Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-02-13

Toxic, Jap.-Japan seized Masampho
Sunday and dispatched a heavy force
there. Japan will fortify the port and
establish a naval and military base
there.
Masampho is an exceedingly import
ant point, as ii controls the Korean
channel and is an excellent base for
future operations.
A formal declaration of war is ex-
pected soon. The proclamation has
been prepared and approved by the
cabinet. Foreign Minister Komura has
gone to the palace TO secure the em-
peror's approval.
The Japanese have captured three
Russian commercial steamers, besides
the Ekaterintoslav and the Argun.
They are the Moukden, Russia and
Alexander.
They were captured by the Japan
ese in Korean and adjacent waters at
various times since Saturday by small
cruisers. Some of the steamers are
rich prizes.
The small steamer koeik Is detained
at Yokohama, its status not being
clear.
London. Eng.-Dispatches to the
Daily Mail from Toxic and Nagasaki.
report the arrival at Sasebo. Japan, OF
two large Russian steamers.
One is the Volunteer Fleet associa-
ton transport Ekaterinoslav, which
recently landed troops and arms at
Port Arthur, and the other is the
steamer Argun. belonging to the Chi
nese Eastern Railways company.
Both were captured by the japanese
cruisers Sal Yen and Hei Yen in the
neighbOrhood Of Fusan, Korea.
The EkaterinoslRv Is OF 10000 tons
displacement and had been fitted up as
an auxiliary cruiser She had 30 rifles
On board anu Was on her way from
Vladivostok.
The Argun was going to vladivostok
from Nagasaki.
The Russian whaiels Glorige, Nico-
lai, Alexander and Michael, captured
by the Japanese, have also :" ""''-'-1 -
An earlier special from Toxic said
that three Russian transports, having
on board 1000 troops, had been captur-
ed of the Korean coast.
Cabling from Pekin the correspon-
dont ~ tho I opdon TimoS accriheS the
habitual overestimation Of the Russian
forces in the far east to the claim
(arising from the Boxer troubles). put
forward by NJ De Giers (then Russian
minister at Pekin), during the peace
negotiations at Pekin in 1900 for an
indemnity of $50 500, 900 on the ground
that Russia had put 10000 men into
The field.
1t is known, however, that the real
number of these men was under So
900.
Continuing, the correspondent says
an American military officer has just
returned to Pekin from trip through
Manchuria, made for the purpose Of
reporting on the situation there.
This officer declares that all the
Russian officers he met In Manchuria
professed to believe that war would
be averted
While he was at Port Arthur on Jan.
81. the Russian fleet was hurriedly Or
dered to sea, but in getting out two
vessels stuck fast in the mud of the
shallow basin and were compelled to
remain behind.
In dispatch from Chefoo cores
pondent of the Daily Mail says:
"A northeast gale which is raging
here bodies no good to the crippled
Russian ships.
Complete decentralization reigns at
Port Arthur.
"Advices received here from Kwan-
ting, Manchuria, say that 10000 armed
Chinese, unofficially recognized as gov
ernment troops, are operating In the
district and are expected to attack
the railroad guards when they hear OF
the Russian disaster"
San Francisco, GAIA cablegram
to the Associated Press from Nagasaki
says that the Russian cruiser Variag.
which was reported to have been sunk
yesterday at Chemulpo by the Japan
ese fleet was captured and has arrived
at SasebO.
The dispatch also states that in ad-
dition to the Russian vessels damaged
in the torpedo attack at Port Arthur
seven other vessels were captured.
1t is also reported at Nagasaki that
Gen. Kuropatkin has arrived at Har-
bin to take command OF the Russian
land forces.