The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-02-25
JAPAN RUSSIA VAR.

Rome, Feb. 8.-The Russian en-
bassy here is authority for the state
ment that the japanese fleet has estab-
lished a base of supplies at Elliot
island, off the coast of Liaotung PEN
insuls, about seventy miles north east
of Port Arthur. This would tend to
confirm the belief that Japan is pre-
pairing we'll planned attack on Port
Arthur and advance through Man
churia, cutting off communication
between Russia and the lower part of
the peninsula.
London, Feb. 10 -Lloyds is today
asking premium of thirty per cent
against outbreak of Anglo French war
within the next three months. This
high rate is based on the act that
France has not given formal dec
laration of neutrality toward the far
Eastern belligerents beyond vague
statement by the foreign minister, Del
Case. In fact, the French govern
ment, instead vf giving such assur.
ances, has allowed Russia to use Jibu-
lii which is in the French colony at
the head of the Red Sea, as a rendez-
vous for her feet. This is contrary to
the usage of the other neutral powers.
The British foreign offices are uneasy
regarding the outlook while the ad.
miralty is getting everything ready
for rapid mobilization in case GER
tain eventualities develop.
Paris, Feb. 19.-It is officially ex-
planned that the sending of reinforce
ments to the Far East has no sinister
Significance whatever. The official
explanation of this move issued today
states that the general unrest among
Asiatics. due to Japanese victories is
likely to extend to the French. Indo.
China and consequently the French
forces there require strengthening.
st. Petersburg. Feb. ia Pekin
the United States minister Conger has
requested the Japanese minister to re-
frain from circulating news regarding
Japanese victories as it tends to excite
tire Chinese to threatening degree.
The newspaper Serviet today discards
the mask regarding Russia's designs in
Korea and frankly states that that
country must pass under Russian con-
troll as matter of self preservation.
The paper adds: "We must now con-
fess we are no great sea power and
perhaps never will be. Russia is nat
urally territorial power. Our
strength is in our army
Vienna, Feb. 1.-the newspaper
Narodni Listy prints report that two
regiments of Russian pioneers and one
regiment of railway troops have been
drowned while crossing Lake Baikal.
Paris, Feb. 19.-An eminent mill
tary authority connected with one of
the embassies, said, yesterday, that
Port Arthur was practically beseiged
and it was a serious question whether
this would not compel either the
abandonment or the surrender of the
| fortress with its men and material.
The grounds for this belief were stated
to be as follows:
"Admiral Togo's ships, on the
watch at the entrance of the port, pre-
vent ingress or egress, thus establish
ing virtual blockade and cutting off
the chances of relief from seward.
The Japanese troops near New Chwang
and other points on the Lao Tung
peninsula are able to interrupt the
railroad, forming the line of communi.
cation and supplies between Port Ar.
thur and Hardin. The result is the
gradual iuvestiture of Port Arthur
within the Japanese naval and mill
tary lines. 1t will require a bold &C.
tion on the part of the Russian forces
to prevent the final accomplishment
of the investiture and slow reduction
| of Port Arthur -