The San Francisco call., 1904-02-25

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. A.-The
Russian Government believes a deep
impression has been made upon inter
national synpathies by the note on the
subject of Japan's alleged violation OF
! the law of nations, sent to the Russian
/ ambassadors on Monday. The Govern
ment lays especial stress upon the Jap
anese action at ChemulpO. where, it is
pointed out. the Japanese seized and
cut the communications in order TO
prevent Pavloff, the Russian Minister,
and the Russian warships Variag and
Koreitz receiving news of the rupture
! Of diplomatic relations and then
| pounced upon the ships with a greatly
superior force.
Russia contends that this action
places Japan outside the pale of civil
| lied nations and that It smacks so
| much of barbarism that IT must offend
the chivalric sense OF civilized fair play.
| In diplomatic circles the presentation
| of Russia's case Is considered strong,
the opinion being, even in unfriendly
| quarters, that Japan in her haste To
cripple the Russian feet at the outset,
committed a blunder by thus striking
a blow without warning, for which the
destruction of two ships will not COM
pensate.
( 1t Is further pointed out that II
Japan had allowed Pavloff to return
! TO Russian port on board a Russian
warship her magnanimity would have
been universally applauded-
BUYING HORSES FOR JAPAN.
Prince Lojanoff, the Governor OF the
province of Tambov, has issued a warn
| ing to the peasants Of that province
against selling horses to dealers, who
are trying TO buy 5000 horses. ostensibly
1 for the British army, but really for the
Japanese.
| Baron Budburg is starting for the
Far East to organize a hOtiIla Of ten
hospital barges on the Amur River.
Kokovizhoff, on assuming the direc-
/ tion of the Finance Ministry, paid i
glowing tribute to Witte, the former
Minister of Finance, but said he would
not venture at this crisis TO formulate
| a programme, reserving that task until
/ the return of the blessing of peace.
The Novosti, reviewing the resources
of the treasury, figures that the total
amount at the disposal of the Govern
ment for the conduct Of the war is
1926, 900. 900. which it considers to be
/ quite sufficient, in view of the fact
/ that a far more expensive campaign,
the Turkish war, waged on foreign ter
ritory, cost only $500, coo. 900; but if this
is not sufficient the paper contends.
Russia easily can obtain a loan at
home or abroad, so long as her none
tary system remains sound. The No
yosti adds:
There is no fear of the depreciation
of the ruble. and if Russia outlives the
war without the ruble falling it will
be her greatest victory"
DISEASE AIENACES ARMY.
The army journal raises a warning.
saying that the Japanese will not be
so dangerous as the diseases that viii
decimate the army in the field. recall
ing the fact that Russia lost twice as
many men by disease during the Turk
ish war as by the bullets of the enemy,
and urging the organization of hy-
gienie and disinfectant corps within
and in the rear of the army
The family of Hebrew surgeon Of
Kieff, who volunteered for service at
the front, is attracting much attention
in Russian official circles. Under the
law his family was forbidden to reside
at Kieff after the surgeons departure
and the police ordered the members
of the family to withdraw inside the
Jewish pale. The papers argue that
the family of a man who has gone into
the service of his country should not
be punished, and the authorities prob
ably will rescind their action.
There is an incessant influx of sub
scriptions OF money and contributions
of jewelry and other articles toward
the fund being raised to strengthen the
navy and aid the families of the vic
tins of the war. People of all reIig-
ions-Jews, Catholics. Lutherans and
Mohammedans-arev vying with one an
other and the members of the Ortho-
doX church in the display of patriot
ism, while the peasants and workmen
are contributing as freely in proper
ton to their means as the mobiles and
officials.
Several hundred Turcomans have an
piled to the Governor General OF
Turkestan to be sent to the fighting line
The reports Of RussophiIe demonstra-
tions in France, Italy and the Slav
countries are eagerly welcomed and the
occurrences are regarded by the Rus
sian press as symptoms of an eventual