The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-28
No MOVEMENT
FOR MEDIATION
Time Not Yet Ripe for French
Intervention
RUSSIAN OFFICERS MERRY
Show No Depression and Entertain
Americans In Hilarious Fashion
at Lao Yang-Friendly
Toward United States.

Paris August 2-The French govern
ment is not aware of any movement tor
mediation In the war This statement
comes from the highest quarters and was
made In response to inquiries regarding
renewed representations of peace move
ment The statement that emperor VIII
liam intends to offer Russia German
goods office is not credited.
The Petit Parisienne, local paper re-
Gently published an editorial favoring for
eign mediation. The following day Lon
don daily used this editorial as the basis
for an announcement that the French
government was about to tender its medi-
alton. The foreign office here notified the
Petit Parisienne that its statements were
not warranted and its deductions were
false. The claims that France is really
anxious to offer mediation whenever there
Is the slightest chance are true but For
eign Minister Delcasse does not think the
time is yet ripe for such move.
There is a feeling that the United
States and France should put their
shoulders together to avert the probable
ity of Japan becoming the dominant
power in the far east. Japan is willing TO
sacrifice any amount of men and money
to attain a great victory.
Japan Not Alone Concerned.
The war no longer concerns Japan and
Russia but all the countries having in
terests in the far east. 1t is though here
that the war should be stopped before
either country gains the mastery of the
east
The foregoing opinions are from the
highest French official circles.
A private letter Just received from
one of the American military attaches
O. LAO Yang gives a graphic description
of .he situation and scenes At the Rus
sian headquarters The y meriean offi-
GERS accompanied a res ment of Russian
infantry engaged in evolutions south Of
that town. 1t was a veritable mud
march, the soldiers sinking above their
knees The troops showed great hard
mess and endurance, though their shoul-
der packs were heavier than the Ameri-
can officers had even seen before. They
were so heavy that the soldiers would
probably lose their packs during fight
Their rifles, of the model of 1900. Impress
ed the American attaches as being ex-
ceptional1y powerful weapons.
Officers Entertained.
On returning to Lao Yang, the Rus
sian officers, including General Alexleff,
mot the admiraD entertained the Ameri-
ean officers General Alexieff. who is a
gruff old soldier, Jocularly remarked that
he was too old to begin making friends
of Americans.
The Russian officers showed no depres-
sion over the war reverses. They were
EVEN hilarious and exchanged toasts ex-
pressing the friendly feelings of Russia for
the United States and finally demanded
that the American officers execute cake
walk. This was done so successfully that
the Russians secured blanket and tossed
the cakewalkers up in the air, despite
the fact that they were in full dress.
This was cited as evidence OF the gay
spirits prevailing.
An official report from ST. Petersburg
says the speech of Premier Balfour in
London Thursday, to the deputation from
the chamber of commerce, created a great
Impression at the Russian court, as 1t
was considered as removing the possibil-
ties of an Anglo-Russian crisis over the
stopping of neutral steamers.