The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-11
RUssIA's DECLARATION.
Count Cassini Communicates, It to
 State Department.

OtAtC 0CPd1 tAhChes
 Washington, Feb. 10.-Count Cassini, the Russian Ambassador. called on Secre- tary Hay about noon today and left with him the announcement of the Czar declar- ing war on Japan.
 This action Is said at the State Depart ment to constitute a formal declaration of war It Is now for the President to de termine whether he will issue a neutral ity proclamation The Counts communi- cation with the department was in writ ling. It was a dispatch from the Russian Foreign Office to the Ambassador, and was couched in French. being substan- tially as follows:
 During the night of February sth a detachment of Japanese torpedo boats unexpectedly attacked the Russian squad ron lying at anchor in the outer road sted of Port Arthur. This attack being the beginning of military preparations. obliges the imperial Government to take immediate measures to reply by armed force to the challenge issued against Rus sia Be good enough to inform the Gov ernmetn of the United States"
 There was no discussion between the Ambassador and Secretary Hay of the State Departments proposition to the powers looking to the naturalization of China. The department, however, is sat- isfed. though upon what ground cannot DS lHdt NNuSCld IS uOt uISpO6Su at this stage to oppose the execution of it's plans, Some answers already have been received to Secretary Hays note, but 1t Is not yet deemed proper to make them public or even the text of the note itself. It Is not doubted that the propo- sition meets with approval by the powers. It Is practically admitted that it's effect would be to completely exclude military or naval forces or belligerents from all China south of Manchuria.
 The United States legation at Tokio made two reports today to the State De- pertinent upon the battles. Strangely enough, the news of the engagement at Chemulpo was known in Tol1io some time before word came of the preceding Port Arthur affair.
 The first reads: yf f
 "A naval eRsa saaent graa hegpH today |pcs T he Japanese squadron sunk the Rus sian gunboat Korietz at 4:10 p. m. and overcame the cruiser Variag. Hostilities were begun by the Russian gunboats fir- ing upon Japanese, torpedo boat"
 A later dispatch from the Japanese con sul at Chee Foo, just across the strait from Port Arthur. reports:
 Entire Japanese fleet engaged Russian fleet outside Port Arthur ii p. mA on the 8th. Two Russian battleships were sunk NCNPCOSNS' the harbor were unable to enter. No damage to Japanese fleet"
 Another dispatch from Tokio stated that no Japanese lives were lost in the engage ment at Chemulpo.
 Naval interest in the fighting continues at. the highest point. One of the highest officers of the navy. commenting upon press accounts of the enga cement, says that the lesson to be drawn is the absolute necessity of maintaining a navy in con- tinuous service instead of following the old plan of laying up ships In reserve ts has been practiced by Russia. Japan. like the United State. has for the last two years kept almost every naval ship that would float constantly in commits sion, so as to produce the actual condi- tions of war as near as possible.
 Another demonstration of the Port Ar thur and Chemulpo affairs was the per- lection of the Japanese information divis- ion, as their naval commanders seemed to be every moment in possession of full information of the Russian movements and the disposition of the Russian ships.