The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-05
Have Been Storing t Away
 for Years
PORT ARTHUR IS BLOCKED
Feeling In St. Petersburg Is Much Re- lIeved Since Assurance Is Made of England's Non.
 Interference.

London, March 5.-Little change in the far eastern situation is noted this morn- ing. It is apparent that the Japanese are busily engaged in transporting their forces in Korea, and .this work is being facilitated by the forced inactivity of the navy.
 According to the Sabastopol correspond ent of the Daily Graphic, Admiral Skrid- oloff has learned privately from Port Ar thur that the Russian battleship Retvizan lies in such position as to block effect ually the exit of battleships from the harbor the passage being practicable only for cruisers.
 The correspondent adds that Russia's new battleships now building on the Bal tic will not be ready for active commits sion before the end of August.
 Hc3 Much Coal Stored.
 The Japanese official who has charge of Japan's financial and commercial af- fairs in England, declares that his gov ernment foresaw the possibility of coal being declared a contraband of war, and that it has been collecting large stores of Welsh steam coal for years, so that today 1t has a supply sufficient for the needs of the navy for years to come. The recent Japanese elections resulted rather favorably to the ministerIalists, without greatly altering the strength of political parties there The returns are approX- mately 19O constitutionalists. 96 progress sives, 70 without party and SS members from small groups
 Personal Message From Mikado.
 According to the Tol1io correspondent of the Standard, the Mikado has sent per- assuring him that war was declared sole ly with the view of securing permanent peace and expressing the sincere wish that the recently concluded Japanese-<o- rean protocol should increase the in- timacy of the two countries.
 Much Rettev 7eellng Exists.
 St. Petersburg, Maroh 4-There exists a. high authority for gbe statement that Russia now has reason to feel more tran quil regarding the attitude of Great Brit ain.
 The real reason of the visit to St. Pet ersburg of Count Benckendorff. Russian ambassador to Great Britain, while os- tensibly to see his son off to the far east, was personally to assure his government of his belief that suspicious harbored here concerning Japans ally were ill-founded, and Great Britain, although standing by the obligations of the Anglo-Japanese treaty, would not move unless compelled so to do by the entrance into affairs in the far east of a third power
 Long Interview With czar.
 Count Benekendorff had a long interview with the czar as well as with Foreign Minister Lamsdorff and the Associated Press learns that he convinced the au- thorities that Great Britain's assurances that the Anglo-Japanese treaty contained no secret clauses, and that it was not di- rected especially against Russia. its sole purpose being, according to the British authorities, the preservation of the bal ance of power In the far east, which might be threatened by another coalition, such as followed the Chlno-Japanese war, and which resulted in the exclusion of Great Britain from further international settle ment of far eastern questions.
 As the Associated Press Is also credibly informed that the British and French governments have reached a thorough un- derstanding by which they have pledged mutual non-interference, Russia now feels much more secure against European com plications.
 The more moderate tone of both the English and the Russian press during the last few days Is considered additional evidence of a better understanding be- tween the two governments.