Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-10
T AK AHIRA'S TALK
COUNT CASSINTS CoMMUNICA.
TON TO STATE DEPARTMENT.
Interest in Congress in the Eastern
Situation Representative Adams
Explains Our Concern in Orient.

WAL II 10 IloW 1CI Tic IIeSiucie ~ NCeSA
mine whether he will issue a neutrality
proclamation. The ambassadors communi-
cation with the department was in writing.
The Russian Announcement.
It was a dispatch from the Russian for
eign office to the ambassador, and was
couched in French, being substantially as
follows:
During the night of February SO a de-
tachment of Japanese torpedo boats UNI
expectedly attacked the Russian squadron
lying at anchor in the cutter roadstead of
Port Arthur. This attack being the begin
ming of military operations Obliges the i'm
perial government to take immediate meas
ures to reply by armed force to the chal-
lenge issued against Russia. Be good enough
10 inform the government of the United
States"
There was no discussion between the am
bassador and Secretary Hay of the State
Departments proposition to the powers
looking TO the naturalization of China. The
department is, however. satisfied. though
upon what ground cannot be learned, that
Russia is not disposed at this stage to OPP
pose the execution Of its plans. Some re-
plies to Secretary Hays note have already
been received, but it is not deemed proper
yet to make them public, or even the text
Of the note itself. 1t is not doubted that
the proposition meets with approval by the
powers. 1t is practically admitted that It's
tary or naval forces of beliigerents from all
of China south of Manchuria.
Reports of Both Fights.
The United States legation at Tokyo
made two reports this morning to the State
Department of the battles. Strangely
enough the news of the engagement at Che
niulpo was known in Tokyo some time
before word came of the preceding Port
afr "a The first reads.
"A naval engagement was begun today at
neon 9th outside the harbor Of Chemulpo.
The Japanese squadron sunk the Russi an
gunboat Korietz at 4:1O p. m. and overcame
the cruiser Variag. Hostilities were begun
by the Russian gunboats firing upon
Japanese torpedo boat"
A later dispatch from the Japanese con-
sui at Che-Foo Gust across the strait from
Port Arthur) reports: Entire Japanese
fleet engaged Russian fleet outside Port
Arthur at II pm. on the 9Th. Two Russian
battle ships were sunk by tOrpedoes. The
Russian ships outside the harbor were I'M
able to enter. No damage to Japanese
fleet" Another little dispatch from Tokyo
stated that no Japanese lives were lost in
the engagement at Chemulpo.
Lesson Of the Fighting.
Naval interest in the fighting continues at
the highest point. One of the highest
officers of the navy commenting upon the
press dispatches account of the engage
ments says that the lesson to be drawn is
the absolute necessity of maintaining a
navy in continuous service instead of fol-
lowing 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 would float constantly in COM
mission, and either cruising or maneuver-
ing so as to reproduce the actual conditions
o. war as near as possible.
Another demonstration OF the Fort Ar
thur and ChemulpO affairs was the perfec-
ton of the Japanese Information DIVISION
for their naval commanders seemed to be
at every moment in possession of full In
formation of the Russian movements and
the disposition of the Russian ships
Joy at Japanese Legation.
At the Japanese legation today there was
general rejoicing over the result of the first
blow in the war with Russia. Gable con-
firmation was received by Minister Taxa
hira of the successful engagements at Port
Arthur and Chemulpo.
At the Russian embassy Count Cassini,
the ambassador, had received no official ad
vices of the naval engagements, but ex-
pressed no doubt as to the truth of the pub
lica tons In the morning dispatches.
There is a vast difference of opinion
among the representatives of the powers
stationed In Washington over the action of
Japan in striking blow to Russia without
first having gone through the formality of
a decla ra ton of war. Inquiries at the Brit
ish. German. French and Russian embas-
sizes by reporter for The Evening Star
this afternoon showed that while none of
the representatives desired to be quoted
they are about two to one against the ne
cessity for a formal declaration of war be-
fore the actual beginning of hostilities.
AT the Russian embassy surprise was ex-
pressed that hostilities should have been
started before the accredited representa-
1t. 4, 4 J1ft tl,4t. -l~<-
1t was stated that this was the first in
stance i'll diplomatic recollection where such
a thing had occurred. In fact 1t appeared
that Russia felt somewhat aggrieyed over
the manner in which the japanese had
acted. Russia appeared more hurt over the
fact that her representative was not given
time to get out of Japan before hostilities
were begun than over the fact that no ac-
tual declaration OF war was made prior to
the blow at Port Arthur.
The attitude of the French, who, accord
ing to the morning dispatches, look upon
Japans action in striking at Port Arthur
without a formal declaration of war as UNI
fair, Is ridiculed at the japanese legation.
Attention was called by the Japanese rep
resentatives to the Franco-China differ
ences in 1885 and 1886 when. 1t was stated
the French feet fired on a fleet of Chinese
vessels upon three hours notice and de-
stroyed hundreds of lives.
The First Hostile Act.
Japan, through ner uiplomatlc repfeSen-
tative In Washington, Minister Takahira,
today made the emphatic statement that to
Russia belongs the distinction of having
committed the first overt act of the war.
This statement, which was made to a rep
resentative of The Star this afternoon. abb
solutely opposes the general opinion that
the first overt act was committed by Japan
when her fleet of torpedo boats fred on the
Russian ships off Port Arthur.
The Japanese legation today received off,
cial advices from the Japanese foreign
Office at Tokyo that on the evening Of the
Sth instant a Japanese squadron, under
command of Admiral Uria, conveying
transports. while on its way to Chemulpo
was met by the Russian gunboat Korietz;
that the Korietz assumed a hostile attitude
against the transports and then fired upon
the torpedo boats conveying them. This
attack was replied to by the torpedo boats
discharging two torpedoes, which, however,
were without effect. The Korietz then
returned to her anchorage in the port OF
Chemulpo.
On the morning Of the 9th instant, at 8
o'clock, Admiral Uria made formal demand
he Of he