The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-10
FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR
Russian Ambassador Notifies State
Department at Washington.

Washington, Feb. 10-Count Cassini's
notification to Secretary Hay is said at
the state department to constitute a
formal declaration of war. 1t is now
for the president to determine whether
he will issue a neutrality proclamation.
The counts communication with the
department was in writing. It was a
dispatch from the Russian foreign Of
flee to the ambassador and was sub
stantially as follows:
During the night of February s, a
detachment of Japanese torpedo boats
unexpectedly attacked the Russian
squadron lying at anchor in the outer
roadsted of Port Arthur. This attack
being the beginning of military opera
lions, obliges the imperial government
to take immediate measures to reply by
armed force to the challenge issued
against Russia Be good enough to in
form the government of the United
States"
There was no discussion between the
ambassador and Secretary Hay of the
state departments proposition to the
powers. looking to the naturalization of
China. The department, however, is
satisfied. though upon what grounds
cannot be learned, that Russia is not
disposed at this stage to oppose the ex-
ecution of its plans. Some answers al
ready have been received to Secretary
Hays note, but it is not yet deemed
proper to make them public or even the
text of the note itself. 1t is not doubted
that the proposition meets with APP
prevail by the powers. It practically
admitted that its effect would be to
completely exclude military or naval
forces of belligerents from all of China
south of Manchuria.
The United States legation at Toxic
made two reports to the state depart
ment upon the battles. Strangely
enough the news of teh engagement al
Chemulpo was known in Toxic some
fiYaa before word came of fha 0raca7
ing Port Arthur affair. The first reads:
"a naval engagement was begun to-
day at noon (9th) outside the harbor OF
Chemulpo The Japan squadron sunk
! the Russian gunboat Korietz at 4:10 p
m. and overcame the cruiser Variag
Hostilities were begun by the Russian
gunboats firing upon japanese tor
pedo boat"
A latter dispatch from the japanese
consul at Che Foo, just across the
strait from Port Arthur reports:
Entire japanese fleet engaged Rus
! sian fleet outside Port Arthur at IL p
m on the Sth. Two Russian battle,
ships We're sunk by torpedoes- The
Russian ships outside the harbor wer'
unable to enter. No damage to Japar
| fleet"
Another dispatch from Toxic stotes
that no Japanese lives were lost in thu
engagement at Chemulpo
Naval interest in the fighting con
] tinues at the highest point. One of thu
( highest officers of the navy commenting
upon the press accounts of the engage
nents, says that the lesson to be draw
| is the absolute necessity of maintainin;
a navy in continuous service, instead 0
following the old plan of laying up ship
in reserve as has been practiced b.
Russia. Japan. like the United States
has for the last two years kept almos
every naval ship that would float con
| tinuously in commission and eithe
cruising or maneuvering so as to repro
duce the actual conditions of war a
near as possible. Another demonstra
ton of the Port Arthur and Chemulp
affairs was the perfection of the Jap
naval commanders seemed to be a
every moment in possession of full in
/ formation of the Russian movement
and the disposition of the Russian