The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-08
IONnON VIEWS


 London, Feb. S-Sueh expressions as .the possibility of avoiding h0stilities" re- ceive scant attention here and nobody be- lievees but that fighting will begin almost immediately.
 The British press displays a very full appreciation of the delicate and difficult problems facing the government, owing to the alliance with Japan. and much ques- tiOning is indulged as to whether the min isters have fully weighed their responsibi- iities. Some papers go so far as to ques- tion the advisability of the war office re form scheme being put into immediate ex- ecutiOn as 1t disDlaces many officers who must have prepared war plans for the emergency of Great Britain becoming ln- volyed in the far eastern hostilities.
 Granting the adyisability of change, received with a considerable share of ap- proyal. The council recommended by the Lord Esher commission consists of War Sec retary Arnold-Forster, Lieutenant General Neville, Colonial Secretary Lyttleton, Maj Gen. c. ". Douglas. Major General Plumer, Maj. Gen. Sir J. ". Murray. the Earl of Donoughmore. Under Secretary for War Hon. William Bromley Davenport. financial secretary of the war office. and Sir E: w. D. Ward, permanent under-secretary of the war office.
 The editorial articles in the press this morning universally justify Japan in break Ing off diplomatic relations with Russia, and admit that Russia had exhausted her patience.
 The Daily Chronicle, however, while ad- mitting this, says 1t thinks It a pity that Japan did not await actual receipt or the reply, because in the not impossible event of a close war and the powers having q voice in the settlement, some of them may be inclined to guide their decision by the fact that Japan took the initiative. For the rest the pro-Japanese feeling IS very upon the great need of the utmost efforts to localize the quarrel. The Daily Telegraph concludes it's editorial article with these words:
 CT rests the responsibility of averting 8 universal disaster from mankind, and that is common task which every indictment ffem of frifOdshP fn fh reason and duty must move
 Telegrams from Tokio published here this morning announce that an emergency coun- cil of ministers was held Sunday and that Marquis Ito and Field Marshal Oyama nad an audience of the emperor.
 A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Kobe says that Baron de Rosen will be received in farewell audience by the emperor Feb ruary II. reports the utmost activity on the part Of the railroads, which are rapidly conveying troops to ports of embarkation. The streets of the capital are full of animation and the coming and going of soldiers.
 The people are calm and confident the correspondent continues. and there is no excitement.
 The Tokio correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that Russian troops have already crossed the Corean frontier and that an official declaration of war Is ex- pected Monday. He adds that Russian in terests in Japan have been placed Tn the hands of the Austrian minister, the Italian minister having declined to undertake tnis mission.
 Baron de Rosen had q brief interview with Baron Komura Sunday, the Daily Telegraph correspondent continues, and Baron komura afterwards had an audience of the emperor. The government has char tered steamers of the Nippon Yusen, osa- ka -Shosen and Mitsui- Russian lines.
 A correspondent of the Daily Mall at Seoul says he learns that Japan has yarn ed non combatants to withdraw from song chin. and all Japanese women, children, etc. north of Chongju and Jensan to come south. This Is supposed to indicate Jap ans intention to strike through northern Corea in the direction of Harbin and the Manchurian railroad. .n
 ii is pointed out that there are at the present moment thirteen large Japanese liners at foreign ports, which VII run great great risks if they attempt to return hone.
 The correspondent of the Times at Io- kio cables that the Russian gunboat Mana, Man.i, fur, which is in dock at Nagasaki, VIII nnrobably not be able to leave that port before hostilities begin.