Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-02

though il could scarcely help being regard
ed in the line of other precautions which
Japan has openly taken.
The weekly papers here share in the gem
eral feeling of alarm current in Great Brit
ain. The Spectator says war draws ever
nearer and adds:
English Dislike of Russia.
'If we are dragged into this war as we
may, the country will not be divided in sym
patty. dislike of Russia being as strong
among the masses of our population as it
was in 1855"
The paper surmises that Russia may keep
her ships in her harbors as she did during
the Crimean war, thereby forcing land ac-
tions or dangerous attempt by Japan to
seize Port Arthur and Nladivostok.
The Saturday Review adopts somewhat
similar tone, saying that the likelihood of
Chinese intervention menaces the CONNER
cial interest of all Europe and of the United
States.
Information has been received in Lon
don diplomatic quarter unfriepdly to Rus
sia that NJ. Bezobragof, who was recently
raised by the ear to Il secretaryship of
state. is the power behind the scenes of the
Russo-Japanese negotiations NJ Bezobra-
goH, according to this source of informa-
ton. who is now the prime favorite of the
and the leader of the party, is
president of the Yalu River Timber Com
pany: is largely interested in commercial
enterprises in Corea and is the bosom
friend of Viceroy Alexef. Though the
news is evidently partial, it receives some
credit and adds to the alarmist feeling.
Seizure of Corean Port.
TOXIC, January 21.-The report is current
that the Japanese squadron of six armored
cruisers under Admiral Kamimura. now at
Saseho. will seize the port of Masampho
Corea. and that its departure has been fixed
for January 4. In well-nformed circles
seize Masampho Or any COrean port, eX-
cept to foreStall Russia in the event of the
latter showing evidences OF any intention
to take a step or in the event of the nego-
tiations between the two countries finally
ending in failure.
Great activity prevails and the force of
workmen has been increased at the Osaka
arsenal. The holidays of the arsenal oper-
atiVeS have been curtailed in order to hur-
ry up the work in hand.
Kaiser Confident Of Peace.
BERLIN, January 2.-Emperor William
told Admiral Won Hollmann at an audience
Thursday. according to a report accepted
on the boerse today. that he conf
dent peace would not be broken in the far
east.
Demands Cannot Be Modified.
LONDON. January 2.-The Japanese min
lister, Baron Hayashi. when shown the dis
pdltiI lIOIf 81 dliiputlciliS That
1t appeared to be true that Russia had de-
cided not to accept Japans precise pro-
posals, said he had not officially heard any
thing further about the negotiations. bat
he failed to how the japanese demands
could be modified.
Russian Reply Not Drafted.
LONDON, January "A dispatch to the
Pail Mall Gazette from Berlin says that,
according to the highest official informal
ton, the Russian leply to Japan has not
been drafted. 1t is added that the czar
and Foreign Minister Lamsdorff declared
yesterday that so far nothing had happened
necessitating an outbreak of war. and that
Russia would not declare Japan as
things now stand.
War Correspondents Off for Japan.
LONDON, January 2.-Tbe Cunard line
steamer Umbria which S ills from Liver
pool for New York today, takes among her
passengers Melton Prior the war artist and
correspondent of the Illustrated London
News. who Is on his way to Japan
The other correspondents who have al
ready started include II. ]. Whigham and
f. F. Knight, both OF the Morning Post OF
London.
Situation Regarded Most Serious.
ST. PETERSBURG, January 2-It ap-
pears to be true that Russia has ec!de /
not to accept Jdpdn's precise propose Is.
But, the foreign Office here today informe /
the Associated Press, that Foreign Min s.
ter Lamsdorf and the Japanese minister
NJ. Kurino, are still comforting with The
view of arriving at amicable settlement.
Unoff1cially, the situation is regarded as
being most serious
Engineers Get Orders From Japan.
GLASGOW, January "A large number
of Clyde marine engineers received cable
orders from the Japanese government today
TO proceed Immediately TO Japan.
These engineers were engaged by the Jap
anese government six months ago, on the
understanding that they would be called on
if active service was probable. Full m
strIctions were sent them in cipher.
They Will go to the far east by way of
Canada.
Affects Chicago Wheat Market
CHICAGO. January 2-Complications In
the far east caused a rush of buying orders
i'm wheat today. and the market was ex-
cited and extremely strong. There was abb
soiutely no wheat for sale at the opening
and initial sales showed range of an even
. cents, from S4&i 10 S6Ac., o. an advance OF
Il to 24c over Thursdays closing figures
AT $3.50. there was considerable offered by
longs and the price declined TO S. but
later advanced again TO SIS.
Two Hundred Men Idle.
MIDDLESBORO. KY. January 2-The vir-
Qipia Iror Coal and Cole CON, u., py'S f,,r