Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-01-08

Toxic, Jan. IA powerful squadron,
consisting Of six armored cruisers and
Admiral Kamimura, is expected to
leave Saseho Sunday for Masampho.
Corea. Saseho is Japanese port, 25
miles to the west of Nagasaki.
The report is current that the squad
ron will seize the port of Masampho.
In well-informed circles, however, it
is doubted that Japan would seize
Masampho or any Corean port, except
to forestall Russia in the event of the
latter showing evidences of any inten-
ton to take such a step or in the event
OF the negotiations between the two
countries finally ending in failure.
: Great activity prevails and the force
OF workmen has been increased at the
Osaka arsenal. The holidays of the
arsenal operatives have been curtailed
IN order to hurry up the work in hand.
Cannot Accept Proposals.
st. Petersburg, Jan. At appears
10 be true that Russia has decided not
to accept Japan's precise proposals..
But, the foreign Office here Saturday
says that Foreign Minister Lamsdorf
and the japanese minister, M. Kurino,
are still conferr7ng with the view Of
arriving at an amicable settlement.
Uneficially, the situation is regarded
as being most serious.
Cannot Modify Demands.
London, Jan. 4.-The Japanese min
lister, Baron Hayashi, when shown the
dispatch from st. Petersburg announc-
ing that it appeared to be true that
Russia had decided not to accept
Japan's precise proposals. said he had
not officially heard anything further
about the negotiations, but he failed
/ to see how the Japanese demands
could be modified.
Not Necessarily Warlike Action.
No word has yet been received here
tending to show when the Russian
reply to Japan may be expected. For
eign Secretary Lansdowne has in
formed Baron Hayashi, the Japanese
minister, that he fears that the war
party in Russia is in the ascendant
and that he has faint hopes OF Japan
receiving favorable reply. Baron
Hayashi says he has received no news
Of the intended dispatch of japanese
squadron to Masampho. The last
news he heard was that a Russian
cruiser was there. The minister point.
ed out that the dispatch of a squadron
to Masampho would not necessarily
be warlike action, though it coul6
scarcely help being regarded in the
line Of other precautions which Japa1
has openly taken.
Engineers Ordered to Japan.
Glasgow, Jan. A large numbe,
of Clyde marine engineers received
cable orders from the Japanese gov.
eminent Saturday to proceed imme.
diately to Japan. These engineers
were engaged by the Japanese govern.
ment six months ago, on the under.
standing that they would be called or
il active service was probable,
Reply Not Yet Ready.
London, Jan. A dispatch to the
Pail Mall Gazette from Berlin says
that according to the highest officia
information the Russian reply tc
Japan has not been drafted.
1t is added that the car and Foreign
Minister Lamsdorff declared Friday
that SO far nothing had happened
necessitating an outbreak of war ant
that Russia would not declare war or
Japan as things now stand.
Believe War Will Be Averted.
Washington, Jan. 4.-Acting Secre,
tary LOOMS has received in an unoficia
way communications from represen
tatives of the United States in various
foreign capitals bearing on the Russo.
Japanese situation. 1t is not deemed
proper to publish these messages, bu
the statement is made that they are
generally indicative of belief thai
some arrangement will be reached be-
tween Russia and Japan which viii
aver war. 1t is expressly stated tha
these advices are not positive state
ments of fact but represent the trene
of sentiment in the official circles O
European capitals.
c0l n IN NnpTuWEcF