The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
Secret Movement
of Troops Be
fore War.
Japan Has 100000
Men in Active
Service.
BY OSCAR KING DAVIS.
Special War Correspondent Of The Call


TOXIC. Jan. 30.-The best informa-
ton now obtainable points to the be-
ginning Of hostfitics between Japan
and Russia within very short time.
II seems probable that before this let
ter reaches the California coast the
long threatened war VIII be ar, actual
ity, yet on the surface there is almost
no indication herea bouts Of the serious
crisis which the nation is facing. Out
War-ly Toxic, and in fact all Japan,
wears calm such as would never be
shown in the United States under sim
ilar circumstance. Tourists come and
60 i'm the usual way and the shops do
thelr customary business The guides
are all engaged. although il is not the
busy season. The people are occupied
~ their usual TocatiOns. No crowds
gather IN the streets or public places
and there is no sign Of general excite
ment. Five weeks ago there was much
more indication Of the nations temper
and interest than now. But then the
newspapers were printing every day
reports OF the preparations for war
rapidly going forward. The came an
imperial ordinance forbiddlng reference
10 r. movements Of troops or war YES
sells. The little crowds that had gath
cred about the newspaper Offices to
read the papers posted on the bulletin
boards no longer collect there. War
news has almost entirely disap-
pear from the public prints, being
co1nned now to vague hints and to talk
about the situation" A great conspir-
acv e silence has been formed. with
the whole japanese people as the con-
spiratOrs. Reference 10 the war pro-
ouces a smile and e.. deprecatOry wave
Of the hand. and that is all. The man
ner in which the nation has responded
70 the Official injunction Of silence is
extraordinary. The secrecy that began
officially has become popular. and now
T. dragnet would not turn up Jap
anesc who knew anything.
only in the administrative Offices are
there any signs Of what is going on.
The general staff and the War and
Navy DEPARTMENTS are busy-sO busy
that it cannot he concealed. To one
accustomed 10 the manner in which the
American newspapers report such sit
uations the references in the local
papers are amusing. Yesterday there
was an important meeting Of the war
council. This mornings papers grsvely
record that such-and-such gentlemen
met at such-and-such a place yester-
day morning az such an hour and con-
1iuued il session for so many hours.
O. what they did or discussed there is
not hilt. The movements Of the
different officials are thus sole-lnly
chronicled- and nothing more.
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS.
Meantime the movement Of troops
goes on steadily. but at night. Rail-
road traffic IS not interfered with at
feast mot enough TO attract public at
tentiOn. and If Il were no attention
would be paid 10 it. II is popularity
believed that the entire army is ready
for any emergency. Certain prepar-
at0ry steps have been taken which
IL was useless TO attempt 10 conceal.
such as the reQUisiuoning Of steam
ships of the great companies. But
beyond the fact that they have been
"a ken over not 4 word has reached
the public concerning these ships.
Nanv Of them have European or
American officers. The captain of one