Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-19
TO END WAR!
Recent Cossack Raid Into
manchuria Nay Cause
Complications and Intervention
by the Powers.
Russians Believed to Have Entered
China-Hay Agreement Violated.

Washington. Jan. Violations Of
'hina's neutrality i'm the recent Co.'S
sack raid southwark TO Newchanr and
finkow We're declared by State s,epart.
lnent officials a possible move by Rus.
Si'' 10 force international action for the
purpose of ending the war.
The grave possibilities in this latest
development Of the neutrality problem
divided attention with the formal
charges made By Russia against China
ana Japan. Should the Cossacks have
entered China to circle the Japanese
left flank. as is generally believed. IL ia
asserted that Russia has fiagrantly
violated the terms of the Hay agree
m"nt. All of the signatory powers are
~ once involved.
Officers Of the General staff who are
making close study Of the military
situation in Manchuria stated. Wednes-
day. mat the japanese are maintaining
q strong line before Mukden as far
west as Singmintin, which is on the
west boundary of the military zone,
They think that the COssacks went
west around Singmintin. and then
south through neutral ground until
thev found chance to strike the rail-
road as they did and destroy ii in two
places. and then made their way to
Newchang.
II :he route indicated Is near correct.
the fact becomes ut once of the great-
est importance as an International
question.
If :he raid were made by a small body
%: Suerrillas. acting Without orders or
IRRESPONSIBLE ha n GO
Russian army, the situation would be
different. Eut the movement of a
body of 1000 to 5000 cavalry over nell
trail soil to make a flank attack on the
.I"ranese is an act so bold that there
are some who believe 1t was distinctly
planned by the Russians to bring on a
diplomatic adjustment of the whole
controversy between Japan and Rus
Sia.
a formal complaint from Japan f.
momentarily expected. Officials here
believe that Mr.. Hay cannot escape in.
voking the terms of the agreement,
TINS opening diplomatic negotiations
which on short notice may assume the
form Of an mterna tional invasion in
China. That such action might readily
he' ONE the first step toward interview
ton between the belligerents is read
lily believed
The status of the Russian complaint
remains unchanged. A reply from
apan is hourly expected. In the mean
time this government has formally
notified China of the complaint made
by Prussia but no reply has been re-
ceivcd from Pekin.
TIL charges made by Russia are re-
garded here as frivolous. The purchase
of iron ore from China to be made into
munitions of war is held to be fully
offset by the fact that Russia has been
buying krupp guns. loading them on
cars ard carrying them directly
through to the scene Of war. If there
is 4 violation in one case, there IL GER
tainly IN the other. Russia and Japan
are both buying staple supplies where
ever they can do so safely and subject
To the usual condition in time of war
that they escape capture. The prox-
unity of Japan to China and the prox-
unity of Russia to Germany, Austria
and France afford lines OF transpOrta-
ton safe from molestation by troops or
vessels Of either beligerents. and the
commerce in war supplies is therefore
Il permissible necessity.
The complain. is made by Russia
that the japanese are enlisting Chinese
for her armies, and that thousands Of
Chinese coolies are hired to transport
goods and perform various acts OF lab
or connected with military operation
This, it is pointed out. is not an inter-
rational matter. bnt simply individual
transactions. The Chinese work where
they can get opportunity. The Russians
have also employed large number Of
China men.
The act Of the Japs nese In cutting
out the torpedo boat Ryeshitelni at
Chifu is cited by Russians. and this IL
regarded the strongest case IN the COM
plant.
This government viii not act in the
matter until Japan's complaint Is In.
What course Of action will be taken ID
(COntinuod q unuea ~