The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-05
RUSSIA'S REPLY.
Init She Makes Great COnces-
siOns to Japan
And Hopes Her Proposals VIII
Be Acceptable.
WAR PREPARATIONS.
Japan Getting Ready to Embark
Troops for Korea.
Their Mission Said to Be to Re-
store Order.

st. Petersburg, Jan. BIN her reply
to Japan, Russia made great conces-
sions, and hopes her proposals will
prove acceptable to Japan.
The foreign office informed the Asso-
ciated Press today that instructions had
been sent to Viceroy Alexieff, on which
the reply was based. The latter was
drawn upon the most conciliatory spirit.
Some OF the Japanese proposals were
accepted while others were made the
subject of extended observations and
were met by counter proposals.
There are strong hopes in many cir
cles that on Thursday next, the Rus
sian Christmas, the czar may be able
to announce that peace is assured.
The furry on the bourse yesterday is
explained by bankers as being due to
the annual settlements of operations and
that it was wholly uninfiuenced by the
far eastern situation.
TROOPS BEING MADE READY.
Paris, Jan. 5.-A dispatch to the
Havas agency from Toxic today says:
The preparations for the embarka-
ton of two divisions of Japanese troops
are continuing actively. 1t is believed
they will be dispatched to ports III
south Korea to restore order"
Owing to the absence of details re-
garding the Russian reply, the officials
here are careful to express no opinion
| as to the outcome but the general tone
| of the comment in official circles is
/ slightly less hopeful The most sisnifi-
cant feature of a dispatch from Toxic
! is the statement that Japan is hasten
] ing final preparation for far more ex-
tensive dispatch of troops to Korea
/ than at first contemplated. The gov
ernment has now decided to send an
army of $4,000 men, organized as two
divisions, to Korea This is more than
Il III rfra Of
first contemplated and requires large
fleet of transports and extensive ar
rangements, which are proceeding rap
| idly towards completion The destina-
| ton of this army is expected to be
southern Korea. The officials here at
first understood that Russia would not
| object to the dispatch of the expedi-
/ ton, but the magnitude of the plans
begin to raise some doubt as to wheth-
! er Russia Will acquieSce. Although no
/ positive advices have been given of the
preparations for the dispatch of this
large army, the reports excite some ap-
prehension as it is said it may develop
into the first outward act of the i'm
pending conflict.
Rumors are in circulation at Mar
| settles that a French naval division.
| composed of the arnored cruisers Kle-
Der, Desaix and Admiral Aube and the
turret ship Suffern. is about to receive
orders to sail for the far east. The re-
ports, however, can not be confirmed
mere, OUT CleT6 IS reason DSueVe LnaI
the naval authorities are considering
! the disposition of the warships in the
/ event of a serious turn in the situation
] This is due mainly to the present small
! French force in the Pacific, which is
| confined to two unimportant vessels.
/ DECIDED LAST SUNDAY.
/ Cologne, Jan. 5.-According to ad-
vices received by the Cologne Gazette
from St. Petersburg. the terms of the
Russian reply to japan were decided
ct oil low III lar
over by the czar and attended by the
Grand Dukes vladimir and Alexis, the
foreign war and marine ministers. ano
M. Witte. president of the council OF
ministers. This correspondent, like
others. understands that the reply rem
ders peaceful issue possible.
WAR SHIPS ON THE MOVE.
Toxic, Jan. 5.-The Russian reply tc
Japan has not yet been received. Il
is reported from Vladivostock that the
Russian squadron there is preparing
for action.
According to another report q Rus
sian cruiser has left Port Arthur with
a small military force on board. Its
destination is unknown, but it is pro
baby Chemulpo, Korea.
An extra edition of the Official Ga
zette has been issued containing army
and navy orders prohibiting the pub
fishing of any reports of the move
ments of troops or war vessels from
this time on. Otherwise. the Japanes,
authorities are not interfering will
press messages.
| GERMANY ORDERS CONCENTRA
TION-
Berlin, Jan. 5.-The widely separated
German eastern squadron has been or
, dered by Rear Admiral Won Prittwit,
to concentrate at Tsin Chou, provinc'
of Sahn Tung. This movement is con
sfdered here as probably relating to tn
possibilities of war between Russia AM
Japan.