The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-02

csc legation last night issued long
dispatch from the government at
Toxic giving it's reply to the Russian
note to the powers charging the jap
anese with opening hostilities without
a formal declaration Of war. The
statement Is as follows:
The Russian government has charged
Japan with having treacherously obtained
q victory by sudden attack upon RUS
sia who was bent on maintaining peace.
1t Is further asserted that since a. rupture
of diplomatic relation can never be looked
upon as the opening Of hostilities, and
since Japan did not issue declaration of
war until Feb. II, she has been guilty Of
g. fragrant breach of the principles Of in
ternational law in making as early as Feb.
s most unwarrantable attacks on the Rus
sian men-of.War and merchant vessels.
That Russia never entertained any SIM
cere desire for peace can be clearly seen
from It's own conduct.
BY delays that could not be construed
as otherwise than wanton and unnecessary
\ she put off the settlement Of the questions
! at issue, while at the same time busily ex-
tending her naval and military prepara-
lions. 5%t@2
Her warlike preparations in the far east
since last April, when she failed to carry
Manchuria, are In full confirmation OF
these statements.
During that time the increase made In
her naval strength In the far east was as
follows. Three battleships, tonnage 49,
4S8; one armored cruiser, tonnage 7,726;
five curisers, tonnage. 26, AIT; seven de-
stroyers, tonnage, ;2,A50; one gunboat, ton
mage, 1894; two vessels for laying mines
tonnage 5000; total number Of vessels, 19.
with total tonnage Of S2,415.
In addition to these vessels, the Russian
government sent torpedo destroyers in sec
lions by rail to Port Arthur, where the
work of putting them together has been
FASTENED and several Of them have already
been completed.
Furthermore, two vessels Of the volun-
teer fleet were armed at Vladivostok and
hoisted the Russian naval ensign. The
Russian government also ordered to the
far east one battleship, three cruisers,
seven torpedo boat destroyers and IL num-
Der of torpedo boats, total tonnage of
about SO47O which would have Joined the
Russian squadron in the far east had not
conditions subsequently compelled Russia
to recall them. - . ....
These vessels, If added to the others
brought to the far east during the progress
Of negotiations would have made a total
increase in Russia's naval strength OF
about 113, 900 TONS
J. During the same period the increase OF
Russia's land forces in the far east has
been equally marked. Since June troops
have been constantly sent by military
train from Russia to the far east, unit
at the beginning Of February the tota
augmented strength Of the Russian force:
was over 100000. At the same time, plan!
were being made for sending, if neces
sary, over 100000 men more.
During the same period there has beer
the greatest activity possible at Port Ar
thur and at Vladivostok, and work ha
been carried on day and night to strength
the Notifications Of those naval posts
while forts have been built at Hun Chun
Liao-yan and other strategic points an
large quantities Of arms and ammunition
have been sent to the far east by tn
Siberian railway and the vessels of tn
volunteer fleet. In the middle Of Octobe
last a train of fourteen cars were hur
riedly sent from Russia laden with tn
equipment of a field hospital.
In the latter part of January and up t
the beginning of February military activ
ity was still further intensified.
On Jan. 81 about two battalions of In
fantry and q detachment of cavalry we1
sent from Port Arthur and Dalny to tn
northern frontier Of Korea, and Jan.
formal order to prepare for war was give
by Admiral Alexieff to the forces WI
were stationed in the vicinity Of Yalu.
On Feb. 1 the military commandant /;
Vladivostok, under the orders of his go,
eminent, requested the Japanese comme
cial agent at that port to notify his matte
that as a state of siege might be pr
claimed at any moment they must NAL
immediate preparations to withdraw
Habnrovsk.
About the same date all Of the warshi]
ut Port Arthur, except battleship the
under repairs, made q naval demonstrs
ton by leaving port, while troops were a,
vanced in large numbers from Liau-yar
toward the Yalu.
Seeing that the situation had become
critical that it admitted Of no further d
lay the Japanese government was cor
PEELED to break off negotiations that HI
proved abortive and to take the necessa
steps for self-protection.
But the responsibility for the challen
to war rests not with Japan, but sole
with Russia.
On Feb. 6 Japan announced to Russ
her decision to sever her diplomatic rel
tons with Russia, which, for the reas
named, had ceased to possess value al
to withdraw her legation.
1t has been the common practice
recent wars to declare war after hosti
ties have been begun. Japan's actic