The San Francisco call., 1904-02-23
VIadivostok Fleet
Threatens Ports
of Japan.
Storm Saves a City
From the Guns
of Cruisers.

! NAGASAKI, Feb 22.-The steamship
| Stolberg has arrived here from Vladi-
vostok with twenty white foreigners,
1900 Chinese and fifty Japanese. She
| brings in addition forty survivors Of
| the Japanese steamship Nakamura
Maru, which was sunk by the Rus
sian cruiser squadron from Vladivostok
on February H. Two men were drowned
during their transfer to the Russian
ships. The survivors were we'll treated
and provided with return passage.
In an interview the captain of the
Nakamura Maru says that the Russian
cruisers first signaled the Nakamura
Maru to follow them and afterward
signaled that all on board should leave
the steamship within fifteen minutes.
In the meantime the Warships opened
fire on the steamship. While the steam
ship was lowering her boats two men
were wounded and fell into the sea.
The remainder of the crew were taken
on board the cruiser Gromoboi and
provided with clothing. They were
later transferred, on the 18th, to the
steamship Stolberg for Vladivostok, but
the Stolberg, after proceeding five
miles, WAS SlOppSQ ny lHS IluSSIdlS dLO
detained until the 18th.
The Vladivostok squadron intended
to lombard Hakodate, but snowstorm
prevented the vessels entering the
straits of Tsugaru. They intend to
make another attempt to reach Hako-
date in March with the cruisers, five
torpedo boats and an armed transport
The civilians in Vladivcstok have
l.
scarcity of food, as the Government is
taking everything available. A panic
has seized the Chinese, who are leav-
ing by hundreds.
ATTACK ON PORT ARTHUR.
TOXIC, Feb. 22.-It is reported here
to-day that Vice Admiral Togo has
again attacked Port Arthur 1t is i'm
possible to confirm the statement, and
the Navy Department says it received
no news from Togo to-day. 1t is con-
sidered very probable that the vice ad-
miral has made another attack on the
Russians as he is engaged in blockad-
| ing Port Arthur.
The news of the escape from death
of the crew of the Nakamura MaTu
was received in Toxic with satisfac-
tion and perceptbly lessons the feeling
of bitterness toward the russians on
account of the sinking cf the ship.
| A prisoners intelligence bureau has
been created and regulations regarding
the treatment of prisoners of war have
been published. The Toxic Govern
ment, it is understood, has anticipated
the necessity of soon providing for the
care of Russian prisoners.
Baron Kaneko, who, as already an
nounced, will sail for the United States
on Thursday, is charged with a diplo-
matte mission concerning the neutral
relations of the two countries. Vice
Governor Takahashi of the Bank of
Japan, who goes to America and Eng
land will investigate the financial sit
uation generally, with view of float
ing a loan later if one should be needed.
FRENCH COURSE SATISFACTORY.
The assurances of France that the
Russian fiotilla, except two torpedo
boat destroyers which have been dis
armed and will be detained until the
war ends, have left Jibutil, French So
maitland, reached Toxic to-day and
produced a feeling of general satisfac-
ton The Government is confident of
the intention of France to refrain from
permitting the Russians to use her
ports as bases for naval operations,
but was concerned over the long delay
of the f1otilla at Jibutil, and had made
representations to France on the sub
! ject The reaffirmation of French neu-
| trality is highly reassuring to the pres
ent diplomatic situation. 1t is the
opinion here that the maintenance of
the neutrality of Oriental ports is ex-
tremely advantageous to japan, as it
| insures her mastery of the naval sit
uation, and limits the Russian source
| of supply to the rans-Siberian rail-
way
| Kehachiro Okura, a millionaire of
Toxic, offers his private museum for
sale in America and England for ST.,
600, 900. He proposes to donate the