The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-24
Were Posing as Coolies TO
Blow Up Railroad
RUSSIANS PERISH FROM COLD.
France sympathizes With Russia In
Her Note to Powers Regarding
Japan's Breach of Inter-
national Law.

ST. Petersburg, February 23.-The Jap
anese who were hanged by Russians In
Manchuria for attempting to blow up the
railroad bridge over the San Carl river
were disguised as coolies. They were ar
rested lust as they were about to make
the attempt.
Inquiry revealed that they were jap
anese officers of the general staff name-
ly Colonel Assai of the engineers, and
Lieutenants Zoneloiascha and Keaurta,
of the sappers. They were at once hang
ed from the girders of the bridge. The
newspapers of Port Arthur, dated Feb
ruary 4, reached st. Petersburg today
indicating that they were less than three
weeks in transit Troop trains probably
require a longer time on account of the
difficulties at Lake Baikal, where pro-
visions and troops are crossing both on
ice trains and sleds
Cold Is Severe.
The cold is exceedingly severe. Today
36 degrees below zero (FahrenheiD, was
recorded at Irkutsk and other places.
Stories of the sufferings of the troops in
crossing the lake are persistent Some
reports say six hundred men were frozen,
but the lack of confirmation, official or
otherwise, is still felt. The telegraph is
still working.
One line devoted exclusively to govern
ment business, runs direct to Irkutsk,
whence with single relay. it connects
with st. Petersburg. The correspondent
Of the Associated Press is informed that
the czar recently stood at the telegraph
key and talked with viceroy Alexieff.
practically uninterruptedly.
Can Proceed at Once.
Military men desiring to accompany the
Russian army, have been formally noti-
fed that they can proceed when they
please to the front, but 1t is added that
accommodations and commissariat sup
plies cannot be guaranteed before March
l5 No authorizations have yet been is
sued to war correspondents, and it is i'm
probable that anything in this direction
will be done until the concentration Of
troops is completed. The Chinese minister
here has presented to the foreign office
a note similar in tone to that handed to
the government at Toxic regarding
China's neutrality, and the respect to be
paid to the imperial tombs 1t is UNDER
stood that Russia has not made speci-
fic reply, but communicated to the min
lister copy of her reply to Secretary
Hays note on the subject of China.
FRENCH SYMPATHY
GOES TO RUSSIA.
Paris, February 2S.-Russia has the
sympathetic support of France in the
formers latest representation to the pow
ers that Japan is guilty of violation
of international law in consequence of
the attacks upon the Russian warships
at Port Arthur and Chemulpo before the
declaration of war.
No intention exists in official circles to
take up the Russian note on the subject
with the view of pressing action by the
powers, and 1t is said that nothing eff
fective could be done in this direction
France was satisfied from the first of the
unjustifablity of the Japanese action,
and Is anxious that the other powers
should come to appreciate the enormity of
the offense.
In this connection, attention is called
to the occupation of Korea by Japanese
troops. In spite of the declaration of
Korean neutrality, which was communi-
Gated to all the neutral powers, as well
as to the belligerents, 1t is pointed out
that Japan has not hesitated to throw
troops into Korea and establish a base
cles that France, which has been charged
with the protection of Russian interests
in Korea, could properly make objection
to the japanese action But nothing of
this kind has yet been done.
In Charge of Secretary.
The French legation at Seoul Is in
charge Of the secretary and an interpre-
ter. the minister being in Paris on leave
of absence, and the foreign office here
is showing no inclination to order his i'm
mediate return. At the Korean legation
here today, 1t was said that Korea had
declared her neutrality from the outset.
and that therefore If the Japanese occu-
pied Korean territory and proposed
marching through Korea on their way to
Manchuria, it was not with Korea's as
sent, but because she was unable to pre-
vent it.
The legation officials added that the
10000 stands of arms recently ordered by
Korea from France will remain at Hong
Kong for the present, in order that they
may not be seized by the Japanese. Moth
ing is known at the French foreign office
regarding the report that the Russian
ambassador to Great Britain, Count
Beckendorff. had gone to ST. Petersburg
with important proposals from King Ed
ward in the direction of peace
Would Accept Overtures.
So far as Russia is concerned. it is said
that she would be willing to accept over
tures on a reasonable basis; but it is be-
lieved that Japan having engaged in the
war will not withdraw until she has
conquered Therefore if any mediation
proposed has been advanced which is
considered doubtful 1t Is not expected to
be fruitful of satisfactory results.
Concerning the dispatch from French
naval and military reinforcements to In
do-China. 1t is announced authoritatively
that the steps taken are simply in accord
ance with the programme adopted two
years ago but which the minister of
marine failed to carry out. Alive to pos
sibilities growing out of the war the
ministry determined that the immediate
execution Of the programme should take
place.
Premier Combes announced at the coun-
ell of ministers today the postponement
of the Interpolation of M. Firmin Faure
fnationalst concerning the alleged in
sufhciency of French naval representa-
ton at the seat of war The postpone
ment was due mainly to the governments s
fcontinued on Second Paae)