The San Francisco call., 1904-03-15
PRESIDENTS NEUTRALITY ORDER
PUTS END TO RUSSIAN DISTRUST
Press and Officials Are Now Convinced That
the United States Will
Not Interfere.

ST. PETERSBURG, March IA
There is no truth in the rumors that
the Russians have abandoned Port Ar
thur. Admiral Abaza, Secretary of the
Commission on Far Eastern Affairs,
authorizes the press to deny the story.
He says the situation at Port Arthur
is unchanged and that. nothing OF i'm
portance has occurred there in the past
twenty-four hours.
President Roosevelt's recent procla-
nation regarding the observance Of
neutrality by all officials and the absti-
nence from either action or speech
which might cause irritation to either
Japan or Russia has produced a great
impression here. The newspapers this
morning print prominently articles
commenting the substance and spirit
Of the proclamation in the highest
terms. The Official Gazette accepts it
unreservedly as a complete answer to
the charges that the American Govern
ment is hostile to Russia. and declares
that hereafter, despite any seemingly
untoward incident which may arise. it
will be considered settled once and for
all, that the American Government
has taken a friendly attitude toward
our aims and policies in the Far East"
adding:
This undoubtedly marks a change in
American sentiment, the people there
realizing the danger of supporting Ja-
PAN
MORE FRIENDLY FEELING.
The Novosti halls the auspicious ini-
tiative of President Roosevelt in the
interest of universal peace and good
relationship between Russia and the
United States, saying:
He wields practically unlimited
authority with respect to the foreign
policy of the country, Secretary Hay
submitting to the will of the Presi-
dent"
The Russ welcomes the proclamation
as convincing evidence of a more
friendly feeling on the part of the
Americans for Russia.
The Boerse Gazette remarks: "Theo-
dore Roosevelt was the first ruler to
respond to the warning cry issued
many years ago by Emperor William
against the yellow PERIL"
The st. Petersburg Zeitung asserts
that the proclamation leaves no fur
ther doubt that the United States has
a firm intention to observe strict neu-
trality, and adds:
1T bears the stamp of strong and
most distinguished personality"
The other papers also make a display
this morning of the denials of the
Newchwang reports that the United
States intended to support the protest
OF the commander Of the United States
gunboat Helena against the plan of
the Russian authorities to sink junks
at the entrance of the Lao River, evil
IDENTIFY considering that this puts an
end to the statement which caused a
furry here yesterday, and that further
comment is unnecessary.
The Alexander committee announces
that. in addition to the regular army
pensions, a supplementary pension of
s25 year will be given to the widows
and orphans of the non-commissioned
officers, and $24 to those Of soldiers and
sailors killed in the face of the enemy.
SIBERIAN WAR SCENES.
A Russian correspondent proceeding
to the front writes to the ST. Peters
burg Telegraph Bureau from IrkutsE,
Siberia, as follows:
Our express train travels slower
than the slowest train in European
Russia. The seat of war is still re-
mote, but its presence is felt. The long
rows of cars filled with soldiers, the
caravans and the primitive sleighs
drawn by shaggy horses which we pass
along the way at the crowded stations
break the monotony of the snow-b bound
wastes and endless forests, and the
stiffness is broken by the songs of the
jolly reservists and the bells Of the viii
lage churches sounding clear through
the frosty air. This hustle and activ-
ity amidst the Siberian desolation strik-
ingly illustrate the Russian giant