Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-02-09
4 Report That the Japanese Squd-
dr0n Has Made d Torpedo Attack
Upon the Russian Fleet at Port
Acknowledgment Nations Begin
to Declare Their Neutrdlity---
Excitement at St. Petersburg.

London Feb. 9-The Japanese min
lister, Baron Hayashi said this after.
noon, Russia is making desperate eff
forts through various embassies to
have the powers intervene. Russia is
now willing to concede everything but
the offer comes too late"
| The minister added: Il learn on
good authority that the reply Russia
intended to send merely reiterated all
the cardinal points to which Japan
consistently objected. Hayashi says
that he received a cablegram an.
nouncing the departure of the Japan
ese fleet for the Yellow Sea. He had
no news of the Port Arthur engage
ment but was aware that the il pan
ese intended to employ torpedo boats
to the fullest possible extent.
| Official Report Of Attack.
| St. Petersburg, Feb. 9-Admiral
Alexieff's official report of the attack
by the Japanese follows: "On or
about midnight of February 8-9, the
Japanese torpedo boats made a sud
den attack by means of mines upon
the Russian squadron in the outer
roads fortress of Port Arthur, In
which the battleships Retvizan and
Cesarvitch and the cruiser Paliada
were damaged. An inspection is being
made to ascertain the character OF the
damage"
Martial Law Proclaimed.
Port Arthur, Feb. 9-In consequence
of an attack by Japanese torpedo boats
martial law has been proclaimed here.
Holland viii Remain Neutral. 4,
! The Hague. Holland, FEB. s&Alii,
land has decided to remain strictly
neutral. In that case Russian vessels
bound for Port Arthur will not be al
lowed to coal at any of her ports in
East Indian waters.
Causus BeiIi.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 9-An ofhclal
communication issued today gives the
Russian account of the negotiations
which led to the rupture. The foreign
office note says: Last year the Toxic
cabinet under the pretext of establish
ing the balance of power and more
settled order of things on the shores
| of the Pacific, submitted to the imper-
ial government proposal for the re-
vision of the existing treaties with
Corea. The exchange of views were
always of friendly character but JAP
anese influences were continually at
work trying to drive the government
into an armed conflict with Russia.
Greater demands in the negotiations
were formulated by Japan, she taking
the most extensive measures all the
time to make the country ready for
war. While vigorously observing the
fundamental principle Of her policy
regarding Corea, whose independence
was guaranteed by previous under
standing with Japan and by treaties
with other powers, Russia insisted on
three points: l. On mutual and con-
ditional guarantee Of this principle. z.
On an understanding to use no part OF
Corea for strategic purposes, this be-
ing opposite to the principle of Coreas $
independence. 8. On the preserva-
ton of full freedom of navigation OF
the straits of Corea. This project did
not satisfy the Japanese government
who insisted on the provisions being
incorporated regarding the question OF
Manchuria. Such demands on the part
of Japan we're inadmissable.
Japanese Fleet Making for Port Arthur
Chez Foo, Feb. 9-The Japanese
consul formerly stationed at Dalny but
Just returned here, says that he passed
the Japanese feet today going in the
direction of Port Arthur.
France Will Preserve Neutrality.
Paris, Feb. 9-The attitude of the
French government in view of the fact
that war is now definitely determined
upon is that France will maintain neu-
trality under any and all circumstan-
ices, the Franco Russian alliance being
construed as not requiring France to
Intervene in behalf of Russia even
should Great Britain or any third pow
er intervene in behalf of Japan.
| All Hope D,spelIed.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 9-The news
that Japan has duplicated itshtactics
at the opening of the Chfno-Japanese
war by torpedo attack on the Rus-
sian ships on Port Arthur. created IN
tense excitement. The details are anx-
i0usly awaited. The press conveys
the intelligence to the people that all
lingering hopes that the war could be