The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-01-28
SITUATION IN THE FAR EAST
RUsso--JAPANEsE HEGoTiA-
 TIoNs STILL GOING ON.

sf. Petersburg Declares There is No Change in the acknowledgement Le- Eatlon Does Not Credit Report That Japan Has Requested Russia to Hasten Her Reply.
 St Petersburg, Jan. 27.-The ex- changes regarding the Russian response to the Japanese note are still progress ing, and the foreign office here an- nounces to-day that there is no change in the situation. The Japanese legation does not credit the report from Tokio that Japan has requested Russia to hasten her reply. M. Kurino, the Jap anese minister, has received no instruc- tions on the subject. On the contrary, he apparently ralizes that the delay is consequent upon exchanges between St. Petersburg, Viceroy Alexieff and Baron De Rosen, the Russian minister at To- kio. M. Kurino reiterates his opinion that Japan will not press Russia for a reply
 The admiralty insists that the move ments of Russian ships in the neigh borhood of Port Arthur are entirely without significance, saying in explana- ton that they are probably merely rou- tine changes of station and certainly made without the expectation of col- lision.
 A prominent admiral said in an in- terview to-day:
 "The admiralty believes in the peace ful termination of the negotiations. Some of our ships in the Far East are still in reserve The steps now being taken should be described as precau- tionary, rather than warlike prepara- tions.
 Prince Khilkoff, minister of railroad communications, will leave here in a few days for Irkutsk to inspect the nearly completed railroad line around Lakes Baikal, which connects the two ends of the Siberian railroad. This connection, which will permit the movement of through trains, is consid- cred of great advantage especially in the event of winter military exigencies. The czar, when voicing his approval of Prince Khillxoff's mission, said, in sub stance, that he desired peace, which, he believed, would not be broken, but that it was proper to be prepared for all emergencies.
 Some of the Russian newspapers are again becoming bellicose. The Bourse Gazette declares that Russia has reached the parting of the ways. It discusses seriously The Yellow Peril : contending it to be the duty of the powers to intervene as they did after the China-Japanese war. The Gazette concludes it's article with saying that, if Japan persists in her warlike atti- tude, Russia is not going to be intimi- dated.
 The Novoe Vremya says the conver- sion of the reserve bat talions into reg iments, which was not carried out some months ago for financial reasons, is now executed because more military units are needed in the east and be- cause Germany's military increase Of recent years demands a second line of defense.
 To-day was diplomatic day in St. Petersburg. Count Lamsdorf, the for eign minister, did not receive.
 
 Paris, Jan. 2S.-The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Paris edition of the New York Herald has telegraphed an extraordinary story to the effect that Germany and Denmark have reached an understanding under the terms of which, in the event of Great Britain fighting with Japan against Russia, Germany would anlicably oc- cupy Copenhagen with powerful force, thus effectively closing the Bal tic and preventing the Russians from leaving or the British from leaving that sea-
 London, Jan. 2S.-Dispatches receiv- ed here to-day on the far eastern situ- alton do not reveal any change therein. The Japanese government is holding conferences with bankers and others with regard to providing sinews for a possible war. Cablegrams from Tokio comment significantly upon the calm and confident attitude of the Japanese people.
 According to the correspondent of the Daily Mail at Che Foo, everything points to an impending Japanese cour in Corea, for which both. military and naval preparations are being made.
 London, Jan. 2s.-Correspondents of The Times in the principal towns ot Russia report active warl;ke prepara- tions and the belief that war is ap. preciably nearer. At Vladivostock large orders have been given out fol American corned beef for the Russian navy.
 The correspondent of the Times al Rangoon reports continued heavy ship. ments of rice from Burms.h to Japan.
 VIII Impose War Tax.
 London, Jan. 2S.-The Times this morning publishes the following dis. patch from it's Tokio correspondent:
 The government has resolved to i'm. pose a war tax by doubling the land ta1 and the income tax, thereby obtaining