The San Francisco call., 1904-02-26
Kaiser and Gar
Have a Secret
Compact.
Russia May Block
Great Britain
in Tibet.


| now said the Russian Baltic squadron,
comprising eight battleships, two arm
ored cruisers, three protected cruisers.
two large transports and thirty tor
pedo- boats, will leave for the Ear East
at the end of June. 1t is added that it
will be commanded by Rear Admiral
ROjesJvensky.
There Is a growing belief here that an
understanding exists between Russia
and Germany relative to the develop
ments from the war. and the diplomats
are giving more attention to the like
lihood of other powers becoming in
volved. Frances enormous financial in
vestments in Russian funds and enter
prises are estimated at close to s2.O00.-
900, ,OOO and it is feared that in case OF
Russian reverses. which might threaten
the empire. France might be compelled
to go to the support of her ally.
There are suspicious Of the motives OF
Great Britain here Of a character to
cause complications In that direction.
1t is strongly intimated that the re-
turn Of the Russian Embassador to
| Great Britain, Count Benckendorn, 70
St. Petersburg was not solely TO bid
| farewell to his son previous TO the lat-
/ ter's departure for the Far East with
his regiment, but that II was also 70
consult with the Russian Foreign once
relative TO the British expedition TO
/ Tibet. 49,.
ANGERED BY LANSDOWNE.
| The Government is angry at the Ian
| guage used by Foreign Minister LanS-
dOwne as printed in the recent British
| Blue Book on the subject Of Tibet, and
| ambassador BenckendOrff may receive
/ instructions TO reply in kind II ex-
| changes on the subject continue.
| The conditions in the Balkans also
| are considered extremely critical, and
| altogether the diplomatic feeling is thaS
| if the danger of a general cOnhagratlOn
/ is to be avoided every energy should De
directed not only to limiting the sphere
i Of operations, but toward an attempt
at mediation The diplomatic corps -
| discussing the subject with graf Sc
| riOusness.
1t is not believed that Russia will
be disposed, while smarting under the
humiliation of defeat. TO adopt media
/ ton. but once a decisive victory Is
i achieved, the diplomats are inclined 70
| believe, owing to the Cars sincere
aversion TO war, he will welcome good
| offices.
/ The Novoe Vremya declares Great
Britain's failure 10 protest against the
violation of the neutrality OF korea.
/ whose inviolability was guaranteed Dy
| the AngIO-Japanese treaty, proves Ihat
the treaty was directed solely against
! Russia.
VAST SUM FOR WAR CHEST.
Some old believers in the schis-
matics of 300 years ago, who are among
| the Wealthiest Russians, show dlspO-
! sftfOn to place a vast sum at the dis
/ posaI of the Government if the Occa-
/ sion requires. Among them are scores
/ of milliOnaires at Moscow, where they
/ eniov valuable concessions granted BY
Catherine the Great. AS they are not
/ believers in banks the money would
/ have TO come out Of their private strong
/ boxes.
| A special dispatch from Port Arthur
/ SAYS Peking and Tientsin report that
| there is considerable dissatisfaction IN
| certain Chinese circles at the neutral
| ity Of China. and that Japanese Min
/ lister Ouchida is trying to force China
/ to side with Japan. 1t IS asserted tnat
Yuan Shih Kai, the Chinese commander
| in chief. is under japanese influence
| and that he secretly recommended an
alliance between China and Japan. on
| the ground that if Japan gets Korea
/ she would not take Manchuria
! Russia's views as TO contra band or
war will shortly be laid before the pow
ers. The technical committee OF the
1 Foreign Office is now considering the
subject.
| REJOICING OVER VICTORY.
| Details of the unsuccessful attempt
| of the Japanese to bottle up the Rus
/ sian fleet at Port Arthur by sinking
big merchantmen at the mouth of the
/ harbOr indicate that the coup was
MANNED. according to the usual Jap
| apese tactics. to take place during the
/ night; that it was desperately pushed
| and backed by eight torpedo boats,
/ oh
/ Great praise is given to the Russian
/ battleshfp Retvizan. whiCn lay outside
| the harbOr entrance, for gallant work
/ in beating off the enemy. Her part IN
\ the action shows that the reports or
| the injuries which she is said 70 have
! sustained in the attack OF February 3
/ were grossly exaggerated
The news of the Japanese repulse
was received here with great rejoicing
and was looked uDOn as partially wlp-
/ ing out the score against the enemy.
/ The Car has telegraphed warm con-
/ gratulatiOns to NicerOy AleXieH ana
/ the entire Russian squadron at Port
Arthur on the able manner in which
| they repulsed the latest attack of the
/ Japanese.
MUST DOCK BATTLESHIPS
The battleships Retvizan and Cesare-
witch will be temporarily employed at
/ Pert Arthur as guardshiDs. in which
capacity, it has been decided, their
/ formidable guns can be utilized 20 good
advantage. 1t has been found that the
necessary repairs to these ships can
be fully made only in the dock ct
| VIadivOstOk. so the vessels will be tenn
pOTarily patched up and remain at Port
/ Arthur until circumstances will permit
I of their being sent TO VladivOstOk.
I The rumOTs that the savings banks
] will not meet the demands for payment
( of deposits in consequence of the war
| are emphatically denied by the Official
/ Messenger
/ There is no truth in the rumOr cur
rent here that the Russian embassy at
! Washington will be entrusted to a
| Charge d 'Affaires as a sign of the dis
/ pleasure over the conduct of the com
mander of the United States gunboat
/ Vicksburg at ChemulpO in refusing to
! join with the commanders OF the other
/ foreign warships in the protest against
/ the attack by the Japanese fleet on the
! Russian cruisers Variag and KOreitz
1 The Foreign Office declares that moth