Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-12

main feet and all went In to attack the
armored cruisers. In the japanese feet.
which consisted Of two divisions. were
the Mikasa, the flagship; tho first-class
battleship Asahi, Full. Inashima. Shi-
kashi Ma Hatsuse and the dispatch boat
Tatsuma. The second division OF the
feet, under command OF Admiral Kami-
mura, on the flagship ldsumo, consisted
OF the armored cruisers Yakima, AsAma
and Iwatz
The Russian Fleet.
The Russian feet outside Of the har.
Dor consisted Of the battleships Petro-
pawlawsk, flagship: Pereswet. subnag-
ship; Pobieda, Poltava, Czarewitch, Ret
vizan and sebastopol and the cruiser
Novik. Boyarin, Bayaru. Dianu. PaladA,
Askold and Angara The disabled bat
tleships are inside forts Huan Ching
Shan and Chi Kwan Shan The cruiser
10 outside, but within range Of the forts.
Hay Sounds Powers.
Washington, Feb 10.-secretary Hay
has addressed an identical note to Q
number of European powers to ascer-
tain If they are willing to join In . mo-
tice to Russia and Japan that during
hostilities and thereafter the neutrality
and integrity Of China must be recos-
nized. Details of the note ere not OBJ
tainable in advance of receipt Of replies.
1t is known, however, that exchanges
already have taken place which Justi-
hes the state department in expecting
favorable responses to Its note. The
matter has created great sensation in
diplomatic circles here.
1t 10 understood, relative to the
question Of restricting warlike opera
tons to the narrowest possible limits.
that the proposition took the form Of .
note to Russia and one to Japan sug-
costing some such limitation. In addi-
ton. the neutral powers were called On
BY the United States to addysss them
solves in the same fashion to Russia and
Japan, and 1t is intimated that these
suggestions have been well received.
VIII Observe Operations.
Orders were eabled to Rear Admiral
Evans Tuesday to send his cruiser
squadron, consisting Of the Alliance,
New Orleans, Raleigh and Cincinnati
from Subig bay to some point in
Chinese waters yet to be determined,
for the purpose of observing the naval
operations. 1t is expected that the
squadron can coal and get under way
within two days. Admiral Evans is ex-
pected to keep the battleship squadron
| in Philippine waters throughout the
period of hostilities between Russia
J and Japan. This decision was reached
at the cabinet meeting Tuesday after
long consideration. It has been defn.
itely settled that the cruiser squadron
will not go to Port Arthur.
| China and France Neutral.
] Paris, Feb. 10-China. it is under.
stood. has given official assurances that
she will Immediately issue q declare
ton OF neutrality. This Is considered
highly important in view Of the posi-
bility Of Chinese, impressed by the
japanese success at Port Arthur, join
ing the Japanese.
The attitude Of the French govern.
ment in view OF the var is now
definitely determined upon. France
will maintain neutrality under any
and all circumstances, the Franco-Rus
sian alliance being construed as MOI
requiring France to intervene In be
? half of Russia even should Grea
Britain or any third power intervene IL
behalf Of japan.