The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-02
IN SELF DEFENSE.
Japan Issues Il Statement Re-
garding the War
Designed to Justify the Opening
of HOstilities.
RUSSIA IN BAD LIGHT.
The Negotiations We're Delayed
Unnecessarily
While She Continued Her Prep
aratiOns for War.
RUSSIA IN BAD LIGHT.

government is given out by the Japa-
nese minister:
The Russian government has charged
Japanese with having treacherously
obtained victory by a sudden attack
upon Russia who was bent on MAIN
tanning peace. 1t is further asserted in
these communiques that since rup-
ture of diplomatic relations can never
be looked upon as the opening of hos
tilities, and since Japan did not issue
q declaration of war until the eleventh
hour she has been guilty of fragrant
breach of the principle of information
al law in making as early as the Sth
of February most understandable at
tacks on Russian men of war and mer-
chant vessels.
THE answer to these charges may be
found in the action of Russia herself
That her government never entertained
any sincere desire for peace can be
clearly seen from its own conduct
Throughout the whole course of the ne
gotiations Russia persistently refused
to meet the proposals made by Japan
in a moderate and conciliatory spirit.
These delays could not be construed
as otherwise than Wanton and unnec-
essary. She put off the settlement OF
the questions at issue, While at the
same time busily extending her naval
ana ullElt1Iy pI6pdIdllOIlSg ncI "
preparations in the far east since last
April, when she failed to carry out her
treaty engagements. During that time
the increase made in her naval strength
IN the far east was as follows:
Three battleshfps, tonnage 38, 48S;
one armored cruiser tonnage, I,727; hVe
cruisers, tonnage 26, Az; seven Destroy
ers, tonnage 2,450; one gunboat, ton
mage 1,334; two vessels for laying mines,
tonnage 5000; total number of vessels,
10 with q tonnage of 90 Ala
I'm addition to these vessels the Rus
sian government sent torpedo destroy
ers in sections by rail to Port Arthur
where the work of putting them to-
gether has been fastened and seven of
them have already been completed.
Furthermore, two vessels of the volun-
teer fleet were armed a Vladivostock
and hoisted the Russian naval ensign.
The Russian government also ordered
to the far east one battleship, three
cruisers, three destroyers and four tor
pedo boats, of a total tonnage of about
30 TAO, which would have joined the
Russian squadron in the far east had
not circumstances subsequently COM
PEELED Russia to recall them. These
vessels, If added to the others brought
to the far east during the progress of
negotiations, would have made total
increase in Russia's naval strength of
about $4,000 tons.
''During the same period the increase
of Russia's land forces in the far east
has been equally marked. Since the
29th of last June, when under the pre-
text of trial of the transportation on
the Siberian railway the Russian gov
eminent sent to China two infantry
brigades two artillery battaliOns and a
large force of cavalry, troops have been
constantly sent by military train from
Russia to the far east, until the Rus
sian force was over forty thousand. AT
the same time plans were being made
for sending, if necessary, over 100000
men more.
During the same period there has
been the greatest activity possible at
Port Arthur and at Vladisvostock and
work has been carried on day and night
to strengthen the Qualifications of these
naval ports while forts have been built
at Hunchun, Liza Yang and other Stra-
tegetic points and large quantities of
arms and ammunition have been sent to
the far East by the Siberian railway,
and the vessels of the volunteer fleet.
In the middle of October last. a train
of fourteen cars. were hurriedly sent
from Russia laden with the equip
ment of a field hospital From these
military and naval preparations of
every description made during the
progress of the negotiations it is quite
evident that Russia was not inclined
to a friendly settlement of the questions
under discussion between Japan and
herself, but sought solely by her mill
tary preponderance to force Japan into
submission. During the latter part of
February Russian military activity was
still further intensified On January 81
about two battaliOns of infantry and
detachment of cavalry We're sent from
Port Arthur and DaIny to the north
ern frontier of Korea. and on January
% a formal order to prepare for war
was given by Admiral Alexieff to the
forces which We're stationed in the vi
cinity of the Yalu. On February 1 the
military commandment at Vladivostock
under the orders of his government,
requested the Japanese commercial
agent at that port to notify his nation
that state of siege might be pro-
claimed at any moment and they must
make immediate preparations to with
draw to Habnrovsk About the same
date all the warships at Port Arthur
except a battleship then under re-
pairs, made a naval demonstra ton by
leaving port, while troops were advanc-
ing in large numbers from Lao Yang
toward Yalu. In view of these facts
who can say that Russia had no war
like intentions or that she was I'M
prepared for war? Seeing that the sit
uation had become so critical that it
admitted of no further delay, the Jap
anese government was comDelled to
break off negotiations that had proved
abortiVe and to take the necessary
steps for self-protection. But the re-
sponsibility for the challenge of war
Russia
"On the 9Th of February Japan an
nounced to Russia her decision to termi-
nate the pending negotiations and to take
such independent action as she might
deem best to defend her position men
aced by Russia, and to protect her es-
tablished rights and legitimate interests.
At the same time the government of
Japan informed the Russian govern
ment that as its moderate and unset
fish proposals in the interest of a firm
and lasting peace in the far east had
not received the consideration which
was their due, Japan had resolved to
sever her diplomatic relations with Rus
STA, which for the reason named had
ceased to possess value, and to with
draw her legation.
THE terms independent action nat