The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-26

Escape Gross Fire from Shore Bat
teries.
New York, March 26.--Baron Kan
exc, the Japanese statesman now in
this country on an important mission,
had this to say regarding the inter-
view with Count Cassini, the Russian
ambassador:
First" he said, in the peculiar and
gentle manner of his race, Il should
Hike to speak of the remark regarding
Japan's attack at midnight on the
Russian ships, whose crews were
asleep-if that assertion be true-it
was an act Numerically opposed to
the customs and usages Of civilized
nations. But were those crews
Easleep? I should like to know. Let
! us judge from Admiral Togos report
liz the Russians We're unaware OF the
| existence Of war.
| The baron arose and taking a sheet
| of paper drew sketch of the posi-
| ton of the Russian fleet at Port
! Arthur. ~. 5a.#
+ When our ships came toward Port Ar
| thur we found the Russian Warsh1ps
| formed in battle array, in front OF Inc
batteries on the shore. :
| Our Ships forming in single file made
straight for Russia's center in the face
| following parallel with our battleshlps.
| Suddenly, as we approached, the Rus
| sian fleet steamed across the mouth OF the
entrance to Port Arthur, thus giving their
shore batteries free range at our meet ana
putting themselves Under the hill on the
| opposite side of the mouth OF the Day ana
funder their guns on the hill fortificati tons,
| straight front toward the enemy %Heet. SEA.
+ i: : K The Battle Is General.
Admiral Togo Immediately moved our
battleships to the left and approached,
not in single file, as before, but in a
straight front toward to enemys fleet.
t. Thean a heavy fire commenced on both
| sides, and under cover of this lombard
ment our torpedo boats moved straight
along their course, passing directly under
the shore batteries of the Russians, and
wheeled around in front Of our fleet, be-
tween us and the enemy, then making
straight for the Russians, covered by the
continuous fire of the two fleets
Baron Kanekou. followed ., his re-
marks with his pencil SKETCH. hen
the description Of the Port Arthur
fight was over he. resumed his seat,
the soft smile returning to his face.
F. ."Does it appear that the: Russians
were 'surprised?'" he said qufetlyf
and continued: ...... -, .
/, Now, in relation to the charges that
:"
Japan took advantage of Russia's :unpre-
paredness, the facts make this appear ut
terly untrue. - A#*:EzE :. = lzzS;.sS:::%~:
I Since last April Russia has increasedsher
naval strength in eastern waters sbA2three
battleships, with a tonnage of :3Sy 00o ore
armored cruiser, with a tonnage of 7,7OO;
five cruisers, with a tonnage of $4,000;
seven destroyers, with a tonnage of $4,000;
one gunboat and two vessels for laying
making
teen ships. with a total tonnage of $4,000.
Ships from Everywhere.
Besides the Russian government ordered
of her own fleets, from different quarters
of the globe ships in total tonnage of 81,
| 74O to be concentrated to the east, tho
these were afterward called back and did
not reach the east.
At the time of the outbreak Of hostil-
tiles Russian had a. tonnage of 2O3,785 wal
/ vessels lin Asiatic waters. rs IL. s Z . S:
lr;#In regard to her land forcess Russia, Had
| in addition to her military forces alFeady
stationed in Manchuria. an army Of 2B0, 00t
ready to mobilize in theheast. sssts ;tts:E
i LIN Manchuria, she had between 100000
4 and 100000 men scattered from Vladiyos-
tok to Port Arthur, Hardin and: other ia,
leastern cities. Does not this look like de:
\ ctded preparation for actual war q J. =
I If Russia expected toSconcentratet ant
settle the diplomatic question with: Japan
why should she mobilize such: enormous
land forces and such an enormous feet o1
i war vessels? Yet. they say they were I'm.
prepared for war! ~ y g.. ~: ~
\ No reasonable man would say that 3
I nation doing these things was not pre-:
pairing for war t, ii ~ ~ Z { =
Attempt to Get .Masarpho. :. 7
It is said that it is Japan's ambition tc
make Masampho a japanese Gibraltar and
to menace Europe and America.
Let us see who wants Masampho. Every
diplomat and strategist in Europe and
: Am erica who understands Asiatio politics
knows. The, Russian government s has
taken Port Arthur. and VladiyostokS
Masampho, at the extreme south Of Ko-
rea, would be the apex of the strategic
wedge that would not only encompass
Korea, but be a perfect triangle of forti-
fed ports-a dagger pointed at the heart
Of Japan. =
That was Russia's ultimate. ambition
! many. times attempted thru influence, for
Russia has often sought the lease of Ma
+ sampho from Korea -. I 80 !:
: :, The present war is not the outcome OF
Japan's ambition to predominant in Asia
+ or to menace the interests or rights OF
i western powers, because no nation with
=. only 900, 900 troops on a war footing would
declare war against. an enemy that has
100000.
No nation would ever think Of fightina
a nation eight times as powerful So the
fact Is apparent that our fight is not fol
conquest but for national existence anc
national honor.
American Advice Followed.
During the last fifty years, since tn.
advent Of Commodore Perry, we have fol
lowed the advice of the American people
and the American government and intro
duced every method Of Anglo-America1
civilization, political and social.
i We have at last attained the presen
conditions. We are fighting to maintain
= the progress for which we have striyei
4 for; fifty years.
! 6: In the midst of reaping the harvest o
Anglo American civilization we are forced
into war. If we are defeated wester,
progress will end.
There will be no further hope Of nour
ishing a CHRISTIAN civilization on the con
tinent of Asia.
Cheap Excursions.
Now Is your time to see the glori.
GUS Northwestern Country between
Minneapolis and the Pacific Ocean
:E3e Northern Pacific will sell a cheal
e-way co1onist excursion ticket 'dail