Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-08


busily engaged in transporting their
forces into Korea, and this work is
being facilitated by the enforced inac- ;
tivity of the navy.
According to the Sebastopol corre- |
spondent Of the Daily Graphic, Admiral /.
6krydlof has learned privately from !
Port Arthur that the Russian battle :
Dhip Retvizan lies in such position as
to block effectually the exit Of battle
ships from the harbor, the passage
being practicable only for cruisers.
The correspondent adds that Rus |
sia's new battleships now building on
the Baltic will not be ready for active
commission before the end Of August.
Russia Ready to Call Reserves.
st. Petersburg, March San i'm.
perial order has beea issued summon
ing the reserve subalterns and first.
class reserve men Of European Russia
to the colors for six weeks course
Of training. A similar order has been
Issued to the naval reserves. This il
interpreted as indicating that every
thing is being made ready for the
mobilization OF the whole Russian
army, If necessary.
Russia Improves Defensss.
Paris, March 5.-The Temps Friday
publishes dispatch from st. Peters
burg which says the Russians have
taken advantage Of the stormy weather
which has prevented further opera
lions on the part Of the Japanese feet
81 thni
patch also says that the Japanese fleet
has been weakened by damages sus-
tanned since February Is to the ex.
tent of SIX cruisers. five torpedo boat
destroyers and one gunboat.
Favor Alliance with Russia.
Paris, March 5.-La Presse has tabu-
lated the responses it has received to
query addressed to members
OF the chambers of deputies,
which show that 272 out OF
1896 OF the members favor the treaty of
alliance with Russia. Only II of the
63 who were not in favor of that In
strument expressed hostility to 1t.
Replies received from senators to the
same query show that an equally large
majority IN the senate support the al
Nance.
Feels Better Toward Great Britain.
st. Petersburg, March 5.-There ex-
.41sts a high authority for the statement
that Russia now has reason to feel
more tranquil regarding the attitude Of
Great Britain. The real reason Of tho
visit to st. Petersburg of Count Benck-
endorf1, Russian ambassador to Great
Britain, while ostensibly to see his son
OF to the far east, was personally to
assure his government of his belief
that the suspicious harbored here con-
corning Japan's ally were ill-founded,
and Great Britain, although standing
by the obligations of the Anglo-Japan-
csc treaty, would not move unless
compelled SO to do by the entrance into
affairs In the far east of a third power
Count BenckendorR had long inter-
view with the car, as well as with
Foreign Minister Lamsdorff, and 1t is
learned that he convinced the authori-
ties that Great Britain was acting IN
good faith. He conveyed also Great
Britain's assurance that the Anglo
Japanese treaty contained no secret
clauses, and that It was not directed
especially against Russia, its sole pur-
pose being, according to the British
authorities, the preservation Of the
balance Of power in the far east. which
might be threatened by another coali.
tion such a. followed the Chino-Japan.
csc war and which resulted In the ex.
cluaion Of Great Britain from furths,
international settlement OF far eastern
questions. The more moderate tone Of
both the English and the Russian press
during the last few days is considered
additional evidence of better under.
standing between the two govern.
ments.
Nurses OF for Japan.
Philadelphia, March 5.-Ten nurse.
left this city Friday over the Pennsyl
vania railroad for Seattle en- route t.
s Japan. where they. will render. volun
teer service on the battlefield. The par
ty is under the guidance of DR.. Ants
Newcomb MCGEE, of this city. who ten
dered her services, together with thos'
OF her companions, without hope o
remuneration. The party consists O
Misses Ella v. King, Minnie Cooke
Adelaide Mackereth, Elizabeth Kratz
Adele Mech, Of this city; Miss Sophi
Newall, New Jersey; Miss Geneviev
Russell, New York city: Miss Mar
Gladwin. Boston. and Miss Alice KEN
Inor, OF Indiana. They will embark Of
he Japanese mail steamer. Lyo Maru
which Will sail for Yokohama 0,
March 9. Their expenses on the tril
10 Seattle will DO paid by the Philadel
phia Red Cross society and the Japan
~ minister has secured free tgsuspoy
ration for them to japan.
IN CONGRESS.
IF. Martin Addresses House on BASE
luton tor Investigator a$
Beet Trust