Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-15

iperfect and full equipment Is ready
for each one OF the reserves.
II Hundreds of hotels, tea houses and
temples have been requisitoned IN
Toxic and other divisional centers, vi
the steamers OF Japanese merchant
lines are being rapidly converted INTO
auxiliary cruisers. armed with quick
firing guns and fitted with torpedo
tubes.
f,NO NEWS FROM THE MILITARY
-. The government officials refuse to
give out any Information regarding
their military Intentions, They expect
10 profit by dlssenslon3 In the Russian
council NJ state, It Is believed that the
extraordinary powers conferred on
Viceroy Alexicn will lead to clash be-
tween Foreign Minister Lamsdorn ana
Gen. Kuropatkin especially as the lat
ter is unfriendy 10 AleX!en The result
OF disagreement between these TWO
Russian leaders is expected here TO eld
in a military mudde
The japanese are convinced that the
Russians will be- unable to concentrate
and maintain troops at any important
point of military operations.
There is much talk current IN regard
TO the possible dynamltIng OF the Rus
sian railroad In Manchuria, Thousands
Of Japanese who are practically undls-
tinguishable from Chinese, are working
IN Manchuria, and would willingly risk
their lives 60 aid their cOuntry's cause.
A large body Of troops Is due In Ma
gasaki on Saturday to embark on
transports for Korea.
nnATr,terIXftt unnM on MINES
4 protective boom Of mines has been
placed about the entrance OF Nagasaki
harbor. Yokomaha Is also guarded by
mines.
Several Russian merchant vessels
which have been captured and have
been held as prizes have been taken to
Sasebo where TREY are well guarded.
All passing steamers are closely In
spected by a fiotilla Of torpedo boats.
Nine transports fitted with stables on
their decks were lying at Mol on Sat
urday Feb. 49,
NO AMERICAN OFFICERS ABOARD.
Washington, D. c., Feb. l5.--The
navy department denies positively that
any American naval officers were
aboard the japanese ships In the fight
government requested permission OF
both Russia and Japan to place an
American naval officer with each Of the
fleets, not as a combatant hut purely
In the capacity Of din observer. While
neither power refused the request out
right, still they did not accede.
The war department Is having equal
ly bad luck In trying to place American
military observers with the land forces
OF Russia and Japan. Eight officers
we're selected for this duty and re.
quests were made that they be permit
ted to accompany the forces I'm the
field, but a favorable response has not
yet been received and Il Is feared that
II will not be.
A DENIAL BY LANSDoWNE
London. Feb. i5.--Foreign Minister
Lansdowne announced IN the house OF
lords today that he had received ca
bic message from the commander.in-
chief Of the Chinese station, giving an
absolute denial Of the report that
Japanese fleet had been allowed to use
Wei Hal Wei as base Of operations
against Port Arthur.
The commander. ln-chief added:
"Wei Hal Wei did not know opera
lions were proceeding until | notified
them In fact, Wei Hal WEBS first
direct knowledge Of belligetrent pro-
ceedngs was the visit of the steamer
Flu Ping to report the circumstances OF
her being fired on when leaving Port
Arthur
"The air Is full OF baseless rumors,
obviously deliberately concocted.'