Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-04
NIcERoY ALERloFF GIVEN Au.
: THoRlTY4To TAKE DECISIVE
STEP,
JAPAN TO MEET CRISIS
Delay in Russia's Reply Has Caused
the chasm Between the Two Nations
1 to Widen Rather Than Narrow--Ac.
! tive Preparations for War. ...4-


6OIl3OIig Obs Ss-"FNs SsSS ~ Tvs
Is dispatch to Reuters Telegram =
= Co. from ST. Petersburg, dated y
. yesterday, forwarded by way of :
. the frontier, says the Russian gen.
e eral staff has given Viceroy Alex
y Jeff authority to declare war and
: open hostiIities on his own re-
g sponsibiIity, if circumstances rem
8 der it necessary. The dispatch
= adds that an imperial manifesto
y declaring war is expected if the
= Japanese do not accept the cond-
= tions proposed in Russia's re-
y sponse, which, it is asserted, will
{" be Russia's last word.
D 4 ~ @ Il = y i 4 Il x x #x ** y 4
Toxic, Feb. S.-Events today in
dicate that the prolonged tension
has reached climax.
The marquis of Ito was sum-
moned from the country during
the night and today the emperor
received him and council of the
elder statesmen was held with the
+ + .
war minister and three admirals,
The highest officials make no
concealment of their evaporation
by the tardiness of the Russian
reply and an unofficial dispatch
yesterday said the Russian deci-
sion means war.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 3.-The AS
sociated Press is semi-officially as
sured that the Russian response
to Japan will not be sent before
February 5 at the earliest. The
tension is unquestionably increas-
ing. but beyond the decided Russi-
an military activity there is little
definite news.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 3.-The Seou
Fusan railroad has been occupied b
8 the Japanese troops, according to
dispatch from Vladivostock, whic,
adds that the Japanese have take
field guns to Seoul for protecting thei
legation. They are building barrack
for the accommodate of cavalry.
Russian Preparations.
Port Arthur, Feb. 3.-In response t
the Japanese war measures importan
naval and military movements hav
been effected here. The Russia
squadron heretofore inside the harbol
consisting of five battleships and tw
cruisers, has Joined the outside flee
which comprised three battleships, fiv
cruisers and one torpedo gunboat.
s. Charts corean Coast.
The cruiser Boyaran has just arri,
ed here from Chemulpo, Corea, wit
complete japanese charts Of the Core
an coast.
In consequences of the narrow an
dangerous entrance at low water
took the warships three days to &c
out of the harbor. Three war vessel
remain in the harbor.
Troops Leave Port Arthur.
The third brigade of the Siberia
rifles and two batteries of artiller
have started for an unannounced de
tination from Liao-Y Yang, south of Mul
len. Altogether about 5000 troop
have departed. leaving 10000 men {
Port Arthur, exclusive of the trooI
manning the Notifications.
Coal Supply Cut Off.
Z Arrivals of Japanese coal has bee
stopped
Railway Business Crippled.
In consequence the military author
ties are monopolizing the use of tt
railroad and the latter has decline
to transport any more commerci
freight.
Telegraph Messages Refused.
:, The telegraph company declines
accept any more press or private me
, sages SO they will have to be route
via Chefoo.
Smallpox At Chefoo.
Forty-eight hours quarantine hi
{ been ordered against Chefoo on a
count of smallpox.
Do Not Mean War.
The authorities declare that the
naval and military dispositions shou
be regarded as precautionary, not
offensive