The San Francisco call., 1904-03-06

L O4A-'' -t-ets lLA All austrian SIRdIIl-
ship which has arrived at Hakodate
from Vladivostok reports that the Rus
sian squadron left Vladivostok on Feb
ruary 2s. 1t is presumed to be cruising
In northern waters with the hope of
capturing japanese merchantmen. An
other report says that two Russian war
vessels have been seen off Usuri Bay.
Advices from Hakodate do not mention
any attacks on northern ports.
The steamship EkaterinosIav Of the
Russian volunteer transport fleet,
which had been fitted up as an auxili-
ary cruiser: the steamship Manchuria,
belonging to the Chinese Eastern Rail-
way Company; the schooner Sliepner
and the steam launch Wuliade have
been declared prizes of war by the
naval court as Sasebo. The decision of
the court is subject to an appeal within
thirty days.
The session Of the Diet, opening
March Is, will last only ten days. Dur
ing the session the war credits will be
submitted. Immediately following the
l44G 2t41hd0O VII ACdNC ~
kio for Kioto.
The final returns OF the parliament
ary elections show that more than 100
new members have been elected. The
large increase of the independent men,
bership is regarded as favorable sign.
OF late years the Diet has largely been
composed of politicians, and popular in
terest and confidence in it have de-
creased. The Diet in consequence has
ceased to be the great representative
body the constitution proposed. Political
issues have caused pickering and fire.
quent dissolutions, making the Govern
ment partly an oligarchy instead Of a
constitutional administration. The war
has revived interest in national affairs,
and the new Diet is regarded as an i'm
provement on its immediate predeces-
sors.
Subscriptions to the war bonds,
gifts to the new war fund and con-
tributions to war charities have been
exceedingly large. The issue of the
first 100,o00.000 yen of war bonds,
which closes on March 10. will be
oversubscribed four times. The Sol
diers' Relief Society, which is being
promoted by Counts Matsugata and
Inouye, reports subscriptions ap-
preaching 100000 yen. Donations
totaling $4,000 yen already have been
paid to the war fund. Hundreds of
applications have been made for per-
mission to contribute to the coming
army and navy relief funds, the
amounts offered making a total of
250,000 yen.
The Ladies' Patriotic Society. large
iy composed of peeresses and the
wives of mobiles, is raising a fund in
aid of the Red Cross. The latter So
ciecy already possesses a large fund
and an extended organization in
Japan.
Japan addressed a note to the pow
ers to-day, in response to the recent
communication from Russia The
note has not been published here and
its contents are unknown.
Russia's various communications TO
the powers attacking japan for its
conduct of diplomatic negotiations
before their rupture, its attack on
Russia without declaring war and its
alleged violation of the neutrality of
Korea have been received in Japan
largely in the spirit of amusement.
The Japanese resent what is alleged
to be a deliberate attempt to place
them in a false position regarding GER
tain incidents, but in the main do not
take the correspondence seriously.
Responding to the charge Of violat-
ing the neutrality of Korea, they point
TO the action of Russia in Manchuria,
where thousands of troops were as
sembled long before a diplomatic rup-
ture occurred. They say that they are
fully prepared to accept the judgment
of the world on a comparison of their
course in Korea, where they landed
troops only after a state of war existed
and upon the written permission of the
Emperor of Korea. They deny that
Chemulpo was neutral port after the
japanese landed on February s, but
whether it was neutral or belligerent,
Russia began hostilities there. When
the Russian gunboat Koreitz steamed
out of the harbor of Chemulpo on the
afternoon of February s she opened
fire on the Japanese squadron, making
the opening shot of the war. The
japanese guns did not respond, but
the Japanese torpedo-boat destroyers
answered the fire and discharged two
torpedoes before the Koreitz retired.
Japan is confident of the justice and
strength of its original position on the
integrity of China and the fairness of
its proposals during the negotiations.
1t feels fully justified in having COM
menced hostilities after breaking off
diplomatic relations and serving no.
tice of its intention to take independ-
ent action. 1t is sure that its recent
assurance that it had no intention of
taking possession of Chinese territory
and would guarantee the integrity and
independence of Korea will be ac-
cepted by the powers.
The Emperor of Korea has sent the
Mikado a cordial reply to his personal
message assuring the former that war
with Russia was declared solely with
the view of securing permanent peace
and expressing the sincere wish that
the protocol recently concluded be-
tween Japan and Korea will increase
the intimacy of those countries. The
Korean ruler seems determined to
maintain friendly relations with
Japan.