Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-04
PROBABILITIES oF WAR.

War with Russia Is regarded as una
voidable, and the Toxic press is urging
the Immediate opening Of hostilities. All
of the banks are withholding funds, and
it is believed that this is the result OF
official instructions. The government
has completed and perfected arrange
ments for the transportation of troops
and supplies, and the people calmly
await developments. The continued
dissemination OF optimistic views from
Berlin causes genuine surprise and re-
gret here.
A dispatch from Shanghai says CHI
nese cruisers are preparing Tor active
service. They are taking on board am-
munition and supplies.
Diplomatic circles in st. Petersburg
confidently expect that the Russian an
swer to the japanese proposals will be
handed to the japanese Foreign Office
by Baron de Rosen, Russian ambassador
to Japan, within a very few days, and
do not expect grave results to follow. In
other quarters the conciliatory attitude
of both governments inspires belief that
the answer will pave the way to further
negotiations, if, indeed, it does not di-
rectly lead to pacific settlement OF the
trouble.
The characteristic note in the press oil
St. Petersburg yesterday is the doubt
about the attitude of the United States
in the event of war between Russia and
japan.
The report that the Russian volunteer
fleet cruisers Kazan and Ekaterinoslay,
carrying munitions of war and marines
to the Far East, have been recalled 10
the Black Sea is officially denied. Ac-
cortlipp to the rumor the vessels were re-
called as the possibility of their capture
was feared. The Ekaterinoslav left Singa-
pore Saturday last for Port Arthnr.
No news has been received by the
Japanese legations in London or ap-
parently by the Foreign Office yesterday
concerning the Russo-Japanese difficulty
in the Far East, and according to Baron
Hayashi, the japanese minister, the SIT
uation remains unchanged.
Within a few days the cruisers Kasaga
and Niasin, formerly the Morono and
Rivadavia respectively, which were
bought by the japanese government
from the government of Argentina, and
which we're built at Genoa, will be for
mally delivered to Japan. Immediately
on their delivery the japanese flag will
be run up and the japanese Lega-
ton hopes thereby to avoid any obJec-
tions on the part of the Italian govern
ment regarding the sailing ofthe cruisers
should hostilities commence before they
are ready to put to sea.
1t is said that no little excitement
prevails among the officers of the British
home SQUADRON, who are under the i'm
preston that they may at any moment
be ordered to replace the channel squa-
dron. which would be sent to the Medi-
terranean should the government deem
it advisable to strengthen its naval force
in tho Far East. In the home squadron,
which is usually regarded as reserve
and training unit of the navy, all leaves
of absence have been stopped. Extra
supplies of ammunition have been taken
on board and the men and ships are
kept in state of alertness such as has
not existed for years.
Baron Hayashi, the Japanese minis
ter. saws he assumed that the marine
engineers from the Clyde who left for
japan have been engaged for the trans
port feet, though the Minister says he
has no definite knowledge of the cir
cumstances of their departure.