The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-28
MANILA. FULL or
ALARMING RUM0Rs
Reports Rife That Japs Have
Plot to Mine Harbor to
Blow Up Ships
EXPECT JAP ROUND UP
RESULT OF WAR SCARE
House to House Search Said
to Have Results in DiScov-
cry of Explosives and In
eliminating Papers

MANILA. December 2S,-~Partieu-
iars OF what Ii regarded by army and
navy officials to have been plot IN
the part OF japanese to plant mines In
Manila harbor leaked out hers to-
day. 1t il believed that the mine.
were to be placed IA proximity to the
naval anchorage. anchored securely
close To the bottom OF the harpor.
wires from them led ashore and con-
cealed ready to have batteries attach
ed 30 that they could be exploded
In the event OF war between the
United States and Japan.
That the situation Is serious is pri-
vateiy admitted by officials who are
familiar with the developments OF the
iskt few days and which resulted In a
rigid search ~ the Japanese quarter
and the discoyery OF explosives that
had been carefully concealed there.
These explosives are OF the KIND
which were used with such success
by Japanese naval officers during tn.
Russo panesc war. As soon ~ the
explosives had been turned over 10
the military officials. an Investigation
was set on foot. 1t was reported that
an unlighted ship, manned by three
japanese. had been noticed ny the
sentries on the harbor Notifications
moving about for Several nights. The
raft put In all appearance only when
there WAS no moon and the SKY was
cloudy, II Is believed BY officers fami-
liar with the situation that this ees-
sel was making soundings and map
OF the narbor and seeking tn. hest
places TO plant the mines
That a japanese spy was captured
yesterday on Corregfdor Island sketch
Ing the fortiGea,ions WAS admitted to-
day at army headquarters. The Jap.
anese was dressed like a laborer. He
wae taken - the guard house and
searched An almost compleie plan af
the Notifications. with data OF tho
gun mount.ngs and a bundle OF private
papers the nature OF which has not
been disclosed. were found and con-
flseated. The Japanese was then
forcibly ejectsa. He was not Kept
under arrest because OF the fact that
there Is nc Law under which he could
be punished, bu, he II under constant
st~seillance.
II was stated later to-day that In
addition to the explosives found hid
den In tha japanese quarter OF Manila
there We're also found metal castings
of the kind used by the Japanese III
mining the harbors in ~orea. Mine
caps and heavily insulated wire such
as In used in connecting harhor mines
with the shert All OF this paraphar-
MALTA has been turned over io the
military authorities.
MANILA Dec. rs "A Japanese plot
TO mine Manila tarhor for the purpose
OF blowing up American warships al
their anchorage III the event of hostili
ties between Japan and the United
states was discovered here to-day. ae-
cording TO PERSISTENT reports circulated
I'm military circles. The reports are I'm
phasized by the result OF the organized
search by the military authorities oi
the Japanese quarter a quantity oi
high explosives having been found ir
one OF the houses.
So serious In the situation that Ma
General William. ?. Duvail. com
handing the department. has assumed
personal charge OF the search. Officia
information Ii refused. and every effort
il being made to keep from the public
the nature Of the discoveries.
The authorities are understood tc
have secured by means of their secret
service complete information of the
plans Of the Japanese. II IL understood
that the arrest of the Japanese spy or
d'orregidor Island yesterday was mere
Nv an Incident OF the roundup that Is
to come.
Leading members OF the japanese
colony In Manila have been under sur
seilance for some time past. and in the
house to house search made yesterday
CONTINUED on Fourth Fage,)