THE FAR EAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1082, 28 December 1903, Page 2

THE FAR EAST.

ALARMING NEWS, * ~ JAPANESE TROOPS .MOVING. BRITISH WARSHIPS SAIL. EVACUATION OF MANCjiURIA DEMANDED. RUSSIA AND A REBELLION. INSURRECTION IN COREA.

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 23. The press oi ToKio urges the im-nic-dialc despatch ol troops to Corea owing to tne menace of J a panose interest. 'There is a growing impression that the despatch oi troops is incut a hie. An American warship has been ordered to Chemulpho. Se. Petersburg papers, replying to Ilrititli newspaper comments on the Russo-Japanese dispute, evince rronlnv onini/MMline

greater animosities towards Great Britain than Japan. Field-Marshal Viscount Katsuea 1 and Major-General Teranclii, the Minister lor War, yesterday conferred with Admiral i(o aim General Yamagatu in connection with further important developments. The Standard stales that it is reported at Tientsin that Russia and Corea have signed a secret treaty giving Russia the control of the Corean army through Russian instructors. The Daily Telegraph’s Nagasaki correspondent wires that railways have been ordered to be in readiness for the transport of '70,0110 troops from north to south islands only. .Those inured to a cold climate have

been chosen. The Daily Mail’s Hongkong correspondent announces that a Britisn squadron is hurriedly provisioning. The same journal's Singapore correspondent says that three battleships and a cruiser belonging to the British Mediterranean squadron have been ordered to be in readiness to proceed to China. The Daily Mail’s St. Petersburg correspondent telegraphs that Count .'LamsdojlT lias regained some of liis former authority, and is exciting it in the direction of peace. LONDON, Dec. 21. A Tartar general' in the Kirin province reports thift four battalions of Chinese from I-luntchun fought an in-

wiimvoi; UGiU UUUbLuUU till ill•decisive battle on Chinese! territory, with 1500 Coreans from Kymheung. The Daily Mail says the invasion is atiiibutnd to Russian instigation. Corean advices state that an insurrection is reported among the ,'Tonghaks, in the Chollado province. The Tongliaks are the malcontents whose activity caused the ChincscJapancse war. Tin; Times’ Tokio correspondent savs that the best-informed circles did not share the extreme pessimism ■prevalent in London, adding that the resources of diplomacy are in nowise ■exhausted. It is hinted at Berlin that there arc apparent more hopeful signs, and that these are due largely to Great Britain’s representations at St. Petersburg, which are leaving no doubt as to her earnest desire to see war

avoided. Japan’s transport arrangements are complete, and the Government is calmly awaiting the Russian reply. It is understood at Pekin that Japan will not accept any arrangement which will allow holding the evacuation of Manchuria in abeyance. In well-informed, circles at Pekin' it is considered that the prospects of peace are less hopeful than public opinion in St. Petersburg or Paris represents. Mr Bennett Burleigh states that Japanese warships at Sascho, 21 miles from Nagasaki, are practising firing. Advices from Nagasaki slate that the fleet is. emptying yls bunkers of soft coal, and filling them with hard Welsh coal. The Daily Mail's Tokio correspondent reports that six battleships at Sascho sailed on Tuesday night. 'The Standard’s Tokio correspondent states that after Baron Jutaro Komura, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Count Von Resen, the Russian Ambassador, held a conference, .the Japanese Minister at St. Petersburg was ordered to press for an early answer, and to .emphasise tile danger of delay. A Reuter message asserts that the officials at Tokio state that Russia, rejects the proposal for a mutual guarantee lor the preservation of the Chinese and Corean sovereignties, .while she is willing to make provision for securing individual interests. In the meantime, says the message, the preparations for war continue apace, though Butterfield and Swire d_eny that they have sold their steaJiiers to Japan. Japan claims to possess a specie reserve of 153 million yen (£15,618,833), besides Treasury funds of 5U million yen (£5,208,333).

JAPANESE WILL SUPPORT MIKADO TO A MAN.,

By Electric Telegraph-—Per Press Association—Copyright. Received 7.13 a.m., Dec. 27. iTOKIO, Dec. 2G. At a dinner at the Oriental Association, vTokio, Kato, formerly Minister: of Foreign Affairs, expressed deep regret that the people had not 'beer, t-akeir into the Government’s confidence. Nevertheless, should the Jidcnce.. Nevertheless, should the Mikado declare war the nation would sujiport him to a man. Count Okuma, ex-Premier, speaking in a similar strain, declared that besides a feeling of chivalry, the sense of self-preservation required Japan to make a stand for China’s integrity. The Daily Mail's Kobe correspondent states that it is reported that Baron Ivomura’s note allowed a fortnight for Russia to answer. from Genoa' state that Russia has offered a high price for two Argentine warships "being built in Italy.

ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 20. The newspaper Sviet, in an article Tvhieh is interpreted as expressing the view in Russian Government circles, declares that the Combes Ministry is anti-Russian, and doing its utmost to shake the pillars of the Franco-Kussian alliance. It adds : The Ministry, like a malignant disease, is eating into France’s power and prestige.

THE TIME UP NEXT WEEK,

JAPAN’S RESOLUTION.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright.) Received 12.18 tt.m., Dec. 28 London, Dec, 27. It is reported that the timelimit allowed by Japan for Russia’s reply is the 7th. Toldo newspapers declare that the passage of a single additional Russian warship through the Suez Canal or a single further step of advance in Manchuria will justify Japanese action.