The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30
ON THE YALU.
Small Parties of Russian Sol
diers Beginning to Appear.
Twenty Mounted Troopers Cross
Into Korea.
MILITARY CRUISERS.
Fleet of Merchant
Steamers Converted by Japan.
Peace Rumors Appear to Be
Based on a misunderstanding.

New York, Jan. 30.-Small parties of
Russian soldiers are beginning to ap-
pear on the banks of the Yalu river,
cables the Seoul. Korea correspondent
of the Herald. Twenty mounted troop
ers crossed into Korea at Samsao, near
the headwaters and "A reached An
Tung. They were officers said to be in
vestigating sites for barracks.
CONVERSION OF MERCHANT
STEAMERS.
San Francisco, Jan. 30.-Advices have
been received by the local agent of the
Nippon Yuzen Kasha Steamship COM
pany, operating four lines between Sc
attic and the Orient that the steamers
had just been taken over by the Papa
nese government for conversion into
auxiliary cruisers. This is the second
fleet of liners to be taken from the
merchant service between this coast
and the orient. Only recently the three
steamers of the Toyo Knesen Kashi
line running to this port were with
drawn from the service and turned
over to the japanese government.
SITUATION UNCHANGED.
London, Jan. 30.-According to the
japanese legation here Minister Girls
CONS cable message from Toxic to the
state department at Washington saying
on the authority of the British ambas-
sador at ST. Petersburg telegraphed to
the legation at Toxic that the Rus
sian reply to Japan would be satisfac-
tory, was based on the following facts:
ON January 26 the British ambas-
sador at st. Petersburg telegraphed to
Foreign Secretary LansdoWne at Lon
don that he had interviewed the Rus
sian foreign minister, Count Lamsdorff,
that morning, and that Count Lams
dorff said the Russian reply would be
dispatched the same evening, and that
he, Count Lamsdorff, believed it would
be satisfactory to Japan. These facts
were photographed to the British min
lister to Japan, Sir Claude Macdonald,
and also were communicated to the
diplomats who attended Lord Lans-
-downe's reception January 27-
Count Lamsdorff's intentions, how
ever, evidently miscarried, for the for
both confirm the statements made in
the Associated Press dispatches on the
subject from st. Petersburg and Toxic
yesterday that no reply has yet been
sent and that there is nothing to indi-
cate what its real nature will be .ex-
cept what must have been an almost
obvious utterance on the part of Count
Lamsdorff
The Daily Graphic, which today re-
asserts that the Russian reply was
communicated January 81, was prob
ably misled by a partial knowledge of
the contents of the telegram received
mere IEOHl IDG dInDdSSaQOG at
st. Petersburg, January 26, but which
subsequent events proved to be ipcOr-
rect. Baron Hayashi, the japanese
minister to Great Britain, made minute
inquiries at the foreign office yesterday
evening and was informed that the
British government had not received
any further information. Baron Hay
ashi declared the situation therefore is
quite unchanged and presumed that
Minister GriscOm in some way attrib-
uted to the British ambassador at ST.
Petersburg what really emanated from
Count Lamsdorff.
LITTLE HOPE OF PEACE.
Toxic, Jan. 30.-The government does
not, it is said, possess any Russian in
formation concerning the character of
! the forthcoming note, although it has
received various reports, the majority of
which say the reply will be satisfactory
None. however, enanates from a source
which warrants its full acceptance as
correct In the judgment of many just
now the character of the note does not
warrant the belief that Count ILamS-
dorff. the Russian foreign minister, has
given the slightest intimation of it's
contents. Even that carries little as
suTance, for the reason that the Russian
and japanese conceptions of what con-
stitutes a fair bargain vary materially.
The government of Japan does not an
ticipate receiving the Russian reply for
a few days. When it comes it will prob
ably be considered by the throne in con-
ference Win the caDlnet and elder
statesmen. The presumption that Rus
sia has made concessions does not in
the least, warrant the conclusion that
there will be a peaceful settlement of
the existing difficulties Her entire
proposition will be carefully scrutinized
and every condition and contingency of
the situation closely weighed. If the
reply should prove to be completely un-
satisfactory to Japan the outcome of
the conference is manifest. Should it
CiVa martial Satisfaction a n Ta r1f
notes is possible, although there re-
mains slight room for additional di-
plOmacy.