The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-11
CHINA'S INTEGRITY WILL
BE ASSURED BY ACTION
OF THE UNITED STATES
(coNCLUpEp PROM FIRsT PAGEl

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGED
that his government has no intention of
recognized that Korea is the natural bat
tleground. and II is useless even TO discuss
the naturalization OF that country
The decision to issue the proclamation
was made this afternoon, after Secretary
of State Hay had held brief conference
with the President. He communicated 10
the President the result of an interview
with Count Cassini. the Russian ambaS-
sador at which the ambassador informed
this government that Russia formally had
declared war on japan. The counts COM
munication with the department was In
writing 1t was a dispatch from the Rus
sian Foreign Office to the ambassador and
was couched in French, being substantially
as follows;
During the night of Feb. a detach-
ment of japanese torpedo boats unexpect-
edly attacked the Russian squadron lying
at anchor in the outer roadstead OF FORT
Arthur. This attack being the beginning
OF military prepare ions, obliges the I'M
perial government to take immediate meas
ures to reply by armed force 10 the chal-
lenge issued against Russia. Be good
enough to inform the government of the
United States"
REPORTS FROM CONSULS.
The United States legation at Toxic made
two reports to-day TO the State Department
upon the battles. Strangely enough, the
news of the engagement at Chemulpo was
known in Toxic some time before word
came Of the preceding Port Arthur affair.
The first reads: "A naval engagement was
begun to-day at noon 9TH outside the har-
Dor of Chemulpo. The japanese squadron
sunk the Russian gunboat Korietz at 4:lO
p. m. and overcame the cruiser Variag.
Hostilities were begun by the Russian gun
boats firing upon japanese TORPEDO boat.
A later dispatch from the Japanese con-
sui at Che-Foo, just across the strait from
Port Arthur reports: Entire japanese
fleet engaged Russian fleet outside Port Ar
thur at IL d. m. on the Sth. Two Russian
| battleshps were sunk by torpedOes. The
Russian ships outside the harbor were un-
able to enter. No damage TO japanese
| fleet"
Another dispatch from Toxic stated that
/ no japanese lives were lost in the engage
ment at Chemulpo.
Naval interest in the fighting continues
at the highest point. One of the highest
officers Of the navy, commenting upon the
press accounts of the engagements, says
| that the lesson to be drawn Is the abso-
| lutte necessity of maintaining a navy in
| continuous service instead of following the
! old plan of laying up ships in reserve, as
has been practiced by Russia. Japan, like
| the United States, has for the last two
years kept almost every naval ship that
| either cruising or maneuvering so as to re-
| produce the actual conditions of war as
| near as possible. Another demonstration o,
| the Port Arthur and Chemulpo affairs wa:
| the perfection of the japanese information
| division. their naval commanders seemed
| to be at every moment in possession OF full
| information OF the Russian movements an(
the disposition Of the Russian ships.
| Mr.. Griscom, the American minister a
| Toxic, has been directed TO request tn,
| Japanese government that the following
| army officers may accompany the Japanes
| army: Col. +. H. Crowder general staff
| Capt. ]. F. Morrison, Twentieth Infantry
| Capt. Frederick Marsh, artillery corps
| Capt. j. Il. Kuhn, engineer corps.