. The officers
cabins were hurriedly torn out and re-
placed with hammock quarters and the
work Of renOvating begun as the ves-
sci started for YOkOsuka for her arm
ament
on her bow and one at her stern and
four six-pOunders. two on each side.
It was later learned that the Nippon
Maru was to be used for the members
of the japanese war council. composed
of admirals and generals, who will
travel from port to port, planning var
ious strategic movements in which the
navy and army Of the MikadO Will par
ticipate.
49,
ment in hurriedly converting the Nip
pom Maru into a palatial floating es-
tablishment for her war representa-
tives. The HOngkOng Maru was taken
over by the government three days be-
fore the Nippon Maru and was likewise
refitted with the same armament and
assigned to the auxiliary division OF
the fleet as a dispatch boat
Up to the time the China departed
from Japan, those who had been eager
ly looking for some outward sign OF
approaching war, had failed to get the
slightest information
"It was generally understood that
war was to come" said one Of the re-
turning officers of the Nippon Maru
last evening. "and the Japanese on all
sides were discussing nothing else, yet
not one of them could tell you any
thing about the movements of the gov
ernment. Unlike the hurried prepara-
tions for war in other countries, there
were no gathering of troops in or near
the larger settlements and YOU might
travel along the harbOr front all day
long and not detect move on the part
of the shipping that could be regarded
done within the distant naval and army
stations and with the greatest secrecy.
Many experienced war correspondents,
a large number Of whom were quarter
ed in the Hotel MetrOpOle at Toxic,
agreed that they had never known OF
such a successful system OF news cen
sOring as was then in effect. They could
do nothing but await the sound Of the
booming of guns which would be their
accepted signal Of the beginning Of
hostilities. The censorship even ex-
tended to the photograph galleries Of
the different cities. In every establish
ment Of this kind there was stationed
a government official, through whose
hands every film and plate. presented
for development, had to pass and II the
officer fancied that the subject Of the
photograph was in any way likely to
be Of service to the Russians he
promptly signified the fact by Destroy
ing the plate or film.
''The feeling throughout Japan was
that the Russians were simply delaying
matters until summer, when they
hoped. by great military force. to
come down on the Japanese and crush
them. In fact, IL was common talk in
Yokohama and Toxic that Russia
might at any moment yield to the de-
mands Of the Japanese in order to es-
tablish temporary peace and later IN
the year, when conditions were more
favorable, break of all relations again
and grab everything in sight"