Bisbee daily review., 1904-01-15
FIERCE WAR SURELY IN
 SIGHT
WALTER wELLMAN, THE FAMOUS WAR CORRESPONDENT, SAYS
 RUSSIA ARD JAPAN ARE
ARE ON VERGE OF 1T
Faint Are the Hopes of Peace-Ja- pans Policy Will Be That of Swift Rush in Korea, Precisely What Rus sia Has Been Doing SteaithiIy for Yesrs-Opinion Is Collision at Hand.

reafsOOPihiCn IS CoHfSIon at Hand
 Washington, D. C., Jan. 14.-Infor nation received at the state depart ment indi cates that war between Rus sia and Japan is likely to break out at almost any moment All hope oi peace will not be abandoned till the nrst shot is fired, but. in the Ian guage of |; n official who is in position 70 know the facts "it will be almos' miracle if war is now averted." II 5s believed here that war will come without a formal declaration. The ri sal forces ~ill simply come into eel hssion. It is eviden ly the present policy 0f Japan to oc 'pl Korea -n soree-:o do in a swift rESh 1T, ,has country precisely what Rnssa has seen doing steadily and stealthily for years ;n Manchuria. Unless Russia ss prepared to back down, this militia ay advance by Japan will have to be resisted, ard the meaning of that is war. In the opinion of ,lii1iais and siplomatists here the collision is near at hand-perhaps mAt''r 2i hours or few days at the utmost.
 Publication today ot an an fn-het staten snt Of the 4rtitl le r ;he Jap anese goTernment, carried by the As sociated Iress from Tokio, is held in tie best informed quarters to fore shadow immediate hostilities. The Japanese government would not have given 10 tke world such an explana- tion and defense of it's course and Of tie present status of the negotiations, accompanied by a significant refer once to :Ee impending conflict, ii there were any real hope of arrang- ing an honorable peace. This appeal d the word for understanding and sympathy is believed to foreshadow the end of all negotiations and an i'm mediate resort to the arbitrament of the sword
 Altko Iyh the attitude of the Wash ington government is to be one of strict neutrality, and Admiral Evans, ia command of our warships in Asia stic waters, has been given instruc- lions to carefully avoid any appear siice of fayoriiism, it is undcniably -Ezle that :'ympathy is very strongly with Japan This feeling is unmis- takaole Tn all official and nonofficial circles It is found in the aCminis- tEation. in the executive departments, ia both houses of congress and among Hivate citizens who mingle with off eials socially or on business. Proba- bay if a consensus of opinion at the American capital could be taken not fonnd favoring Russia Senators and representatives with whom have talked tell me popular opinion among their people at home is running aaite as strong. Not many years ago three Jr four-Russia had many fcfends :n the United States. There were many who adhered to the ''tra- citional friendship between the two countries. The myth that Russia helped the north at critical moment during the civil war has played a per sistent part in effect upon public opin- ion. But that tradition has been swept away by recent events. Rus aais treatment of the Jews, her tyr amy in Poland. and outrage of Fin lend, her threats to make trouble for the Swedes and the Norwegians by an encroacnment on the Scandinavian peninsula, and, above all. her tricky ani, meniacious diplomacy, have dis eusted millions of Americans and led to complete reversal of public senti- ment- If Japan goes to war with Russia .ne brave people of the Island Empire will have the good wishes and sgfn paihy of nine-tenths of the inhab- isants of the United States
 This feeling is plainly reflected here. What effect the trend of pub uc opinion may in the future exert up- sn the attitude of our government TO sue can foresee. There is very small probability that the United States will te drawn into the far eastern com nncation. President Roosevelt and his administration will pursue 8 poli- sQ of strict and correct neutrality, no matter what their private sentiments azy be. It is, however, barely pos abie that at some stage of the strug- ae between Russia and Japan, assum- ing that war actually breaks out, the Naited States may join with Great