The Globe-republican., 1905-05-11

RUSSIA READY FOR CONFLICT.
Two squadrons Have United In Far
East and Will Steam North--Jap
Navy Concentrates In Straits Of
Formosa.

hospitality will not be taxed much
longer by the Russian warships which
have been lowering about the coast OF
Indo.China for nearly month. OH
cial advices have reached st. Peters
burg which are believed to indicate
that the division under Vice Admiral
Nebogatoff has effected a junction
with the more powerful squadron
commanded by Vice Admiral Rojest-
vensky, and at the Russian capital 1t
Is expected the combined squadrons
will lose no time in steaming north
ward to encounter the Japanese. Con-
frmation of st. Petersburg expecta-
lions is afforded by an official dispatch
to the French naval Office announcing
that the Russian squadron has left
Hong Hal bay, it's destination being
unknown. The bay named is probab-
ly what Is shown on some OF the maps
as Kanh Hoa or Nan Trang, which Is
a few miles south Of Hon Kobe bay,
where the Russian ships were recent
ly reported to be. simultaneously
Japanese warships are reported to be
concentrating in the Straits of For
mosa, the scouting lines being much
extended.
st. Petersburg, May 10.-A report
defining the form and character OF
the new branch of the government to
be created in accordance with the
imperial rescript of March 3 Is cur
rent in official circles here.
Emperor Nicholas is said to have
accepted the report Of the commits
sion and the date Of its proclamation
has been tentatively fixed for May IS.
The main feature of the reported Sch
werin organization comprises from 500
to $50 members, elected by the Zem-
stvos, the system being extended to
all parts of the empire, while the au-
tocratic power Of the emperor will re-
main undiminished, the privileges be-
ing advisory, with the right of inter-
pellating the ministers and discussing
the budget when formulated, although
the ministers are to be responsible to
the emperor whose will is the supreme
law.
Though such a zemsky soyvoet
will fail to satisfy the liberals who are
calling for a full plunge into consti-
tutionalism, universal suffrage, the re-
sponsibility of the adoption of which
lies with the Boulgian committee will
go far toward meeting the wishes of
| the conservative liberals, including
the great and important faction fol-
lowing M. Shipoff, Prince Troubesoky
and the marshals of the nobility, who
believe that autocracy tempered with
some measure of contract with popu-
| lar desires and free from the abuse
| of the bureaucracy is this panacea of
which Russia is in need
st. Petersburg.-Japan has refused
| to agree to a definition of the war
zone west of the positions of the
armies. Until the defeat at Mukden
and while the operations were con-
fined to Manchuria, the neutral zone
was well established. North of Tie
Pass in Mongolia, eastward the zone
has never been fixed. in view Of the
| fact that the Japanese reached Sin
Min Tu to affect their turning move
ment against Mukden. General Line
witch called upon the authorities at st.
| Petersburg to secure a definition of
the line northward and Russia made
proposals that the government at
Pekin delimit the zone, but the an
swers from China were evasive, jap
an declining to bind herself. For the
present, therefore, General Linevitch
Is free to take such measures as he
deems proper to protect himself from
hostile movement in the direction
Of Mongolia.