The San Francisco call., 1904-02-10
CAR APPEALS TO GOD OF WARS
TO GIVE RUSSIANS THE VICTORY
Ancient Custom Observed in the Holding OF
Religious Services in the Little Chapel
of the Winter PaI:Ce.

I ace at O'Clock this afternoon At the
command of the Car a great cOncourse
of Ministers, court officials. high state
functionaries. ladies of rank and mill-
| tary men assembled in St. George Hall'
all of the men arrayed in full UNIFORM
After some delay. which became almost
oppressive because Of the teeilnS Oh
sOlemnity plainly apparent the doors
of the imperial apartments were opened
and the Car entered. wearing the uni
/ form Of the First Guard Regiment or
Russia with the DOwager Czarina on
his arm.
The Dowager wore a costume Of pearl
gray and no jewels. The young Car
ina, wearing her favOrite white and sill
yer. followed. escorted by the Grand
Duke Michael and heir presumptlNe-
The entire Imperial family followed in
order of precedence.
Approaching a group of naval and
military officers his Majesty turned
gravely and greeted them with the GUS
rOmary Russian phrase, Il wish you
good health, gentlemen.
The officers responded with loud ac-
claim, shouting vigorous hurrahs.
The scene became one of wild en-
thusiasm. amid which the Imperial pro-
/ ceSSiOn moved forward. entered the
chapel. advanced TO the altar and stood
with bowed heads while the choir ana
I clergy intoned an impressive lnterces-
/ sorry service of the Greek church An
/ intensely religious spirit pervaded the
entire assemblage. which crowded the
little palace chapel to its utmost capac-
/ ity During the recital of the litanY
many knelt and even bowed their heads
to the chapel floor.
The court chaplain. attended by the
/ deacon. reverently approached the Car
and sDrinkled him with holy water
fr.I r-f
I fix. which the Car kissed fervently-
At the conclusion of the service the
/ Imperial party slowly retired AS they
/ re-entered the palace another service
was enacted. The Gar made an ad-
/ dress. Darkness had fallen before the
service was finished.
Serious differences have arisen in
| high quarters over the command Of the
/ Russian land forces in the Far East.
/ T. ne faction favOTs Dlacin both land
/ and sea forces under VicerOy Alexieff.
/ While the generals and other high Of
/ hcers Of the army believe that the
/ prestige Of General kurODatkin, the
/ War Minister. is essential to achieving
! success with the land forces and they.
! therefore, urge a division of authority.
/ In any event ii is understood that
/ N1cerOy Alexieff as the Cars repre-
/ sentative in the Far East. will have
/ general direction of operations.
As the passage of Lake Baikal by
u train across the ice appears to be too
| dangerous. the Russian reinforcements
/ VIII ,ross the ice on foot and the war
I material will be transported over a
| temporary line.
/ A despatch to the NovOe Yremya
4 from Port Arthur says:
! In consequence Of KOrea,s neutral
/ ity, ii is assumed here that Japan will
/ be obliged to withdraw her infantry
and lrtillery from Seoul. Much un-
I easiness is reported from Seoul. owing
/ to the arrival there of Japanese SOL
/ dieTs, who intend to build barracks.
The Korean nOblemen who have been
! residing in japan have received per-
mission to return home"
A rigid censorship is exercised on
all kilograms from Port Arthur and the
public is still completely in the dark
as to the result Of the fighting there.
The report given out by the Admiral
| ty this afternoon as to the sinking OF
/ eleven Japanese warshiDs in the Far
East Travelled over Russia and Europe.
and st. Petersburg was besieged by
kilograms asking for confirmation
I Later in the day, when doubt was cast
| on the accuracy of this report public
7 anxiety became more active. Inquiries
for an official statement were met with
the response that in accord with the
circular issued last Sunday all official
reports would first appear in the OH
| cial Messenger.
! The statement published in London
1 that KurinO, the retiring Japanese
/ Minister. presented the note from his
/ Government on February 5. is not true
/ The note was received here on the
evening of February 5, but it was not
/ presented until February s.
i