Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-17

in possession of Port Arthur a week
from now. In the best informed Jap
anese circles here it is privately thought
that the war will be over by July Those
British officials who are cognizant of the
extraordinary thoroughness with which
Japan prepared for the war are inclined
to share the japanese view regarding the
duration of the struggle
To Proclaim Chinese Neutrality.
Washington, Feb. l3.-Minister Con-
ger cabled the state department Friday
from Picking that the Chinese govern
ment would Immediately issue procla-
nation of neutrality, having Thursday
received from the Russian minister the
declaration of war.
If this proclamation is observed it
will, of course, prevent the threatened
invasion Of Manchuria by the Boxers.
China also must prevent the use of her
soil by either Russian or Japanese
troops
All the answers to Secretary Hays
proposition are not yet in, but it is
hoped that they will be received within
the next "a hours.
Charges Unfounded.
London, Feb. 13.-Referring in the
house Of lords Friday to the Russian
charges on the subject of Wei-Hai-Wei,
Foreign Minister Lansdowne declared
the report that Great Britain had given
Wei-Hai-Wei as a base for the Japanese
operations against Port Arthur was en-
tirely unfounded, and, so far as he could
conjecture, it was ~mischieyous fabri-
cation"
Lord Lansdowne added that he had
telegraphed to the British represe nta-
tive there in order to ascertain if any
incident had occurred to give the slight
est color to the report.
japanese Fleet Missing.
Chefoo. Feb. 13.-The Japanese feet
has not been seen since noon Tuesday
The injured battleships Czarewich and
Retvizan have been floated, but the
cruiser Pa!lada is still on the beach. It
has been ascertained that the Japanese
shells did not injure the forts at Port
Arthur in Tuesdays engagement Shells
directed towards the disabled battleships
went over them and entered the town.
Shells directed at the forts struck houses
on the hill.
The Fight at Chemulpo.
New York, Feb. 13: About 200 of the
Variag's crew lost their lives when the
vessel was destroyed Monday by the
Japanese off Chemulpo, according to a
World dispatch from TOXIC. The crew
of the Russian cruiser numbered 57O
Many lost their lives under fire, but a.
large number drowned in attempting
to escape.
The men loyalty aided their officers.
and it IS said not one Of the latter was
drowned in getting ashore.
Many swan not to the shore. but to
the foreign men-of-war in the harbor.
which promptly lowered boats and went
70 their rescue. Besides the French
cruiser Pascal, the Italian cruiser Elba
and the British cruiser Talbot aided the
refugees. One hundred and fifty, many
of them wounded, reached the Talbot.
Sir Cyprian Bridge, the British ad-
miral in command of the station, has
ordered that the wounded Russians shall
not be handed over to the Japanese un-
less they so desire.
The japanese did not lose a man,
None Of the feet. which is known to
have been in overwhelming force, was
damaged.
The engagement was watched by four
foreign warships, including the United
States gunboat Vicksburg. They all sa-
luted the Japanese flag Thursday. it be-
ing the great national festival of Kige-
netsu, the anniversary of the access ion
the foundation Of the present imperial
line, 1854 years ago.
Planning Lines of Defense.
New York, Feb. 13.-The japanese
troops landed at Gensan are intended to
operate with the troops that have now
been successfully landed st Ping Yang.
on the opposite side of the Corean
peninsula, says World dispatch from
Kobe, Japan.
These two forces constitute Jaoan's
SSCOAu AAAC VI ucACASC d6d4uSL lie nus
SLAMS who are marching over the Yalu
into Corea.
A first line Of defense has been ar
ranged. It is composed Of picked
troops, who are lined up along the south
bank OF the Yalu.
1t is, however, considered most un-
likely that this army will reach it's
destination in time to intercept the in
vading Russians.
!: The. second line may fail to hold the
invaders, in which case it is expected
that a land battle would take place not
far from Seoul.
In any case the japanese preparations
are made with a view of closing in on
any body Of Russian troops that sue
ceeds in forcing it's way into the in
terror of Corea
Mobilization of the army has been eff
fected without hitch. The Transporter
ton Of soldiers and supplies by means
of the railway from the interior to the
coast proceeded with great precision.
and rancher and had made scores of
friends among the young men. and wom-